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I ran across this on Frets.com. It's an old Gibson Lg-2. What is interesting to me is that neither the x brace nor the shoulder brace is notched into the kerfing. I thought the x brace notching into the kerfing was sacrosanct.

What was Gibson's thinking at that time, I wonder? Greater flexibility ? Has Martin ever done this?

DaveB

The extra little piece is a patch that Frank glued on.

I'd wager any amount of money. they did it that way because it was cheaper and faster.

Martin only inlets the main X brace and truss rod on the top . All back braces are inleted .

That top looks like it's been around, perhaps it's had several installations and been reworked a couple of times.

David L

David L wrote:That top looks like it's been around, perhaps it's had several installations and been reworked a couple of times.

David L

Don't think so. My 69' LG0 (ladder braced cousin to the LG1, 2) is done the same way. And I've owned it since new.

Tim B

I've been inside a few Gibsons, installed new tops on a couple including my brother's Gibson classical -- replaced the ladder braced top with Torres pattern Sitka Spruce soundboard. Anyway I have only been able to examine few pre Montana acoustics, looked inside my own 1965 Southern Jumbo before I sold it -- I'll just say those in my mini survey were not very impressive as to construction quality. My Southern Jumbo was a variation of the J45 -- not cheap -- but it had this goofy adjustable metal and plastic bridge! Just seems from what I have read -- the feeling is that the Montana Gibson acoustics are generally higher in construction, fit and finish quality then the oldies. Thoughts?

As to the kerfing inlets - unless that inlet is cut the exact shape of the brace end, so that the brace end glues solidly to the kerfing, I do not see the advantage of taking the extra time. We want that brace to move anyway, right? - and I think most of us leave a little room around the brace end either by design or a slip in technique.

Is the top response really that much different because the x braces don't go 1/2" m/l further than if they stopped short of the kerfing?

DaveB

inletting is about stability and strength. I have seen it done both ways and more problems develop when the structural braces are not inletted.

Thanks John. Is it your suggestion then that the brace ends fit very tightly into the inlet, making contact with the kerfing on the sides and top of the brace? That would be the only way I can see that the structure would be affected. Otherwise, the brace would only be attached to the top, and leaving it short of the kerfing would be the same structurally as inletting it and not gluing the brace to the kerfing - I think - with the advantage that the kerfing would not have to be notched.

DaveB

I like to inlet the braces as a means to locate the top when attaching it in addition to all that other stuff that people have said about the braces.