Your opinion on top bracing this guitar

[ken cierp]

The "yellow" pattern does not pass the (my) structural logic test -- looks contrived and I don't like the "X" intersection so close to the bridge. This the compliant that haunts the post war Martins (true or false?) it would seem to restrict the rocking motion of the bridge. I like the red, even though I assume you are using a pin-less bridge -- a rather large bridge plate would go a long way in stabalizing and reinforcing the the sound-board.

[dave d]

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.

Dang, thought I could convince you to carve an archtop. I must improve my persuasion skills. :)

[Tim Benware]

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.

Looks like you'd only have to drop them 1 to 1 1/2" and the X brace looks to me like it would be real close to where a pre-war Martin X would be. Would that change the "look" too much?

[Dave Bagwill]

Could be that you are right - a little compromise in the design might open up the possibility of using a proven bracing scheme. Worth thinking about. Thanks.

[Dave Bagwill]

I contacted Liutaio Mottola about his bracing scheme, for use with an off-center soundhole; I've shown this pic before. He thinks that structurally there would be no problem using the f-holes, losing the round soundhole, and using the bracing as shown without modification. The angle of the pic makes the construction look heavier than it really is.

[Dave Bagwill]

Here is a very short vid of Michael Horowitz at djangobooks.com playing a gypsy-style instrument. What would be your best speculative guess on what difference x-bracing it would make as opposed to the ladder bracing it has?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ6I6D5S ... r_embedded

[Dave Bagwill]

In the picture above that shows the a-braces and the ladder brace - he has the ladder brace notched very firmly into the A's.

I'm wondering about doing a buttress over each of the A legs instead of notching. My 'thinking' is, that this would provide the same amount of support structurally, and maybe loosen up the A's for more top vibration. What does the forum think about that?