Your opinion on top bracing this guitar

[Dave Bagwill]

Okay, I'm going to build this guitar, with the f-holes, but I''ll be building it as a flat-top, not as a gypsy guitar. It is actually designed to be ladder-braced like the Selmacs, but that gives a jazzier tone than I am looking for.

The red X has the disadvantage, I believe, of having the 'x' too far from the bridge. Ideally, I've heard it said, the 'x' and the bridge should intersect, but of course in real building that is an ideal that is almost impossible.
The yellow bracing is more in the style of Lowden who, instead of using finger braces, uses thin braces that parallel the main X. In my drawing, the 'x' is moved much closer to the bridge so that the rocking motion of the bridge more directly transfers energy to the braces, both the main yellow 'x' and the Lowden 'x'.
The f-holes will be supported internally of course.

What do you think? Also - do you think an upper transverse brace would be necessary, since there is no soundhole weakening the center of the soundboard?

[Ken Hundley]

Hi Dave:

On my unorthodox designs, having the x intersection too far from the bridge was a concern as well. I ended up making a small triangle maybe 1.25" back from the intersection, turning the lower half of the X into an A. This provides some stability (at least in my uneducated opinion) and helps prevent tipping of the bridge right there.



Later versions don't have the cap, and are more solidly integrated at the joints, but I think you get the picture. I honestly cant say whether it helps or not, as I Haven't tried without it, but I love the sound from this guitar, and have yet to see any issues from this design concept after a few years on 3 guitars.

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks Ken, good stuff there.
Here is another possibility. This 'A' type of bracing will give a slightly jazzier sound than the x brace, but not as strictly fundamental-sounding as a ladder braced guitar.

I also included a shot of the support for the f-holes.

Comments anyone?

[Tim Benware]

Have you thought about lowering the F-holes so that the x-brace runs just off the top and bottom of the "F"?

[Dave Bagwill]

I have thought about that, and have seen it done on other instruments. However, I am enamored by the aesthetic of this particular instrument, and would like to make it work, and work well, with the fholes in thier current configuration.

[dave d]

Dave, my local guitar shop has a gorgeous guitar with a solid, carved top and the bracing in it is parallel, I think like you'd find in mandolins. Basically 3 thin bars running vertically. No X or A bracing, and no transverse brace. I'm not sure if this applies to your design or not, but it's a beaut and sounds amazing.

[Dave Bagwill]

I hope to reach that level some day Dave. The whole carved-top process is one that fascinates me, and the guitars can sound gorgeous, but not in the same way that x-braced instruments sound. I like the overtones of flattop guitars.

That's a very impressive instrument.