Official Luthiers Forum!

I am building a guitar from the Davis Martin size 1 - 1918 plans. I have made several guitars for nylon strings from this plan but this will be the first made for steel strings. All my experience thus far is with nylon string guitars in parlor and classical sizes so I am in new territory with this one. The Davis plans say that the X brace ends stop short of the linings. For those of you with experience in this kind of guitar would you notch the lining for the brace ends or just follow the plan? Thanks.

Geo.

_________________
GEO
perpetual beginner

While it is traditional to tuck the X brace ends, and those who do it argue correctly that tucking the ends helps keep the braces glued in place in case of a bump or knock to the guitar, more and more builders are tapering the X brace ends to nothing before they reach the linings in the lower bout. Those who taper short of the linings feel that it helps loosen the top.

I taper to nothing short of the lining in the lower bout but tuck the ends of the X brace in the upper bout. The upper part of the X brace is stiffer and seems more likely to pop loose if bumped, and I like the idea of all of the braces/parts working together in the upper bout to reinforce against neck movement.

_________________
"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Steve and Todd:

Thanks very much. Your approach makes sense and seems obvious once pointed out.

_________________
GEO
perpetual beginner

That's curious. Is that really how Martin was building in 1918? If so, so does anyone know when they started to tuck the x ends?

John

I have seen it done many ways . I guess it comes down to tradition and Martin Style. If there is one thing I have learned in the last 10 years is that about the time you think that your way is the right way , you learn that your way is one of many ways. I am a tucker only because of Martin Tradition .
There is always another way to do things some may work , some may not but knowing Todd and knowing what I have seen , I don't think one way is better or worse than another.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I don't know, but I suspect Martin was tucking the "X" ends in 1918. They used to tuck bridgeplates under the "X's".

FWIW, I tuck the upper ends, but not the lower ones. I tuck the ends of all the back braces.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

When you taper to nothing, it's often a very long skinny taper.

I tuck the uppers & feather all the rest as much as 1/2" from the linings. To add to what has already been said here, it is important to feather the ends out gradually. If the unsupported end of the brace is not able to flex with the top, there is a danger of it breaking free.
Another plus is you don't have to notch the linings in the lower bout.