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Hesh
The rims are VERY VERY STIFF because they use a non kerfed lining on the
R.Taylors. The top side and back side lining are actually integrated into
the
side supports and glued in as a single entity. They bend their linings like
we
bend our binding on a Fox style bender.
At the NAAM show they had 2 identical rims of EIR. One had conventional
kerfed linings. (Standard on the Taylor line) and one with the non kerfed
linings (Standard on the R Taylors) The difference is stiffness was very
dramatic.    To make the look even cleaner, the lining on the back side is
of
the same material as the back. The top side liner looked like mahogany.
Their is a nice article about the R. Taylors and their linings in the last
issue
of the Fretboard Journal
Since I cannot upload a pict, I will email it to you
azimmer139103.6736574074

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Hesh,
    I agree that there is no primary bass or treble side to a top, there are
primary bass and treble nodes in every top. Those nodes can be
effectively and dramtically addressed by brace placement and voicing.
That's our goal when we voice our tops...to address the nodes that
paricular frequencies resonate at.

     This is kind of like the discussion last month that brought up the topic
of mass and its inevitable damping effects of EVERY guitar top from
EVERY builder. Even though some can claim that their goal is to eliminate
damping due to mass...it is impossible since bracing is essential to the
survival of any guitar and its mass must be present. The issue becomes
one of learning to use the mass and the damping that is always present
with it to our benefit as we direct vibration with it since we cannot
eliminate it. We can;t eliminate the traffic, but we can learn to direct to
areas that will make it work for us, so to speak.

    It's never been a matter of lightening the the bass side for more bass
response or tightening it for less. This is probaby one of the most
misunderstood aspects of building and some builders have dismissed the
value of voicing and addressing the specific nodes of a top simply
because they can't seem to get it.

   These are the builders who will default to designs that have been
deeply established by others for a generally good tone with a reasonable
balance and response characteristic set. What they fail to realize is that
those deeply established designs were arrived at through the countless
hours that their originators spent doing just what we who pursue a more
practical and applicable knowledge of voicing are doing. We just vary our
efforts to intentionally reach different results, whether good or bad, for a
number of reasons, the greatest being reference and experience.

    This joint being shown by R. Taylor is certaily one that creates a
different venue for tone generation than a standard "X" brace and its
ability to distribute vbration is completely different as it does.

    I look forward to playig one with this pattern and am anxious to hear
the difference. I'm not in complete aggreement with the use of non kerfed
linings, but look forward to hearing what they offer in the R. Taylor line. I
like a rigid rim set, but alos feel that they can be too heavy if the concept
is overvalued.

     Again, just my opinions.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega GuitarsKevin Gallagher39104.6210763889

Kevin,

My feeling about the rabbeted edge is that it's trying to cure a problem in their hefty bracing rather than the top. Furthermore and more the point of concern is that they are creating a weak spot near the edge of the top because they are cutting the fibers there instead of easing the thickness from the outside.

Dave,

   Agreed. Cutting fibers by routing across such a narrow channel can create
a drop in strength. The recurve of a carved top on an archtop is reatig he
same effect but without as much danger of loss of integrity.

Thanks,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Here is the first example I ever saw of routing a channel around the top, its a Kevin Ko Guitar, and I believe he did this back in 1999 or 2000.


LanceK39104.5078703704

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance,
   I remember when Kevin did his rout around his top edge. He's a great builder with awesome vision and creativity. His "I" beam bracing was very cool, but slightly different from that of others that have used it. I've tried it on a few prototypes and really liked the tonal results.

   Do you remember his beautiful cantilever tailpiece and bridge system that he came up with around that same time? It may have even been on that very guitar. A great design that I believe he may have secured a patent on.

   I'll have to touch base with him just to catch up a little.

Thanks,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

[QUOTE=Kevin Gallagher] Lance,
   I remember when Kevin did his rout around his top edge. He's a great builder with awesome vision and creativity. His "I" beam bracing was very cool, but slightly different from that of others that have used it. I've tried it on a few prototypes and really liked the tonal results.

   Do you remember his beautiful cantilever tailpiece and bridge system that he came up with around that same time? It may have even been on that very guitar. A great design that I believe he may have secured a patent on.

   I'll have to touch base with him just to catch up a little.

Thanks,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to the Kevin Ko guitar from the OLF archives. Kevin Ko guitar

It really is a thing of beauty as is all of his work.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Yup, very impressive work, thanks Don!

I didn't bother to look at the R.Taylor booth at NAMM. But FWIW, a friend who is an R.Taylor dealer told me that they sound like a Taylor--not different, but more consistently like the best Taylors.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Kevin, Yes I remember that tail piece, matter of fact Kevin Ko got a patent on the tail block.



You can see his patented Cantilevered tail block HERE

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

[QUOTE=Howard Klepper] I didn't bother to look at the R.Taylor booth at NAMM. But FWIW, a friend who is an R.Taylor dealer told me that they sound like a Taylor--not different, but more consistently like the best Taylors.[/QUOTE]

I've played four different ones and would have to concur about the sound. The neck feels a bit different though - not as slim?