First Build - 12 Fret

[turnertj]

Here are some close-ups of the x-brace joint.

[Darryl Young]

You are showing some good craftsmanship there TJ.

The brace cap is added to strengthen the brace that is weakened by slotting along the top line where the tension is greatest. You add strength back to that brace by adding the cap trying to get that leg of the brace to match the stiffness of the other leg that was cut on it's bottom line. When you cut an additional recess for the brace cap, it weakens that particular brace even more so there's more discrepency in stiffness between each leg of the X-brace. When you add the cap in this location, it's not as far from the brace centerline so it doesn't add as much strength back as a brace cap over the top of the intersection. So I think it will work, but I don't think you will have equal stiffness between the two arms of the X -brace like you would without cutting the additional recess for the brace cap. I'm unsure what this will do to tone.

Looks great though!

[turnertj]

Hey Darryl,

Thanks. Wow, I feel dumb. Rookie mistake... Guess I'm going to be making a new x-brace. I'm getting good at it though, this will be the 5th one! I want to get it right, so there's no need to rush it.

[tippie53]

You should be ok. If you have some leftover kerfing you can redo that area .

[turnertj]

How would I use kerfing on the x-brace?

[tippie53]

where you notch the side kerfing it looked long. As for the notch and cop , that is clean and you have the ends tucked. This is the key for a good cap. Having the ends secured . It will add to the stiffness.

[turnertj]

Well, I got a bit more done today. I put the X-brace on after notching for all the tone bars, finger braces, etc..although I forgot to take pictures of it. Then I made the bridge plate, using Maple with the grain at an angle as per John's advice. I made a caul to clamp it to the soundboard, and got it mounted and in my Go-bar deck. So that should be on, with luck, when I pull it apart tomorrow morning. I also glued one tone bar down.

My 4-year came down stairs mid-process and asked if I was getting the bones of the guitar on! I kind of like that. Maybe I'll switch from calling them braces to calling them bones!

[turnertj]

Well, I got a bit more done today. I put the X-brace on after notching for all the tone bars, finger braces, etc..although I forgot to take pictures of it. Then I made the bridge plate, using Maple with the grain at an angle as per John's advice. I made a caul to clamp it to the soundboard, and got it mounted and in my Go-bar deck. So that should be on, with luck, when I pull it apart tomorrow morning. I also glued one tone bar down.

My 4-year came down stairs mid-process and asked if I was getting the bones of the guitar on! I kind of like that. Maybe I'll switch from calling them braces to calling them bones! I love the way kids think about things.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Looking good....the X bones connected to the, tone bone, the....................

Kevin

[Jim_H]

Looking good....the X bones connected to the, tone bone, the....................

Kevin

/awesome!

(P.S. I'm nominating this for "Post of the Year" ... we have one of those, right? )