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I had a real classical guitarist try out my two falcates, one classical one steel string, and posted some excerpts on sound cloud. Hearing the guitars inspires me to keep pushing. My next will be another falcate classical. I will work to get the top about 10 hz higher than this one. It is being built as a commission for my classical guitar instructor.

http://soundcloud.com/johnparchem

I had some more pictures an information of the classical guitar on the post
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=45131

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

My 2 cents, playing music for 60 yrs. I like CL, A, B

I think they all sound good but I'd never know that the bracing was any different. Is there something that you can hear that is definitively falcate vs X bracing?

Nothing beats putting your guitars in the hands of a skilled player, does it? To my ears both of these instruments offer a nice, open tone with lovely trebles. Out of curiosity, what is the expected result of raising the top 10hz?

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George :-)

Thanks for listening!



A lot of the X brace guitars, not all, have strong basses good trebles but the middle voices drop out. I have found my falcate guitars have more balance across the string and through the registers than I achieved on my X braced guitars.

What I heard from both the classical players and steel string players is that they find both guitars have great volume, follows quickly dynamically (relatively low mass top), good balance and clarity of the notes on all of the strings, really good sustain. All thought both guitars had a good voice.

Right around the 1st string 10th fret that trebles start to weaken. In Falcate Classical A when the high note E on the 12 fret is played it should be an event. It is less so on my guitar than it could be. Having the top pitched a bit higher would better support the trebles.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I'd really like to do a falcate one day. Where do you get your CF?

Guitars sound good, but as said, not noticeably 'different' than normal. But I guess they really shouldn't as the plate still wants to vibrate in certain modes regardless of the bracing pattern.

Those both sound pretty fine John. Good looking too!
Just curiosity, were your X-braced guitars scalloped or tapered bracing?
Just people commented, and I noticed myself, that my tapered braced guitars had more middle than the scalloped ones.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thanks John. It's all pretty intriguing, the falcate. It's hard to tell much too from a sound clip but they do sound great. The players positive comments to you would give you the support to pursue it further. The fact that you have a commission from a pro speaks volumes. Well done and very nice workmanship!

Thanks Colin,

My X-braced guitars have all had scalloped braces. Early on I built an O size 12 fret to the body guitar with Rick Davis and he helped me voice the top and it has been and still is still a well balanced guitar. It had scalloped braces, so I know with skill one can build great X braced guitars. I have two X-braced 00 guitars that I need to build, I have been considering having tapered braces instead of scalloped braces. Your comments move me farther in that direction.

Danny , Thanks for your kind comments.

Ed, The last batch of CF I bought was from http://carbonsales.com/Carbon-Fiber-Tape-5.7oz-x-4-wide-3K-T300.html They sell 4" tape for a little less than $5 a liner foot. I buy about 4 feet at a time cut one section to about 18" and pull the tow right out of the fabric weave.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Just curious about the CF. Trevor mentioned laminating bridges with a layer of CF to help prevent splitting. Have you tried that? I like the idea, especially with woods more prone to cracking ie. Zircote. Looks like that tape would do the trick. Theoretically, 4' of 4" tape should fit in a pretty tidy, little envelope. Maybe shipping would be a little less painful.

Thanks

Yes, I use the tape to reinforce the bridge and on the SS under the bridge plate. It came in a very small envelope.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com