Straight braces

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Straight braces

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mango

Posts: 158
Joined: Apr. 2 2019

Straight braces

Does anybody have some experience with braces that are parallel to the grain of the top?
Like so:

https://pin.it/5hyp3nzefiw2ga

What kind of sound can be expected from this kind of bracing?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 4 2019 9:53:35

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Straight braces (in reply to mango)

That is very close to the bracing that I use on most of my Spruce flamencos. It works really well on Spruce with high cross-grain stiffness. I find that that bracing can make for a really nice raspy, gritty voice. In my experience, it doesn't work so well on Cedar tops though. Cedar seems to need a little more support to the sound, otherwise the raspiness can go too far and become brittle. I've tried a small bridge patch, but what works better for me is to just use slightly more fanned bracing on Cedar (which I will also sometimes do on Spruce for a smoother sound).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 4 2019 12:26:17

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Straight braces (in reply to mango)

Thanks for sharing.
That bracing is very similar to the bracing used on my 81 Conde and I saw it on a 76 Conde as well.
At that time the top was quite thin.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 4 2019 12:30:05