Official Luthiers Forum!

We have not sen a bracing thread in a while so here goes:
Just recently I finished a 13-fret build with a very standard bracing pattern.
Once I strung it up I feel it has an amazing sound - good volume, good balance, with a slightly exaggerated mid-tone which I find very desirable.
In fact, it has the ideal tone for my ears.
Of course, not willing to let well enough alone, and still very much in learning mode and developing skills, for my next build I scoured the 'net for different bracing ideas.
The inspiration for the new one I believe came from a sideways pic by Brock posted a while back of one of his bracing patterns.
What is it called? Triple-x?

So I have built another 13-fret with exactly the same 13-fret body and materials (Lutz/EIR) with the new bracing pattern.
I should have the new one strung up in another week or so, can't wait to hear them side-by-side.
Comments welcome! (note I did narrow the tone bars on the first one a bit before closing it up)

Standard: (note I did narrow the tone bars a bit before closing it up)


New: (all joints are let into the main x-brace)

Be interested to hear what the box sounds like when you get it closed up. I would guess it might be a bit 'tight' because it looks pretty strong. I don't have that much experience so for sure don't take this as a valid critique. Gotta say it does look really cool, nice work

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Concur with Steve. Suggest small caps on cross over of braces
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

your workmanship looks very good. I do agree , I believe you may be a bit over braced. You will know when you get it strung up.

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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

Robbie: Have just looked at your picture again and noticed you do not have a Popsicle brace or a channel in your neck block for neck rod adjustment. I know some folks don't bother with Popsicle braces but if you get one guitar where the top cracks on either side of the fingerboard and then starts to collapse into the sound hole,your thinking can change.You may have decided to change location of rod adjustment to the head stock or you route the channel from the top...???
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

IME it depends on the stiffness/thickness of the top. (also IME) if it's thin enough to "use" that kind of bracing I'd recommend the back of the bridge plate be rounded instead of straight across. I brace similar to that when I'm looking for a "modern", or "chimey" tone, and the tops are pretty thin. On average they're ~.020" thinner than when I use........"normal" tone bars.

Take my advice with a grain of salt, and feel free to tell me I'm full of mud. I'm working on #27 now, not 100+ like alot of people around here.

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

Thank you all for your comments!
Tom, good catch. You can just see a pencil outline there, which is an exclamation mark to remind me to install the channel and drill the hole for the adjusting hex tool.
FYI I make it a little wider than the neck as suggested elsewhere on this amazing site.
Woody, the top is a very stiff Lutz top from Shane, that is somewhat thinner than a "normal" top.
This is #8 for me; advice from a #27 builder is very much appreciated! I will round the bridge plate as suggested.

Rob