Official Luthiers Forum!

So, why do steels string guitars have 4 back braces, and classicals only 3?   

I asked this question to Frank Finocchio last February while I was slaving away in his shop (and preparing to brace my OM (or Prima's) back. We had been tapping the back of another class member's guitar, who was building a classical, and locating the nodal positions. So, Frank, why isn't a steel string done the same way? Go ahead and do it, he says. One year later, I'm still happily playing my Prima with 3 back braces.

Why 4?

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

That's an excellent question. The only reason I can Think of is that they are larger. Lets see what others have to say.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I'll answer your question with another question.

Why not two braces instead of four?

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Ignatio Fleta, one of the most revered classical makers, always used 4 braces in his later period. I believe Hernandez y Aguado used 4 braces in some of their guitars also.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey]Why not two braces instead of four?[/QUOTE]
Wait--why not five?

I suspect that the simple transverse back bracing system was arrived at intuitively. Three braces have worked well for some luthiers, while others probably had a failure or two and started using four as insurance. I think some folks just can't stand to see any large, unbraced expanses on a plate because they worry about what can happen under decades of stress.

Some builders are getting away from the transverse system on backs, and are bracing them more like tops.

So, why four braces? Because that number has worked well on steel string guitars for decades, and many, or most, builders feel that if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it.

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] I'll answer your question with another question.

Why not two braces instead of four?[/QUOTE]

I dont think two braces would be sufficient to maintain the domed shape of the back. That said there are some people making braceless backs.

[QUOTE=kiwigeo] I dont think two braces would be sufficient to maintain the domed shape of the back. That said there are some people making braceless backs.[/QUOTE]

Sure, if they are laminated (Guild comes to mind) or arched (like an archtop), but a normal, solid unbraced back? There are people making guitars like that?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Yep there are. Heres one:

http://www.schrammguitars.com/

Cheers Martin