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Is there a reason for the end graft to flare a certain way - to the top or to the back. I have observed the tradition, but wonder why.

Just wondering...

Donovan

Mine always flare to the top... why? Cause that is the way I was shown...

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

sometimes the flare to the bottom is to make a smooth visual transition from the narrow binding to a wide back stripe.

sometimes it is just what strikes the builders fancy.

i know of no strucural reason for it to taper one way or the other.

It's just a psychological thing. It makes the "bottom" of the side appear heavier than the top. You'll often see this same approach used by picture framers. If a picture is matted, the mat is often left wider at the bottom than the top. If all sides of the matt are equal, it sometimes appears as if the bottom is actually thinner than the rest. It's all for visual balance, so it doesn't trouble our brains. Just because a proportion is traditional, though, doesn't mean it's the only way to do something. Many, if not most classical guitars use an end graft with no flair, yet my brain remains calm. CarltonM38942.5007175926

Thanks for the input.

That does make sense, Carlton.

Donovan

[QUOTE=D Stewart] Is there a reason for the end graft to flare a certain way - to the top or to the back. I have observed the tradition, but wonder why.

Just wondering...

Donovan[/QUOTE]

Ive always found it easier to get a tight fit with a flared end graft then with a straight graft, especially so if theres also purfling either side of the graft.

As for big on top or big on bottom....purely personal preference....I go for wide end of the graft towards the back of the guitar.

when I do a center wedge of an contrasting wood on a 3 piece back I will reverse the wedge to give a flow from the back wege to the endgraft

Mine always flair to the top. Except for that one I put in upside down. No wait, I planned it that way!

-Mark

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I usually have my end graft taper from widest at the top. I guess I prefer it this way because it somewhat mimics the contour of the neck heel. I really like the curved flair endgrafts that I've seen some folks do, but I haven't tried one of those yet. I think that having a curved flair to the end graft even more closely mimics the curve of the heel and adds a nice style point to the guitar.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Thanks Michael. I really like the curved ones as well. The first I saw that way was I think on a Ryan guitar. I had not thought of why I liked it but I think you are right with mimicing the contour of the neck heel. Good insight.

Donovan