X brace width and height

Wood choice logic, brace shapes, braces patterns -- what and why for the "heart of the guitar"
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Woodyok
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Prescott, Arizona

X brace width and height

Post by Woodyok » Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:40 pm

I'm cutting my own braces from some LMI billets for my current project. I keep hearing tall and thin, but what does that mean? 1/4" by 5/16' or ? I've used pre-shaped braces before.
Woody OKeefe
Prescott,Arizona

ken cierp
Posts: 3924
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 pm

Re: X brace width and height

Post by ken cierp » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:41 pm

The array of brace configurations seems to have no design boundaries. Even conservative Martin uses ¼” and 5/16” material scalloped, unscalloped, parabolic and straight on the same shape and size guitars. The key (as I understand the theory) is to use “perfect” vertical grain material for the very narrow tall brace concept. Lowden’s Dolphin style bracing is a good example

ken cierp
Posts: 3924
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 pm

Re: X brace width and height

Post by ken cierp » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:57 pm

Here's the essay that made tall braces the rage:

http://www.esomogyi.com/principles.html

Woodyok
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Prescott, Arizona

Re: X brace width and height

Post by Woodyok » Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:38 pm

Thanks Ken,
Good information. So unless I make a number of guitars with the same woods and different bracing configurations, I really won't know what the differences are. Makes sense.
Woody OKeefe
Prescott,Arizona

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