Acoustic Guitar Construction

I suppose if there were any advantages to 1/4" braces, everyone would be using them?

If they are kept tall and light though, would they have any AD-vantages over the thicker braces?

A good way to check out the sound production difference 5/16" scalloped and 1/4" non-scalloped is the compare a D-28 with a D-35 that latter has the 1/4" bracing. Now the "conventional wisdom" credits the slight increase in bass response of the D-35 to its three piece back --- of course it is due the lighter bracing.

Story I got from a person who claimed to be present at the creation is that Martin had a whole lot of rosewood back material that was too small to use 2 pieces of to make a single back joined by a center backstrip, but if three pieces were trimmed to use 2 backstrips, well, then, there's more backs and less scrapped wood. Now to differentiate the new version from its littermates, they gave the concotion a new designation - - - D35.

Thread is getting off track -- but yes three and four piece backs and "sound-boards" are to conserve fine materials --- Martin however is certainly not the innovator since it was a practice way before the D35 was introduced in 1965.

Dave: By using 1/4" and going just a tad taller then you would with 5/16" you can end up with the same stiffness but have a lighter brace. Weight to me is a responce and tone killer. Every little bit counts.
Tom

I think Tom nailed it. And I love his tag line.

1/4 bracing is pretty standard for 00 size correct?