Can you assess this?

[darren]

no support for the center seam...

why try so hard for symmetry?

[Darryl Young]

That would be interesting. Keep in mind that I would want to minimize (or eliminate) any bracing below the green line shown below. Also, the tone bars terminating against the bridge plate and the X-brace at the point shown by the cheesy arrow in blue below does provide some structural integrity.

Guitar XBrace Variation2.PNG

I think this bracing structure below would be interesting on a small bodied guitar (bracing in red, not showing all the braces just the changes inside the lower X brace arms). PMTE behind the bridge plate and one tone bar.

Guitar XBrace Variation3.PNG

[deadedith]

Somogyi's books got me thinking about it. He made a pretty good case for symmetry below the bridge plate.
Plus, I wonder why symmetry would not be the STARTING place, and any diversion from that being considered 'exotic.'
I'm just playing the devil's advocate here. I find this type of discussion to be stimulating.

[Winston_S]

The de Jong bracing shown was in fact that used on a Classical guitar, but they do also use it in steel string construction as well, alibet with some changes.

Was just browsing around the internet and came across a guitar builder named McElroy who also uses it on his steel string guitars:


source: http://mcelroyguitars.com

Here's another interesting looking bracing for a guitar with no soundhole (????):


source: http://batsonguitars.com

[deadedith]

Very interesting remarks, Rick, thanks.
I was raised in the 'Question Authority!' school of thought, and I've spent my life unlearning that way of thinking. Defenses of traditional thought and ways of doing things reveal a wealth of underlying strength and wisdom that younger people (and I'm sure I was a younger person at one time) cannot see.
Though I surely do love speculation, my last build was straight traditional and each step felt right. Someone - it may have been you - stated that one should build at least one GREAT traditional style instrument before innovating. I think you're probably right.

[Darryl Young]

So there you go.......I would put way more faith in RDs speculation than any of mine! With that said, I'm going to double my rates and charge twice what I was charging for my bracing thoughts and speculation <smile>.

RD (or anyone else), have you been able to compare the sound of a 00 body with one tone bar to a 00 with 2 tone bars? Anyone care to share your thoughts on how the tone changed (good or bad)?

[deadedith]

Darryl - I hope you keep speculating. It's fun and educational.
I take VERY strong exception to your statement that the little blue arrow was "cheesy".
Wanna fight about it?? :-)

[David L]

So there you go.......I would put way more faith in RDs speculation than any of mine! With that said, I'm going to double my rates and charge twice what I was charging for my bracing thoughts and speculation <smile>.

RD (or anyone else), have you been able to compare the sound of a 00 body with one tone bar to a 00 with 2 tone bars? Anyone care to share your thoughts on how the tone changed (good or bad)?

I am currently building a OO and would like to know if it would be better to use 1 or 2 tone bars and also whether to use 1 or 2 finger braces per side.

David L

[darren]

RD - waited all day for your reply to this and you didn't disappoint.

David, there is no 'better'... you can hit a home run (or not) with double x/martin assymetrical/lattice/double top/etc etc.

I think typical for the 00 is one finger and two tone bars. That will get you sounding like a typical 00...

[Jim_H]

The de Jong bracing shown was in fact that used on a Classical guitar, but they do also use it in steel string construction as well, alibet with some changes.

Was just browsing around the internet and came across a guitar builder named McElroy who also uses it on his steel string guitars:


source: http://mcelroyguitars.com

Here's another interesting looking bracing for a guitar with no soundhole (????):


source: http://batsonguitars.com

The really cool thing about this bracing system is, if the doesn't work out well on your guitar, you can always grow tomatoes!