Official Luthiers Forum!

Which way is the better to glue your reinforcement
strip, Before the braces and notch out, or after the braces and cut each piece? Which do you all prefer?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Which ever way is comfortable for you is best.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I don’t think structurally either is better than the other, but I like glue the strip down and notch because I x-brace and star-brace most of my backs, and individual pieces would require mitered fit-up so chiseling out is quicker.

Yeah,That makes sense Michael,Thanks

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Thanks ,I like that tip on gluing,or not gluing I should say.Nice and neat

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I glue the backstrip first then cut it out with a single edge razor blade. You can see this technique on Frank Finocchio's excellent set of videos. I liked em so much that I went to Easton and took his class.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

reinforcement strip?? Whats that??

Just joking!

I'm with Hesh on this one and do it almost the same way....But both ways have the same exact outcome, so perfect the way you feel most comfortable with and you'll be jsut fine!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=peterm] reinforcement strip?? Whats that??

Just joking!

I'm with Hesh on this one and do it almost the same way....But both ways have the same exact outcome, so perfect the way you feel most comfortable with and you'll be jsut fine![/QUOTE]

I could have said the same thing, except for joking!

I didn't have a back strip on my first because it was a one piece oak ply back!

Anyhoo, i plan on glueing it first on the second build to copy what i've seen almost everywhere!

Glue down the strip

Than I've borrowed an idea which I've seen several other builders do. I've made a router templete for the brace notches. Check out Charlie Hoffman's cool jig near the middle of the page, just make sure the slot down the middle is deep enough to sit over the reinforcement strip. Very quick and you get the same spacing on the braces for every build. Just don't run the router bit into the back wood, you'll cry. Rod True38815.1147685185

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Dave - I really enjoyed Frank's course. He teaches you serious backstrip method I can now cut backstrip notches that seemingly could hold the back braces without glue. But the thing I really appreciated from the course, and would be struggling with still, I'm sure, after many guitars down the road if I had to figure it out myself, is all the info on neck fitting, fingerboard setup under tension, etc.

Serge and Peter - All joking aside - Larrivees don't even have backstrips (at least from company start through 2002 - I haven't looked since). So I suspect that talk about which building method is better from a structural point of view is verging on overkill.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Thanks Rod,Man Charlie Hoffmans site is really great.
And thanks Dave R. and Jim, I've never watched F.F.'s
video's.I think Stew-mac sells them,right? Thats interesting that Larrivee's don't use a backstrip at all!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Dave - There was an interview with Jean Larrivee reprinted in one of the Big Red Books, indicating that he has been using the method of simply butting the back halves and soaking with thin CA since he started building, and has never followed up with a backstrip. That's a pretty strong testiment for the CA joint as well. There is something like 30 years of history for his guitars now? and I have not heard any rash of complaints about his back joints separating.

I have two of his guitars (an L-09 and a walnut parlor) and can in no way be viewed as an unbiased reporter.   

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I glue in the back strip first and then mark cuts for braces using the
actual braces themselves.....that way the width of the cut is always spot
on.

You could do it wither way but I prefer the latter. Its also easier cleaning
glue squeeze out along a single length of back strip rather than having to
work between braces. As Hesh pointed out its also easier shaping the
backstrip if you put it in first.

Cheers Martinkiwigeo38815.9503703704

Glad I could help Hesh.

As Martin said, it is quite easy to hold the brace on the backstrip and mark it (I use the razor blade to mark one side, then slide the brace back to just over the mark and mark the other side). You can get them fitting very tight this way.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Just to be different, I now glue the Back braces in and fit the reinforcing strips in between. Orriginally I did the strips first and notched them out because thats what I was told to do but after having to remove one strip because of a bad fit and cut a new piece I felt it was easier to do it this way.