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| Re-bracing a top http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16282 |
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| Author: | bassethound [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re-bracing a top |
I'm looking for any suggestions anyone might be able to pass along regarding removing a top from a recently constructed acoustic guitar. The series of events that need to happen seem to me to be: - remove the neck (already done) - rout the binding off - remove the finish in the area around the top rim, and around the sides - heat the rim and carefully remove the top - rebrace the top - with the guitar in a mold to hold the sides firmly in place, re-install the top, then continue with re-installation of purfling (a little wider, or maybe herringbone strip this time) and binding. - finish top and sides (hopefully leaving the back finish intact) I realize that I'll have to be very careful to get the top to fit properly, and that there will be very little room for error. I think that I can make up for any little misalignments by using a thicker binding and wider purfling. Why am I doing this (you were probably wondering right from the start)? Well, after trying several adjustments, I simply can't get this guitar to give the sound and the volume I'm looking for. After completion of the guitar, I realized and learned through talking with other luthiers that I'd made several mistakes, and here's what I'd like to correct: - primarily... open up the X-brace so that the bridge intersect it further out toward the ends - shift the X-brace slightly forward as well - scallop the braces (last time I used a parabolic profile) - install a thinner bridge plate (I did not thickness the previous one, and it was very thick maple) - thin the top... it's very highly figured sitka... and I think it needs to go down from .115 to around .100-.105 - thin the edges of the lower bout before refinishing... take them down to .085-.090 or so - correct the placement of the bridge... somehow it slipped before drilling the two locating holes, and intonation on the Low E is off / impossible to correct at present. The guitar is sitka and mahogany, slightly smaller than OM size, with a slightly deeper body (1/8"). It looks great, and plays fantastic (I got 2/3 of the equation right!). I am hoping to get more volume, and get a guitar that produces a deeper, more bluesy, thumpier sound, as opposed to the more treble heavy sound I have now (which sounds 'tinny' to my ears). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ken |
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