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Mahogany Top Braces?
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Author:  gilmoreguitars [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Mahogany Top Braces?
I have always been a pretty old school type builder and have always used spruce brace stock on my tops. Although, I have some nice quarter sawn mahogany that is really too short for necks, but long enough for bracing on a parlour top guitar I have just started. I am using a cedar top and walnut back and sides. I repaired a pre 1920 parlour guitar several years ago, and traced it and wrote down all the information I could from it for future reference. I got a commission for a parlour with a ceder top so it was time to pull it out...the plan that is laughing6-hehe
So I was wondering if anybody here has ever used mahogany...I know lots of people use it as back brace material...what about the top.
Thanks for your input.
Cheers
David
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mahogany Top Braces?
Back's bace weight to strength ratio is not near as critical as the top's. Spruce providdes greater stength at less weight.

I peronally only use Spruce and on rare ocasions Cedar for top bracing. that said I have seen ladder braced tops using mahogany
Author:  gilmoreguitars [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mahogany Top Braces?
Thanks Michael
The brace patter for this guitar is based on a ladder...The original was very lightly braced. I am thinking because this is a commission, I am going to go for what I know, and experiment with different material on a guitar that is not a commission.
I would still like to hear more opinions on this subject though.
David
Author:  joel Thompson [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mahogany Top Braces?
gilmoreguitars wrote:
The brace patter for this guitar is based on a ladder...


Try saying that ten times fast :o

Joel.
Author:  joel Thompson [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mahogany Top Braces?
I woldent mind experementing with mahogany for top bracing,
I know it goes against all the usual rules but i cant help feeling you may get some interesting results.

on my first guitar i had to cut back the finish to the wood and i ended up with a very thin spot in the where the pic guard should be.
to remedy this i glued a figured mahogany pic gaurd on to strengthen the top and it sounds wonderfull and rich.
try as i might i have yet to replicate that sound.

It just goes to show that by doing something that goes against the standard rules you can sometimes achive pleasing results.

you can also achive horrndous results but there is no harm in giving something a go as long as its at your own expense and not a customers.

I have been experementing with laminated (spruce/cedar/spruce and spruce/mahogany/spruce) brace stock and tesing the strength ratios but i have yet to do a build with this as yet.
To be honest i have yet to see a noticeable diferance that would make it worthwhile.

I have also seen some builder laminating carbon fiber between there braces which seems like a good idea to me.

spanish cedar might be an option as its lighter than mahogany?

Joel.
Author:  ncovey [ Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mahogany Top Braces?
It might just be my nature to try things for myself, but I have had very good results with spanish cedar bracing as well as mahogany.
Spanish Cedar is very light and strong, I like to use it for classical necks and have used it for a couple steel strings as well. Tear out during shaping is a little is easier than mahogany, but it makes for a light guitar. As for mahogany bracing, I select quarter sawn material with tighter grain and reduce it's mass by about 15%. The tonal difference I have noted, especially in smaller bodies is sustain, it does seam to increase the sustain, (mahogany). with cedar the tone is more like spruce. This is of course in combination with other techniques I use in top material and thicknessing. Bracing placement and style are factors as well. I do a lot of experimenting with other woods and these are just my opinions, I do tend to brace with sitka more times than not,
but have several hog braced instruments performing very well. Another plus to the Sp. Cedar bracing is the aroma while playing, it's pretty nice.
--N.C.
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