Planning The Bracing

[Gr3y]

Hi all,

Today while at work, i was stumbled by a friend of mine with a question of "do you know how to fine tune a guitar's tone by planning/sanding the bracing?" I was dumbfolded..

This question actually came upon while chatting on great works of all those classic guitar builders.. won't mention any names here as it serves no purpose to my question up at the topic!

Alrite, i'm a total nut to this and infact this is the first time i heard of it and got extremely interested about it.. does it means if u wish to have more bright tone u sand/plan those bracing at the bottom fan? or what are exactly the things we need to look out for? If you happen to find some great links, please post them here too! i'm sure it will serve good to all of us here!

Thanks!

Gr3y

[Myka Guitars]

This is not to discourage you but if you have never built a guitar before you will most likely ruin the bracing by trying to alter it. If you seriously want to learn about acoustic guitars I would suggest building a few first. Learn how to fine tune an acoustic by building one that is finely tuned. It is impossible to know how to adjust braces without an intuitive understand of how they function in the first place.

~David

[fryovanni]

1+

[SwedishLuthier]

does it means if u wish to have more bright tone u sand/plan those bracing at the bottom fan?

I’m no expert, but my general experience is the other way around. When working on my first (and only) acoustic I learned that lighter (not weight, less stiffness) bracings = bassier and more loose sound (boomy), and heavier bracings = more treble and tighter sound. I wasn’t satisfied at all with the mid to high range of the guitar I was building (Dreadnought sized Kasch-braced steel string) and added some of the arced bracings I had omitted from start. This really tightened up the mid and enhanced the treble.

So I wouldn’t discourage you from doing this. If the guitar isn’t a valuable brand guitar I’d say go for it. Use this as a learning experience. Read up some on the internet, get a good book ((Siminoff´s The Luthiers Handbook has some interesting sections on bracing) and then get to work. Put in new braces, shave away on the existing and listen for change in sound.

But if this is an expensive, valuable guitar that doesn’t have the sound your friend is looking for then tell him to sell it and find a new one that sound right for him.

[Gr3y]

does it means if u wish to have more bright tone u sand/plan those bracing at the bottom fan?

I’m no expert, but my general experience is the other way around. When working on my first (and only) acoustic I learned that lighter (not weight, less stiffness) bracings = bassier and more loose sound (boomy), and heavier bracings = more treble and tighter sound. I wasn’t satisfied at all with the mid to high range of the guitar I was building (Dreadnought sized Kasch-braced steel string) and added some of the arced bracings I had omitted from start. This really tightened up the mid and enhanced the treble.

So I wouldn’t discourage you from doing this. If the guitar isn’t a valuable brand guitar I’d say go for it. Use this as a learning experience. Read up some on the internet, get a good book ((Siminoff´s The Luthiers Handbook has some interesting sections on bracing) and then get to work. Put in new braces, shave away on the existing and listen for change in sound.

But if this is an expensive, valuable guitar that doesn’t have the sound your friend is looking for then tell him to sell it and find a new one that sound right for him.

Thanks for reply. Yeah this guitar i'm going learn on isnt any good expensive stuff.. i won't be that dumb too! haha i posted this topic hoping for people to share what they've learnt and we can learn from their mistakes.. Yes i do know that it is better to build a guitar first before attempting to do something new.. but if i were to follow a template to build a guitar, i would end up asking the same question because after even building a guitar, i won't really understand bracing..

Yeah hope for more friendly guys to share around ya!

Gr3y

[Hunter]

Since we're on the topic of different bracing sounds, has anyone ever experimented with alternate materials for bracing, such as metals or things like that?

Edited December 17, 2006 by Hunter

[GoodWood]

My first intuitive design was to use metal rods to support the bridge, and use no bracing,but I had no idea how bracing effected the toneality. Basicly, guitars are stringed wooden drums.

I also wanted to just take the top off a crappy guitar, and put a new one on it to start out, but one local luthier said it would ruin the guitar. Now I would think I would rather have started that way. Get a decent but not loved guitar, take the top off, make a simple mold and put a new one, or new ones on it.

Edited December 17, 2006 by GoodWood

[fryovanni]

Gr3y- You may have not heard what you wanted to from David or my 2nding his comments. However it is honest,and coming from experience.

Yes i do know that it is better to build a guitar first before attempting to do something new.. but if i were to follow a template to build a guitar, i would end up asking the same question because after even building a guitar, i won't really understand bracing..

To respond to your comment here. Yes, going into your first you will be using guildlines from drawings or from a book. You will be able to hear what happens to the soundboard as you shape braces. On your second you will be able to use that experience to adjust your shaping, and so on.... What you are talking about is re-voicing a guitar. This takes a lot more knowledge and insite into bracing as well as experience to find where to adjust. It requires working at difficult angles(you have not got a top in front of you, it is attached to a box). Some bracing does not lend itself to re-voicing and you will most likely cause it to fail by randomly cutting. Again this is much harder to do than original bracing(don't think it is a simple thing to do).Take a look a this site-click

My recommendation would be to buy some student grade soundboards, and some bracing stock. Build a few sound boards and play with shaving and tapping to get an idea as to how it effects the strength of the soundboard. You will eventually get curious and want to attach those tops to a guitar so you can hear how they sound.

With regards to alternate methods and materials. It is very cool to try something new, but you have to have understand how things work or you may very well go the absolute wrong direction. Any new materials and mehods will require 10-20 guitars to work out the best weights, thickness, combinations. Shoot they are still modifying standard X bracing shapes with spruce in an effort to make improvements. Carbon fiber is a cool material to work with. However even small amounts can be heavier than spruce. Not many materials can match Spruce for weight/strength in a viable dimension to glue and or carve. Alternative methods and materials are very cool, but only if you really do your homework and are willing to accept failure.

Peace,Rich