Ladder-braced parlor guitar

[Dave Bagwill]

The volume and sustain are very good, but I want to stress that it is a different sound, one that I happen to like enough that I may go to it exclusively, but it is not the usual x-brace sound, so yeah, I do attribute some of the characteristics to the ladder-braces. It is the loudest one I've built - which is not necessarily anything in its favor, since most people slap a pickup on anyway if they want something louder - but I think that loudness points to some good things in the bracing. And if it is loud AND sounds great, that's a good thing IMO.

Ken Cierp has mentioned that he does not get requests for ladder braced instruments, and that's too bad - they have a lot to offer, and can be used, as in this one, in Martin/Gibson guitars that normally use x-braces. I encourage you to try one; I know you will be surprised.

[Dave Bagwill]

From my friend; the guitar was delivered to him in southern California yesterday:

"It's fantastic and beyond what I imagined. The choice of woods is amazing. My fingers are sore from playing. I will play it and let it break in for a few more days then make you a video. Thank you from my heart of hearts."

Then from this morning:

"The first thing I usually do in the morning is have a cup of coffee. But today I got up and played the guitar. I am still in a state of euphoria. I am looking at picking up a better microphone to record a video for you. Once again thank you."

Those comments make it all worthwhile! He's such a good guy, and has been through so much.

[Lonnie B]

Good for you Dave. That's what we seek :0)

[Kevin in California]

Awesome!

[John Link]

From a theoretical standpoint, there seem to be two characteristics of ladder braced tops that are leveraged by blues music.

1. Fewer braces mean a lighter, less rigid top which tends to produce more volume and sustain.

2. Breaking the top into smaller well defined sections from one rib to the other favors short amplitude movements, hence treble which cuts and cries.

The typical "price" one pays is less complexity and smoothness. But that is another way of saying you gain something more direct and honest.

Admittedly, this is a very broad, abstract look at this bracing scheme. Individual mileage varies.

[Dave Bagwill]

I think you said it well, John. I do remember posting a John How LB guitar being played on a Bach arrangement, where it sounded fine, but the main use of the LB is as you said.

[John Link]

Bach sounds good almost no matter where he is played. And I did not mean to say Ladder Braced guitars have no versatility. Gypsy guitars are ladder braced, for instance. But their tops are pliaged and their backs laminated, which adds additional ingredients to the stew, not to mention those that had resonators. All in all, I'd say LB offers a zone where the adventurous have considerable room to explore.

Some blinded listening tests would be really interesting, as in build two instruments as identical as possible, except for the top bracing, then see what could be heard, and by whom.