ladder-braced guitars

[Rick Aliwalas]

Hi All,

After reading Ray's mention of ladder-braced guitars,

http://www.acousticguitarconstructionfo ... adder#p546

I thought I'd start a thread. I'm a big fan of ladder-braced instruments. I currently have a few such beasts and they each have their own sound. The pmico is very raw sounding. I think most strummers would say it sounds awful but I think she sounds great for fingerstyle blues/rag type stuff. All are at least 2-1/4" at the saddle which makes fingerstyle so much easier. My primary motivation for building a guitar is that it's hard to find these types of instruments. I realize the bracing has longevity issues but I like the less refined tone of the ladder-brace...

http://noyage.com/brown_skinned_girl.mp3 - sound sample of the pmico parlor, my best imitation of Catfish Keith.

-rick

[TonyinNYC]

I have never played a ladder braced guitar, but I would like to. Those are some pretty nice looking guitars Rick! Are you planning to build a ladder braced git in the future?

[Dave Bagwill]

I DO like that sound. I have heard some guitars with breathtaking tone, that just were not built to be played - tight, over-sustained, not really musical. And then I've heard guitars that don't have much sustain, are raw sounding, but beg to be played - musical, in other words. Some of the boutique instruments are so smooth that there is no soul, no swing.

Thomas Dolby: "Listen to me buddy, it doesn't mean a thing, if you haven't got, the ability to swing"

[Ray Ussery]

Can we have an A-MEN ? Dave, you are right on! I LIKE that sound...but they don't sound like "THAT" in my hands...see? It's the subjective thing again!
Great looking guitars! Great sounding 00...I wish I could do that....heheheheheh...it's all in
the heart and soul and the hands sometimes isn't it?
I love it!
Cheers! Ray :)

[Rick Aliwalas]

Thanks fellas. I do hope to build a KG-11 clone at some point. I pulled the trigger today on an L-00 kit from KMG. The first step in what I'm sure will be a very interesting journey. See what y'all got me into?

-rick

[TonyinNYC]

You are doomed Rick. First it's just an L-00, next thing you know, you have a drum sander in your living room!

[Kevin in California]

Yeah Tony, I don't know how your wife lets you get away with all those shop tools in the living room.

Kevin