Guitar #5 Progress

[Eric Knapp]

Hi, all.

I'm making good progress on guitar number 5. It's in some nice Koa with subtle curl. This is my first guitar that will go out to sort-of a customer. My sister is giving this to my brother-in-law. He's left-handed and hasn't had a nice guitar for a long time. He's very excited and I'm very nervous.



I'm trying the double-X style bracing.

The rims are laminated with the outer layer being Koa, a basswood inner layer, and walnut veneer in the inside.

The lining is basswood. I have a lifetime supply of basswood so I'm using it where I can.

I used mahogany for the x-brace caps as I had a little piece at hand. I think it looks ok.

The next step is to glue it together. I have no reference and not enough experience to voice the top well. I just fool around with trimming the braces and hope for this best.

As always, any feedback is most welcome.

Thanks,

-Eric

[Alan Carruth]

How tall are the top braces at the X crossings? Mine usually end up about 1/2" or a bit less for the main X, and 5/16" or thereabouts for the lower X. You really don't need much bracing behind the bridge.

Also, the caps on the X braces are thicker than they need to be. They're there to hold the joint together on the down side, so that it doesn't open up and concentrate the stress at the lap, where it could peel the brace apart. What matters most on those is the glue line between the patch and the brace. Remember that Martin has used a cloth patch for that forever, and they work fine.

[Eric Knapp]

How tall are the top braces at the X crossings? Mine usually end up about 1/2" or a bit less for the main X, and 5/16" or thereabouts for the lower X. You really don't need much bracing behind the bridge.

My main X is 16mm or about 5/8" at its highest. The lower X is smaller than that but bigger than 5/16". I think I'll adjust those.

Also, the caps on the X braces are thicker than they need to be. They're there to hold the joint together on the down side, so that it doesn't open up and concentrate the stress at the lap, where it could peel the brace apart. What matters most on those is the glue line between the patch and the brace. Remember that Martin has used a cloth patch for that forever, and they work fine.

That's good to know and it will be easy to thin those down.

I suspect it is a rookie inclination to make braces bigger than they need to be. I am following a set of plans that specifies the main X to be 16mm tall. Getting this kind of input is extremely useful, thank you.

-Eric

[Karl Wicklund]

Looking good Eric!

[Eric Knapp]

How tall are the top braces at the X crossings? Mine usually end up about 1/2" or a bit less for the main X, and 5/16" or thereabouts for the lower X. You really don't need much bracing behind the bridge.

Also, the caps on the X braces are thicker than they need to be. They're there to hold the joint together on the down side, so that it doesn't open up and concentrate the stress at the lap, where it could peel the brace apart. What matters most on those is the glue line between the patch and the brace. Remember that Martin has used a cloth patch for that forever, and they work fine.

I trimmed the X-braces and made new caps. This should be better. Thanks.

-Eric

[Eric Knapp]

Looking good Eric!

Thank you, Karl!

-Eric