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Hi guys

I've just finished the X-brace for my next 'OM' project. It is joined, radiused and capped but not shaped or glued yet.

I've just noticed that the height of the brace is 4/8" and not 5/8" like i've seen recommended on this forum.

Will this make a difference? I think probably not but I have no idea, hence this post. I don't want any problems with this guitar.

So, can I carry on and use this x-brace or shall I make another??

Many thanks

Mat

If it were me I'd redo it since it's not going to harm anything by not using it... like trying to remove it from the soundboard might. Don't ask me how I know

Plus you get extra practice to learn to do it right. Just leave it a little tall before you radius it and afterwards, if needed, it should be easy to sand it down to the correct height from the top of the brace.

I won't comment on whether 1/2" is safe or not. I'll leave that for someone with more experience.

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Jeremy Douglas

HESH

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We Bend the Wood, So You Can Bend the Strings

HESH

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We Bend the Wood, So You Can Bend the Strings

Boy those look higher then 1/2". Did you check your braces for Run Out? Why the double cap? I just did my first braces so I'm new to this too but I think the stiffness of the braces would also be a factor too and weather or not you scallop. I'm interested in hearing the answers to this too. And also why please.

Chris
The brace stock was bought already cut to size from a respected Canadian seller on Ebay.
I believe his wood is good quality so I'm assuming no runout.
I have no idea why the 'double cap', I just thought that was what you did,

You know what they say about Ass u me don't you. One thing I learned from a discussion over at MIMF which was excellent and too bad it's down now is that the only way to tell about run out is to split a piece. I don't care who it's from!
But that's your call. It's your guitar. I got some and the discussion here is still up and it was terrible. I ordered some billets from someone else and still cut a brace off the end of each billet and split it to check the run out and tapped it to the side of the billet so I could see how the run out was in each billet. There was some with no run out and some with run out that I can get shorter braces from. I also got a 2 X 6 from Lowes that I'll get many braces from.

1/4 wide by 1/2 tall is fine for an OM with light gauge strings .. meds would be pushing it, although good for DADGAD tuning.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Just an example:
The top edge of the 2 X was split then planed to work from that edge. $6 for the 2 X 6 X 8'.

1/2" is lower than I would go. That 25% increase in height (to 5/8") is going to almost double the stiffness, other things being equal.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

What? I was napping.......

IMHO 1/2" is not only fine but preferable. The 2 OMs that I built in 2007 both were 1/2" at the X-intersection prior to capping and this is with 1/4" wide braces as well. I had to make sure I spelled capping correctly.......

I know a superb builder who will go lower than 1/2" too but I have been too much of a chicken to try that.

I think that you are good-to-go.

Examining a 1983 Olson SJ I was amazed to read 1/2 inch height on the x-brace join. It's holding up fine and had medium strings too.

I build mine at 5/8, but I think you could safely go lower, which others have proven. Mmmm hmmm.

Good question.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Thanks for the response guys.

Think I'll stick with it. I generally string up with Lights anyway so it should be ok.

Mat

Didn't I see you in "Sling Blade"? Mmmm hmmm.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com