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+1

I wish I could speak so eloquently.

Good to see you back around Hesh.

Cheers,
Bob

Thanks Clay. The pre war bracing is what's on my D-18 Vintage Series, and to my ear it's the model of guitar that sounds like the dreadnought sound in my head. I've seen that Martin also scallops the braces in the vintage series OO's, and the OO template I got from Waldron Music shows scalloping as well. I'm always interested to see the bracing of other builders and compare it to what I've seen and read. Mike Baranik makes some really nice guitars, and I've seen a pic on his site where he's scalloped the right hand X brace and the tone bars, but only tapered the X brace on the left side. So it's a combination, which is cool. I wish I could do what Hesh suggested for Nick above, but I don't have the budget right now.


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Hey Justin, I think I see where the confusion is arising. By mass I mean mass in the formal sense - essentially weight. You are using the word mass in the colloquial sense, IOW bulk or volume. So if we substitute the word 'bulk' for 'mass' it should make sense to both of us.

Yes, if you leave more bulk of brace it will be stiffer, and the stiffness promotes treble. The stiffness is directly related to the bulk of the wood there. It's actually the cross sectional area (bulk or "more wood" as you say) and the inherent properties of the wood that control stiffness. It is the weight(mass) that isn't relevant, at least with regard to stiffness.




No, I don't disagree. That's right. I wouldn't use the word light though... I know by "keeping the bracing light" people mean do not make the braces big and bulky.

I can't come close to Hesh's eloquence, but he makes some good points - about experimenting especially. If you try different things and directly experience the change in sound, it really gives you a lot of useful knowledge and control. Early on, I had a couple 'mule' instruments that constantly got experimented with. Helped me a lot. Best IME not to worry too much about aesthetics with these.

That's maybe the big difficulty about this craft. It's kind of like two things at once: the craft of woodworking, and the art and science of good sound. (whatever that is)

Thank you again for all of your contributions. They have definitely got me thinking.

Hesh I do like the idea of a mule instrument and just changing the tops around to try different ideas I think this is something that I will look to do. This parlour build is going to be a no frills build anyway that I can take around with me camping, boating etc. So would be ideal for it.

Thanks again.

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Nick

Follow my musings on getting started in luthiery http://www.tredwellinstruments.co.uk