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Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
Ramirez flam' bracing?
Has anyone ever seen the bracing pattern for a Ramirez flamenco vs a classical?
Thinking about building from a classical pattern (there is a plan for a Ramirez classical), and trying to see what Ramirez might have changed. Sometimes, like the latter Miguel Rodriguez's, the bracing was the same (or so I have been told), but I played my neighbor's M.R. classical, and with a lower action, it would rock' as a Negra!
Hi! I'd be a bit careful - Ramirez blancas are much different from their classicals. They're much lighter, of course, but they're also braced much like a Torres. If you're looking for a different pattern from the Reyes, you might try the Barbero plans or the Santos from Courtnall's book.
you can´t go wrong using santos for a flamenco guitar - I´ve just finished building one using courtnall´s plans. It sounds great very sharp in attack and a nice percussive resonance.
here´s a pic of the bracing. I´ll be using it again for my next flamenco except making the struts slimmer and the board thinner to about 1.8 - 2.1mm and the bridge area about 2.5mm.
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watching this photo I notice a small detail. There is no square wood under the bridge. Is this part of the original plan or did you left it, what´s the advantage?
2 nother questions: 1) How did you finish you guitar (nitro, french, pu)? 2) What´s the action at bridge?
A lot of flamenco guitars don't include the bridge plate. I have a couple of guitars like this. A luthier freind told me that he views the plate as mostly to reinforce the top when the bridge is glued on. Like a clamping caul.
There is more than just one Ramirez bracing pattern. All three José's and also Manuel used their own bracing designs allthough they do not vary that much within the flamenco models. Drawings of the different patterns can be seen in the book "a collection of fine spanish guitars" by Sheldon Urlik. The bracing pattern as shown on the picture from lukemoon is a typical flamenco bracing pattern which has been succesfully used by different makers on many old and contemporary flamenco guitars.
Thanks for the input. And the pics...(Is everyone like me??? Do we all want EVERY nice guitar we see!!??? lol..)
If I can build again, I would like to try those 1933 Santos plans. Someone else said it is a very sweet guitar... Kind of have the 'bug', now, ya' sabes?
Just trying to get some ideas, as many Ramirez's I've played have been quite sweet. Thanks for all the info...I love this place!
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