Official Luthiers Forum!

A shot of this morning's output of back braces..



(making big sticks of spruce into smaller ones!)
russ38389.4277083333

Looks like you are making a few guitars! How about sharing your
techniques-they seem to be machine cut?

_________________
Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Sylvan,
I am making a run of 6 guitars right now, and I use a double x-bracing on the backs (that's why there are so many!) :)

They are mostly machine cut, and I make them in several steps, using templates with a table mounted router. The steps are:
1. trim blank to proper height (fixture 1)
2. cut notches of x-brace lap joints (fixture 2)
3. cut to profile (using profile bit in router table)
4. cut arc (15' radius) to match back curvature (fixture 3)
6. make the cutouts in the bottom side of the braces (fixture 4)
7. cut the scalloping in the brace ends on router table (fixture 5)
8. glue those puppies together

9.have a small Black & Decker "Mouse" sander I use for finish sanding them.

I think that about covers it!

whew!!!! :)

Russ, I have one of those little Mouse sanders and I really like it, does a great job of sanding. The only problem is Black and Decker does not make enough different grits for my applications. I get around it by making my own using hook and loop.
        I don't know how you guys can "mass produce" braces. The variablity of mass and stiffness of tops and braces can be so great that I just can't do it that way. I make my braces to a "standard size" which is actually oversize height wise and pare down the braces once glued down. Is that how you are doing it? I generally use a parabolic like cross section and only start to scallop when the top/brace combo is still to stiff.

Paul,

These are back braces, and I usually keep them at a standard size.
Like you, I manually pare down the top braces for top voicing.

Back braces, yes that occured to me after I posted, I do pretty much the same thing. Put it down as a "Homer Moment" (DOH!).

Hey Russ, what's that purrty wood under them sticks thar?

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Russ,
I too use x-braces for my backs. I find they let the back move more and have not had any structural failures yet! Do you "tune" your backs?

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Dave,
I have found the same, that the back moves more and seems to contribute more to the overall sound of the guitar.

Don...that is good 'ole East Indian rosewood under the braces, for a client who likes the stripey stuff.