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It seems that taking the X braces all the way into the sides is stronger, but if you stop just before the sides the top will be more free to move. I suspect the change in strength is not significant, but I also wonder if it makes much of a difference in sound/tone/volume. I have opinions but no knowledge because I always take the braces all the way into the sides. It seems that if there is not any difference either way, it would make sense to reduce time and eliminate the step of carving out the slots for the braces.   

What about the back bracing also? Same logic here?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I think I'm in a pretty small minority here in that I stop my braces at the linings (all of them). If it's time savings you are after, you won't find it. It's pretty tricky to bring a brace to 0" right at the lining. If you hit 0" before the lining, it looks bad and if you leave any thickness, the brace will likely pop because it's not as flexible as it needs to be.
I'm a big believer that it makes a huge difference in sound. Good or bad? That's in the ear of the beholder. It's much better to my ear. Strength won't be an issue if you keep everything else the same.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] It's pretty tricky to bring a brace to 0" right at the lining. [/QUOTE]
Paul, what do you mean by that?

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Like a lot of guys/gals here, I feather the brace to nothing as it reaches the linings. except for the the upper bout braces. Nothing new here though as Gibson did the same thing on lots of guitars back in the day.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=peterm] [QUOTE=Pwoolson] It's pretty tricky to bring a brace to 0" right at the lining. [/QUOTE]
Paul, what do you mean by that?[/QUOTE]
Feathering it down to nothing at the exact point it meets the lining.

So Paul, in essence the top braces would end right at the linings thus not beeing glued at all into them?

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=peterm] So Paul, in essence the top braces would end right at the linings thus not beeing glued at all into them?
[/QUOTE]
Yup! That's the point. It frees up the perimeter of the top to vibrate.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson]Feathering it down to nothing at the exact point it meets the lining.[/QUOTE] Could you stop 1/8" or 1/4" before the lining? I think I remember that the revoiced Taylors do that.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson]Feathering it down to nothing at the exact point it meets the lining.[/QUOTE] Could you stop 1/8" or 1/4" before the lining? I think I remember that the revoiced Taylors do that.

(Bump to the top to see if I can get an answer - Thanks!)SteveS38978.5165972222

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Paul,
Do you still put the back braces all the way through?
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

J, when you say "through" I'm not really sure what you mean. If it's "through the linings" the answer is no. The braces stop right at the linings. But there mustn't be any height to them when they stop or they will likely pop with a strong blow to the body. When you go to 0" at the lining, there is flex in them to avoid this.

Paul,
On all of my back braces on the back of the guitar and the X Braces and upper transverse brace on the top, I leave the edges of the braces at 1/8" height and notch the sides and kerfing to accomodate them going all the way through. It sounds like you leave your braces short on the top (down to 0" at the lining). I was wondering if you did the same on the back or if your back bracing actually went through the lining and sides.
Do you have any photos?
thanks
-j.

_________________
“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

J, I stop everything at the linings. None of my braces are notched into the linings. I'll see if I can dig up some pics.