Laminated bracing - What do you think?

[tippie53]

I never used it for bracing but have heard a few. It seemed too tinie for my ear . There was a company not long ago that had the entire guitar framed and braced in CF. Echhhh Ovations sounded so much better .

[kencierp]

I believe the NYT article was about this CF violin maker

http://www.luisandclark.com/category/press/

Apparently not too scabby!

I like wood

[Darryl Young]

here is a link to a YouTube video of one of a Mario Proulx's guitar built with a thin middle layer of carbon fiber on the X braces (and best I know, nowhere else). Mario is playing the guitar. The CF runs vertical in the middle of the X-brace. This guitar has killer sustain!!! And the tone cut (attack) are awesome for a great flatpicking guitar. Mario chooses a thin strip of CF as it's purpose isn't to add strength to the brace, just utilize the "memory" of CF for resistance to creep. This allows him to push closer to the edge on soundboard rigidity yet the guitar will hold up over time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3xhXHt9 ... ideo_title

[tippie53]

JJ Donahue also does it but I think he learned that from Mario

[deadedith]

"reached the limits of what they feel they an do with only solid wood braces"

Would they say that they consistently get the very best out of the traditional materials? I don't know.
That would be a huge statement to have to stand by. Then again, in the big scheme of things I am just taking a few steps.