Suggest a bracing plan

Telenator · November 29th, 2009, 03:46 PM

I am almost ready to begin bracing the top for what was my Guild D15M. I am building a sitka spruce top and have found that the Guild "X bracing" plan is very similar to a Martin plan. I like the sound of Martins.

So far, I have copied the Guild bracing plan from the top I removed from the guitar. The bracing is, well, "heavy duty" as compared to other styles I've been looking at.

Does anyone have any further suggestions or mild alternatives to the standard plan?

3 Chord · November 29th, 2009, 05:55 PM

If you don't have many responses here, try this place,

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php

good luck

westex93 · November 29th, 2009, 06:11 PM

My suggestion: start with the McRostie dreadnought plan from Stew-Mac. Just a standard Martin-style X-brace plan and a good one.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_p...itar_Plan.html

Guilds, as most factory guitars, are pretty overbuilt. You could copy the existing pattern and do some selective shaving of the braces. After all, this is your first top and a learning process. Most builders overbuild their first, anyway. Me, I believe in starting with a tried-and-true plan. Learn by the rules first, then worry about learning how to break the rules later.

zombywoof · December 12th, 2009, 12:55 PM

What I would look at - the triangle style bracing that Stu Mossman used to swear by (it is similar to what Gibson used in the mid-1950s). It is incredibly sturdy but allows alot of top flutter.

cousinpaul · December 12th, 2009, 03:22 PM

Tacoma was doing some interesting things with their bracing. I think the basic idea was heavier bracing on the bass side, lighter on the treble. On the other hand, what you've got may work fine with heavier strings and played hard enough to drive the top. If you google "tacoma guitar bracing" there are a number of things that will come up. For what its worth, I've got a '98 Tacoma round-hole (PM15) and compared to my Taylor dreadnought, it's a cannon.

Telenator · December 12th, 2009, 04:16 PM

Thanks guys. I ended up just copying the Guild X bracing from the original top.

This is my first effort so I didn't want to stay too far from the tried and true.

I did end up doing a little scallop work on the braces though in an effort to get a slightly more responsive top. I just now finished gluing the top to the body so, it's gonna be the way it is for a while.

There's another thread in this section with photos.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/acoustic-...ld-photos.html

November 29th, 2009, 03:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Telenator VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 7,179 5 Photos	Suggest a bracing plan I am almost ready to begin bracing the top for what was my Guild D15M. I am building a sitka spruce top and have found that the Guild "X bracing" plan is very similar to a Martin plan. I like the sound of Martins. So far, I have copied the Guild bracing plan from the top I removed from the guitar. The bracing is, well, "heavy duty" as compared to other styles I've been looking at. Does anyone have any further suggestions or mild alternatives to the standard plan? __________________ Dogs have the right idea! www.telenator.com

November 29th, 2009, 06:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
westex93 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Age: 37 Posts: 161	My suggestion: start with the McRostie dreadnought plan from Stew-Mac. Just a standard Martin-style X-brace plan and a good one. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_p...itar_Plan.html Guilds, as most factory guitars, are pretty overbuilt. You could copy the existing pattern and do some selective shaving of the braces. After all, this is your first top and a learning process. Most builders overbuild their first, anyway. Me, I believe in starting with a tried-and-true plan. Learn by the rules first, then worry about learning how to break the rules later. __________________ Wes McMillian Santo, TX

December 12th, 2009, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 3,086 17 Photos	What I would look at - the triangle style bracing that Stu Mossman used to swear by (it is similar to what Gibson used in the mid-1950s). It is incredibly sturdy but allows alot of top flutter. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

December 12th, 2009, 04:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Telenator VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 7,179 5 Photos	Thanks guys. I ended up just copying the Guild X bracing from the original top. This is my first effort so I didn't want to stay too far from the tried and true. I did end up doing a little scallop work on the braces though in an effort to get a slightly more responsive top. I just now finished gluing the top to the body so, it's gonna be the way it is for a while. There's another thread in this section with photos. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/acoustic-...ld-photos.html __________________ Dogs have the right idea! www.telenator.com

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November 29th, 2009, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
3 Chord Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Billings MT Age: 43 Posts: 517	If you don't have many responses here, try this place, http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php good luck

December 12th, 2009, 03:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
cousinpaul Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Nashville TN Age: 59 Posts: 246	Tacoma was doing some interesting things with their bracing. I think the basic idea was heavier bracing on the bass side, lighter on the treble. On the other hand, what you've got may work fine with heavier strings and played hard enough to drive the top. If you google "tacoma guitar bracing" there are a number of things that will come up. For what its worth, I've got a '98 Tacoma round-hole (PM15) and compared to my Taylor dreadnought, it's a cannon.

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