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I plan on building a short scale (24.9) guitar for slack key (open G tuning).  What design considerations do I need to include (heavier strings, beefier bracing, etc.)?  On some guitars intended for normal tuning, slack key tuning causes string buzzing.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Rich,

In terms of bracing I personally would build the guitar as I would any other in terms of bracing etc. - looking for that knife-edge of minimum possible for structural stability and optimum for the sound you want. I would then pick a set of string gauges that work in terms of playability. If you are after a certain "sound" then the size of guitar and type of bracing (eg ladder versus X braced) will be considerations.

It also depends what you mean by slack-key Open G. If it is DGDGBD, then the 6th, 5th and 1st strings are tuned down from standard, but there is also the High Bass G Tuning GBDGBD where the 6th and 5th strings are tuned up and the 1st string down.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010