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Hi guys,

I'm a classical builder and I mostly build lattice braced guitars with conventional back and side bracing. I don't use a heavy plywood ring or the 1/2 x 1/2 sq brace going from the tail to the soundhole. I like the sound of the smallman style guitars but I hate the weight. I was wondering if I could build in the same style but lighten up the guitar by cutting lightening hole in the plywood ring and then cover it up with a thin plywood skin? would it keep it's rigidity? I'm going after a type of nomex double top design on the plywood ring. I was also thinking about using hollow wooden tube in place of the 1/2 x 1/2 sq braces what do you think?

Hi Ed,

I had a look at the Smallman copy on MIFM and came to the same conclusion. Hollow section should work well. Mind you, it could also be argued that weight as well as rigidity might contribute to the Smallman sound. So the bottom line is to give it a try and see what hapen. You might end up with a ighter instrument but you might have to alter other design conepts if mass is critical.

Tim
Aust Tonewoods

Hi Tim,

You probably saw my friend Dave Schramm's smallman design. Dave said he was inspired to build latticed braced guitars after hearing my daughters, while she was attending his classes at the college. I would have asked him about it but I was affraid I might be asking a dumb question. Most classical buiders and players are very traditional, it seems like they don't like thinking out of the box.
Another thing I noticed about the Smallman Design is that the backs and sides are about 4mm thick and the back uses no bracing, rather it is molded into a dome. All of this is not really for mass but for rigidity. Do you think the side and back could be built using nomex sandwiched and bent between two rosewood skins?

BTW I've never worked with nomex.EBarajas39046.8730787037