Top joint reinforcement on Batson?

[Dave Bagwill]

Any ideas why Batson chose the addition of these 3 little chunks of wood?




Are they at all necessary?

[ken cierp]

My guess is that they had a few collapse from the downward pressure of the string so reinforcement was added. These guitars are more like "f" hold jazz instruments which are pretty thick and "bubbled" under the movable bridge. While string tension on a standard flat top is pulling up on the bridge -- on guitars with a tail piece the strings are pushing downward. --- Just my guess.

[Ken Hundley]

HEy! My Circle! My Circle! I found it! Thats where I first saw it!

[Dave Bagwill]

I thought it might be, when I went looking for it I also saw those little reinforcements and wondered about them.

[GuitarWhisperer]

Every time I've ever seen these in construction education media they've been called "cleats" and were described as being used to reinforce the top joint to help prevent it from separating along the seam. My thoughts are that if the joint is good, cleats shouldn't be necessary.

[Dave Bagwill]

I agree.
We do, however, reinforce the back joint, though even there I think I've heard that some accomplished builders don't do that even.