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Hello all,

I've had this book for a few years now and am finally starting on my #1 following his plans. I am ready to start bracing the soundboard. In the book, he mentions scalloping the braces via the plans, same thing for the back minus the scalloping. Unless I'm overlooking something, I am not finding the scalloping profile so I'm thinking I might have misplaced a plan sheet. Can anyone tell me if there were one or two plan sheets with this book?

Also, since I'm here, I've read somewhere that his bracing is a bit thick. Anyone else feel this way? I'm using Sitka for the soundboard and EIR for the back and sides.

Any help would be appreciated!

Jeff

I have the book , there is only 1 plan, no scalloping on the measurements, yes His braces are a tad thick, but braces on back and top, vary from maker to maker. way too many variables, for me to give you a starting pt. That comes after one has built several guitars. Gud luck with it. Building my 1 st Om from his plans too.

Jeff,
Welcome to the forum and to the world of building.

I don't recall a 2nd plan nor a scalloping profile from the book.
Sorry.

I would recommend that on your first build, don't get too hung up all all the little things and make sure that your #1 priority is to do the best job you can on getting the process down. Tight glue joints, well sealed rims, neck angle set correctly, ability to fix mistakes.... they are higher on my list than whether or not the scallop started 2" or 2 and 1/8" below the X.

Get your joinery skills down pat. Then concern yourself with the small stuff. The first guitar will be just fine if you follow the plan and work on basic building skills.

That said, if you want to trim the braces down to 1/4", the tone might open up a little bit.

Good luck,

Dave

Christophe Grellier generously offers several free plans on his web site, one of which is an OM. It includes bracing profiles you could use those as a reference. Here's a link...

http://www.grellier.fr/plans.php?lang=en

His plans do not provide scalloping profiles. I believe in the text of the book he says something along the lines of: "if you wish you may scallop the braces but no more than 1/8 of an inch".

Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

Thanks for the info everyone. I just wanted to make sure I hadn't lost a sheet before I go making shavings. I will admit, I am very prone to getting hung up on minute details. I guess that's why I've had the book for 3 years and am just getting started!
Thanks for the link to those free OM plans. I will use those as a reference. It looks like it will be an enjoyable process.

Jeff

He has a section titled "Scalloping the braces" on page 70, then offers no info on scalloping.

Bob

Hmmmm......reminds me of someone I know.

+1! Great advice!
Jeff, I love Kincead's book, and it's the book I built my first guitar with (and continue to refer to when I lose my place - I'm only on #10 at the moment.)

The first guitar for me was a lesson in perseverence - and realizing that there were mistakes that were going to happen. I learned more from recovery from seeming doomsday scenarios than anything else. Bottom line is that you will make mistakes, and you HAVE to finish the first guitar, or you'll never make a second one.....

Build that guitar. And build it as well as you can, but don't be too hard on yourself if there are some major errors. Soldier on - get it done.

If you want to scallop the braces, I'd look at Dana Bourgeois article on "voicing a guitar" - google it - I think it's useful regardless whether it's the first guitar or the 50th and it probably can't hurt, might help. There are a lot of very strong opinions on the proper approach to determining the optimium dimensions of tops and braces, but I have a tough time believing that you won't make better guitars if you tap them and listen to what comes out of them. I think it's one of those things where it will take many guitars to give you a feel for what you're really looking for, but it probably gives you some input and a better feel for what the results of your dimensions will produce.

Keep us posted!

After reading Bob's post above, I went back to my copy of the book to find the reference to taking no more than 1/8" that I mentioned in my post. I couldn't find it and was starting to think I was losing my mind. Then I took a look a the plans and see that it is there in the little blurb on bracing. Whew.

Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

Thanks again for all of the help and encouragement! You guys are all spot on regarding the mistakes. I guess it just takes jumping in and doing it. I was able to spend the better part of the weekend in the shop and was able to get my top thicknessed and installed the rosette on it. I attempted the deluxe version of the one Kinkead uses. I also got my sides bent and got the back ready to glue up last night. Each one of these tasks I made at least one error but it's now something that I know to avoid on the next one (to make room for new mistakes ). Here is a pic of the rosette. I messed up on the first channel that I cut hence the two different sizes of purfling.

Jeff

Looks great!

Not a bad book if you can get past all of his shameless self plugging throughout the text/photos. I like this book as an illustrated annex to Cumpiano's book, which explains each step in much greater detail. You can usually find it pretty cheap on Amazon.com.

Good luck, nice loking rosette by the way

Joey

Not a bad book if you can get past all of his shameless self plugging throughout the text/photos. I like this book as an illustrated annex to Cumpiano's book, which explains each step in much greater detail. You can usually find it pretty cheap on Amazon.com.

Good luck, nice loking rosette by the way

Joey

Duplicate post

I like it for the picftures.