Tom's KMG L-00

[Dave Bagwill]

And what the heck, maybe glue on the top too!
I usually do the top first per Ken's suggestion - this time the sequence of events just came out this way. Plus we'd taken those braces down about as far as we could without having a heart attack - and the tap tone was very good. The top and back differ about a tone and a 1/2 in their freq.

[John Link]

After looking again at the CF braces on page 2, I can't see how they could do any harm to the sound. They triangulate with respect to the sides, stiffening them and locking them to the head block without affecting the stiffness of the plates. In theory, this might possibly result in more string energy releasing itself through the plates, which many advanced luthiers believe is the most desirable path for exit. It reminds me somewhat of Smallman's use of plywood around and across the sides, only the CF is a more lightweight approach. (Of course, the plywood bracing in a Smallman produces the ultimate in side stiffness.)

I trust that Dave will let us know how the finished guitar stacks up, volume wise.

[Dave Bagwill]

I will be your huckleberry, for sure. :-) Like I said, Tom has some decent recording gear - which I don't - and we've already discussed making a short recording or two.
Thanks for the analysis, John!

[Joe Farmer]

Dave,
Thanks for the clamp idea!! I'm going to run right out and get some. Looks a lot easier and faster than the go bar deck I've been using. Maybe I'll try the CF rods in the new guitar I just started.

Can't wait to hear your guitar!
Joe

[mike-p]

Looking good. Looking forward to finding out how it sounds. I'm planning a ladder l00 how did you come up with the brace positions and dimensions?
Thanks,
Mike

[Dave Bagwill]

We are not trying to nail the sound of any particular guitar, so we picked a generic no-frills tried and true pattern and basically followed that. And then we tweaked it until I lost my nerve. It's going to be responsive!

[Dave Bagwill]

Well we are pressing on! A weird summer, what with forest fires all around and the valley filling with smoke, and vacations, and Tom moving his daughter from the San Juans to the mainland, and big plumbing problems - life, in other words :-) - we've only had spotty building sessions. We are back to it now. Pix to follow.