Official Luthiers Forum!

This is a parphrase ( or what I was realy getting at ) on another thread .
I bought what was suposed to be a complete kit , came with prebent mahogany sides ( from martin probably ) about .077.
the kit did not come with any sort of rim braces , now I am wondering if I need to back track , since I have lined the rims ,and inlet some sort of bracing .
I know with some woods like brazilian rose wood , is so prone to cracking, it would be questionable , maybe even suicidal ,if one did not brace the rims .. I am wondering what the nature of mahogany is , is it prone to cracking ? .. i know I have seen guitars that did not have rim braces, I was wondering if it depended mostly on the type of wood used . .thanks Jody

Mahogany is very stable and probably less prone to cracking from humidity changes than some of the rosewoods.
It is however far more prone to impact damage than rosewood.......evidenced by the large number of vintage guitars (style 18 Martins mostly) that I've seen with holes punched right through the sides and backs.
A few side reinforcement strips (rosewood 3/32" X 3/8") fitted across between the linings at the flattest portions of the upper and lower bouts is a reasonble precaution.

Jody buddy I have been following your questions in a number of threads and I want to let you know that you don't have anything to worry about.

Mahogany is no more prone to cracking than most woods and certainly not as potentially problematic as Ziricote or some BRW.

OK - take a deep breath and know that you don't have anything to worry about.....

Since your kerfed linings are already installed and if I understand your progress correctly you did not install any side supports. You are up against what you read in our prior discussion where both side tape users and side support users both indicated that the proper way to install them is to inlet them into the kerfed linings. I think this is what you are agonizing over correct?

Just install approx. 5 side supports per side (1/4" wide, 1/8" deep) around the rim and butt them up against the bottoms of the kerfed linings. Although they will not be inlet it's better then no side supports at all and again if your guitar never encounters a crack causing situation (a hard blow etc.) or is allowed to dry out to much you should be fine.

OK David and Todd beat me to the post - I agree with both of them.

If your box is not closed use David's dimensions and install some side supports. If the box is closed as Todd indicated you are still OK.

cool ( a sigh of relief , not neck relief though ! although what I thought might be a pain in the neck LOL !) but alas some relief , in the form of forum support , thanks guys ! Jody

Great Jody - you are doing fine so just keep plugging away and enjoy building your very cool guitar