Bracing and bridge combination

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Armando

Posts: 302
Joined: May 27 2005
From: Zürich, Switzerland

Bracing and bridge combination

This is a question to all luthiers.

I'm currently in a doubt about the following issue:

I've seen quite a number of different bracing patterns on different blueprints and in real. Some designs have the bracing pattern aranged in a way that it combines with the outer edges of the bridge. It is often the 1st and the 5th (5 fan) or 2nd and 6th (7 fan ) bracing that either runs alongside the bridge edges or crosses the lower corners. This system seems to be logic to me as it supports the bridge well. However there are some other designs on which the mentioned braces do not touch the edges of the bridge at all. This means, that the bridge is supported only by the three central braces 2,3 and 4 (5 fan) or 3,4 and 5 (7 fan).

I had in mind to give a try to one of these bracing patterns of the second sort, but i doubt that the result will be good.

So my question is: Has anybody made experiences with such bracing patterns? How does it affect the sound of the guitar?

regards

Armando

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2009 10:40:49

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Bracing and bridge combination (in reply to Armando)

Armando, I cant tell you how it affects sound. Its to theoretical.

But I can say that I made some flamencos with a 5 bracing pattern, rather long closing struts and a sloped lower harmonic bar. (It was NOT the 51 Barbero but a more standard approach) they had the 1 and 5 outside the bridge. The braces were a little heavyer than on a 7 piece fan. Also, a very thin bridge strip going across the soundboard from edge to edge (like some Barberos and Reyes) This I find to be important in order to control the doming. I have seen Granada guitars with 5 fans, 1 and 5 outside bridge, no bridge reinforement, with problems where the top lifted to much in the middle and sank between the bridge and the edges

It has been some 3 years since I made the last with this pattern, but I will go back and make more. Right now I´m finetuning another pattern.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 5 2009 23:54:43

Armando

Posts: 302
Joined: May 27 2005
From: Zürich, Switzerland

RE: Bracing and bridge combination (in reply to Armando)

Hi Anders

Thanks for the comments.

As i have finally improved sound with a specific pattern, it's hard for me to go for something else where the result is unknown, allthough it would be interesting to do so. I prefere for the moment to finetune the patterns that i already know.

regards

Armando

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 9 2009 12:10:12