Official Luthiers Forum!

Many have posted their versions of the bolt-on fingerboard joint, but it seems like most people just run the extension up to the upper transverse brace and keep the bracing design the same. My understanding is that the upper transverse brace is there to support the fingerboard from caving in the top above the soundhole. If we're using a 3/4" fingerboard extension to support the fingerboard, couldn't we theoretically just remove the upper transverse brace and save some weight? What purpose does it really serve when using a bolt-on fingerboard?

That depends in how you do your neck block. If the neckblock is still tied to the top with the freatboard load,(all beit bolted on) still imparted into the top then the load is still consentrated in the same area just some what reduced. The upper transvers spreads this load over the fullwidth of the upper bout. If you are free floating then you probably could