Silk Ribbon for Side Bracing
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:58 pm
On my first build John Hall recommended that I use silk ribbon for side braces. Around that time my friend Bruce Roth at Vintage Blues Guitars let me play this 1930 Martin OM-18; see it here: http://www.vintagebluesguitars.com/inventory.html with really cool banjo style tuners. On their inventory page it's about the fifth or sixth listing with pictures and sound clips.
Man, was I nervous, that is one pricey guitar! It's on hold (or Bruce is playing it) but I think it was priced over $20K. The first thing I noticed was how light it was. So, when John suggested silk ribbons, I knew Martin had used them and I had even played a little on one so what the hell. Well my guitar is very light and I like the sound - part of that is from the side braces. John, do you recall why you made the suggestion in the first place? Good call, man!
I may go with ribbon side braces on my second one or I may experiment and use would. I was wondering what others have done. Do folks use anything other than silk ribbon or wood? What about no side braces?
Man, was I nervous, that is one pricey guitar! It's on hold (or Bruce is playing it) but I think it was priced over $20K. The first thing I noticed was how light it was. So, when John suggested silk ribbons, I knew Martin had used them and I had even played a little on one so what the hell. Well my guitar is very light and I like the sound - part of that is from the side braces. John, do you recall why you made the suggestion in the first place? Good call, man!
I may go with ribbon side braces on my second one or I may experiment and use would. I was wondering what others have done. Do folks use anything other than silk ribbon or wood? What about no side braces?