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Hi Mattia, I also cut the pockets to fit the braces . I'm sure I could twist and force them in ,if they weren't a 100 % lined up ,but I much prefer to " Fit " them and maintain the correct geometry . My A frame braces are 10 mm. tall.

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Ah, much heftier than mine (7mm wide, 6mm tall), but I've never had to force or twist mine in with a routed and chiseled slot. Just...slots in. Neatly. I don't have a flat upper bout, the 'ledge' in the headblock is radiused to match the top curvature, so it makes most sense to, well, use that as a surface for routing, everything remains tangential to the dome's curvature.

Mattia, upon checking my specs , I have misinformed you. My A frame braces are 12m.m. tall by 8m.m. wide. I find this necessary if the A frame is to perform it's job . i.e. support the headblock for the long term . I just can't see 1/4" braces being able to do that. It means I have to notch the upper transverse to receive the notched A Frame braces ,and it does make it more difficult,,,, but a lot stronger. Lowden states that his will never need a neck reset, which sounds good to me , and the heavier bracing in that particular area can only add to the instruments solidity and sustain etc.

I don't flatten the upper bout either and prefer to have a radius there ,again for strength. I do, however, make a 'flat' in the middle of the transverse ( glue side) of about 100m.m. and also flatten the top of the headblock to suit. This gives me a nice flat area for the fingerboard extension as well as a good platform for the A Frame set up. Many ways to skin a cat, as they say.

Sorry to have digressed from the thread topic .

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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I don't thing the headblock needs support from A-fram braces, really; they're locking into the upper transverse (notched, like yours) and I have a 1/2" shelf extended into the top (where you have a foot) which is what takes on the upper bout strength. 7x6mm (or so) is plenty to 'lock' the top in, since the shelf extends to the upper transverse, or almost.

As you say, different ways to skin a cat ;)

never is a long time ... a client of mine had a Lowden that if he wanted any lower action, it would really need a reset (I traded emails with someone at the factory talking about the neck joint too) .. you could have almost no saddle or shave the bridge, but leaving them alone leaves no alternative ... hey, nothing is perfect every time !!!!

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

[QUOTE=TonyKarol]   hey, nothing is perfect every time !!!![/QUOTE]

Amen to that Tony

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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So Bolix...you got your answer.
Reading through this topic the answer looked pretty obvious to me!
The braces should be sanded like this:

.........ddddddddddooo// pppw w ir dang, kkeo... MY KEYBOARD ....eeo2l lppw ISN'T wiroe// WORKING ANY iiisqlq... MORE

dddddaaavvviiidddOOOOOO

I see references to Tracy's brace jig.  Sure be nice if someone would post a pic of it.  I need one that I can use on my table saw or router table.  Good if it could also handle shorter braces for a ukulele. Thanks

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

So it looks like we're getting the math cleaned up. Rob's original drawing and premise were correct. As jtkirby pointed out, lines of latitude are slices through a (nearly) spherical surface, and have different radii. According to my calculations, a brace 8" from the center of a 25' radius dish would need to lean about 1.53" from vertical to align its axis with the center of the sphere, a requirement if the radius is to remain 25'. If it is sanded in a vertical orientation, the radius would be about 24.99110953'. You might have a hard time noticing the difference.

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Kent

Facebook Page

[QUOTE=davidO]So Bolix...you got your answer.

Reading through this topic the answer looked pretty obvious to me!

The braces should be sanded like this:



.........ddddddddddooo// pppw w ir dang, kkeo... MY KEYBOARD ....eeo2l lppw ISN'T wiroe// WORKING ANY iiisqlq... MORE



dddddaaavvviiidddOOOOOO[/QUOTE]

sorry.. i missed the last word!!

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everything you know is wrong