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Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
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Author:  rich altieri [ Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
I have been building 000 model guitars following Antes plans and back brace #2 is aligned is a way that when you look through the sound hole you see the brace - about 1/4 of the way toward the front of the soundhole.

Just wondering if any of you modify your bracing patters so the back braces dont show as much when looking straight on at the guitar and through the soundhole.

I played around a little moving the #2 brace further back (toward back) and #1 slightly forward toward the front and then re-positioning #3 & #4 back further. Looks like too much bracing on the back side and too large of a space without bracing between #1 and #2

Thougts
Author:  David Collins [ Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
I guess it's never crossed my mind, and I have to say I think it's the first time I've ever heard it mentioned as an aesthetic concern. I suppose I would put back braces in the same category of frets or tuners being visible. idunno It's a part of the instrument, and just never occurred to me as something to hide. Aside from Ovations or pressed back Guilds, they're visible in about every other flat top made, and I've never heard anyone bothered by it.
Author:  Mike Collins [ Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
My back braces are not placed for looks -but for supporting the back
where i think they are needed for the size of guitar they're on(in)
Plan ahead (a drawing) for all the guitar sizes you make !

Hey that area might be a good place for a new label! :)
It would be hard to impossible to tell if the position made a difference on tone!

Mike[url]
http://www.collinsguitars.com[/url]
Author:  KenH [ Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
I changed all of my guitars to use an X brace, so I moved the two upper bout braces so that the label area shows thru the soundhole. The two lower bout braces are replaced with an X brace instead.
Author:  Rick Turner [ Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
I simply cannot believe that this is even an issue...

What, move your teeth because people can see them when you open your mouth?

Ever hear the Bauhaus motto, "Form follows function"?
Author:  JWarwick [ Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
ToddStock wrote:
Does a OOO really need four back braces? Martin uses four on all steel strings, but Jim Warwick and others go with three on smaller bodies.


I've been studying a lovely-sounding 1927 Mauer (Larson Bros.) in my shop for repair. 25 5/8" scale, 12 frets-to-smallish body, and six back braces!
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Seeing Back Braces Through Soundhole
ToddStock wrote:
Does a OOO really need four back braces? Martin uses four on all steel strings, but Jim Warwick and others go with three on smaller bodies. While the #1 brace plays a big role in stiffening up the 'box' to keep the neck block from rotating, it seems as though the others can be shifted as necessary - particularly the waist, with the narrower span and stiffening from the linings.

I use four, but only because mine are pretty light to start with.


One of the great classical makers--Hernandez y Aguado iirc--tried using three back braces for a while and found a marked improvement in sound when they went to four (I think this is in the Courtnall book, but I haven't checked). I'm dubious that the four brace back was just a matter of one guy doing it and everyone else following suit. Getting by with fewer parts and less work isn't a novel idea.
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