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Bracing my 1st SS top. Suggestions? Pics
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=10349		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:25 pm ]
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Hi,

I'm in the process of doing my first SS top (only built classicals until now) I'd love to get some constructive criticism before I finish carving and clean it up. I won't even mind taking a brace or two up and replacing them if it is a good idea. Don't hold back, I can use the help!!!!

The x-brace is 5/16 x 5/8
It is a .120 cedar top, medium stiffness, on a SJ body. I'm going for a mostly fingerstyle guitar using light gauge strings. I would like it to stand up to a pick on occassion.

Thank you for any advice you can give.




Joe Beaver39094.9484490741
Author:  Serge Poirier [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:44 pm ]
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Joe, that looks mighty goooood! I think that it is the first time i've seen your work up close, looks really neat from here!

Keep it up my friend!
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:47 pm ]
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Wide angle shots are great aren't they? Up close not so clean.... But if it looks like a go to the guys here I'll clean it up!!! Thanks for the nice comments...Joe Beaver39094.9513657407
Author:  John Mayes [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:52 pm ]
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just from looks I'd say try to triangulate the lower face braces a bit more. (of
course it is hard to tell from pics) but it looks like they could be less and still
hold good (assuming of course the top is stiff cross grain)
Author:  Rod True [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:54 pm ]
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Hey Joe looks good.

Of course it's hard to tell what to change with out hearing the tap.

You can take the x-brace cap down to like 1/16", it doesn't need to be that high at all.

You could tapper the x-braces down probably a little bit too.

What are the tone bar dimensions?
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:56 pm ]
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Thanks John. That sounds like good advice. I did buy you advanced voicing DVD about 6 months ago. It was great. I went to play it again just before I started bracing but it wouldn't play! It said disk was dirty. I tried cleaning the disk but no good. It has always been in the case and has no scratches and looks clean. I'll try a different DVD player tomorrow!

Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:01 pm ]
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Thanks Rod, The tone bars are 1/4 x 1/4 and the lower face braces are both 5/16 x 1/2.

The tap town right now is fairly high pitched wit a lot of ring. I'm thinking it might still be to tight?
Author:  John Mayes [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
[QUOTE=Joe Beaver] Thanks John. That sounds like good advice. I did buy
you advanced voicing DVD about 6 months ago. It was great. I went to play
it again just before I started bracing but it wouldn't play! It said disk was
dirty. I tried cleaning the disk but no good. It has always been in the case
and has no scratches and looks clean. I'll try a different DVD player
tomorrow!

[/QUOTE]

If you can't get it to play let me know and I'll send you a new once Gratis.
Author:  Greg [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:03 pm ]
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I agree with Rod. The bracing is robust. Personally I am on a journey to see how light I can get away with bracing(until it implodes) then go a bit heavier. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Author:  Rod True [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
I agree with John's comments about the lower face braces (I call these the tone bars, but I probably need some more educatin')

I make mine lower face braces 1/4x1/2 and on the lates one I've got closed up they taper down to nothing with out the lower scallop peak. But this is only because it sounded to tight with them peaked like you show.
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:09 pm ]
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Thanks for the offer John...I'm hoping it will play tomorrow on a different player....
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:12 pm ]
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Rod,

Do you tapper the face braces to nothing at the x-brace? I was thinking that was something John recommended for a tight top.
Author:  James Ringelspaugh [ Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:45 pm ]
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I don't understand, why is one x-brace so much higher than the other?
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:06 am ]
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Lex,

they both started out as 5/8 high. I added a cap over the x. Is that what you are referring to?
Author:  Rod True [ Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Since I think I'm getting lost in the wording, I'll repost my top bracing pic which Bruce Dicky post a couple of weeks back.

Please, Please know that this is only the 5th guitar and there are many many other's here considerably more knowledgeable with voicing a top than I am. I just keep tapping the top and shaving until I'm happy with the sound that comes out. I want the top to ring for a couple of seconds at least and not just "tink".

I have a lot of learning to do and have read more than I can even really remember. At some point you just need to try things and not be afraid to go to light in the bracing. We will only know how light we can brace when the guitar implodes and we can say "well, I braced that one to light "

Anyway, here is the picture if it helps at all.

Oh and just so you know, this is an OM guitar, cedar top, all the bracing is 1/4" wide but for the two upper transverse braces, They are 3/8".

Rod True39095.5576388889
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:13 am ]
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Thanks Rod, Looks like nice work to me.
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:49 am ]
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Thanks Hesh, nice looking top!!!
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