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Hi I'm new to guitar building. I will be building a classical guitar soon, possibly a ten string.

I have a question. Since the sound comes from the vibration of the string and soundboard, why not use a simple bracing on the outside of the guitar that is directly part of the bridge?

welcome to the forum bill.

i'm sure you will get a variety of response to your query.

i will limit my comments to this; i think you would be wise to limit your initial few efforts to building to an estblished pattern 6 string before for your first few builds before attempting a far more complex 10 string.

we do have a ten string builder on the forum; it will be interesting to hear his opinion.

     I won't say don;t do it but I doupt you would be happy with it. The nightmare of finishing it alone would drive me nuts
john

There are a number of problems I can envision. Player comfort--it could get in the player's way. Bracing needs to be strong, but light--it could get bumped and pulled in unexpected ways, thus breaking or damaging it. Aesthics--could be ugly. And, yes, finishing would, indeed, be a nightmare.

Thanks for the replies.

This guitar is for my own personal use, looks is not that important to me in this case. I don't think it would be ugly.

I'm not talking about the entire bracing being on the outside, more like an extension of the bridge. In a fan pattern that would be directly part of the bridge. I think it would give the bridge more stability as well. The inside would still have some bracing.

I think the bracing could probably be smoothed somewhat and not as tall to avoid hooking it.


Another idea I have is to have part of the bridge fit directly inside the soundboard, so the bracing inside is directly attached to the bridge. What I mean is the bridge would have to have a bit extra on the bottom (like a strip) that could extend into the sound board.

Thoughts?billb38562.9642476852

I was thinking if something like this.