Need some advice

[Dave Bagwill]

The 00-12 with a Sitka spruce top that Dave Holcomb is building in my shop - the top bracing is complete, all is well as to gluing practices, thinning and shaping braces etc.

BUT - after a lot of tapping, after thinning the braces starting with the extremities and working toward the x-brace itself and finally removing some of the x-brace material (within reason) - that top is still, along both axes, stiff as a ----well, as a board. Standard bracing.

I did NOT test this top when it was delivered. Could kick myself for that. Actually, I just did and it hurts. I would have thinned the top quite a bit further.

So - what is the best practice for thinning the top at this point? I'd rather do it now than after gluing it on, but I'm just not sure of a good methodology.

Help!!

[Daniel P]

This is the perspective of a rank amateur, not the hard-earned wisdom of years of building - but...

I have found it easier to thin a top, that has been braced, once it's glued to the rim. This serves two functions - stabilizes the plate for easier sanding (rather than rocking on the x-brace) and you can more easily get a sense of the plate performance on the box. The obvious challenge with this approach is that it's tougher to measure the thickness once it's on the rims.

[ken cierp]

I'd definately do thinning after the top was attached to the rim.

5/16" or 1/4" bracing?

The bracing on that size guitar can be very light

Pictures of bracing so far?

[Dave Bagwill]

5/16" bracing, but taken way down. What do you think about removing one of the tone bars? It is a smaller instrument.

[ken cierp]

Chance of getting a picture?

[ken cierp]

What radius on the braces?

[Dave Bagwill]

Let me get a pic