Doing the rims before the plates.

[nkwak]

I know. I don't much like the idea of tape though and when I was looking through Kinkead's book I thought that the idea of side braces just looked nicer. I wanted to just experiment with the idea and see what (if any) benefits there were. FWIW they haven't really helped with side flex. Mahogany sure is springy!

[johnnparchem]

I tried tape on my D28 kit. I found I am much better with wood. I can cut it straight, it stays straight when gluing and it does not wrinkle. For me it was probably a lack of knowledge or technique, but it was rather humbling. I switch to wood.

[kencierp]

Fabric soaked in hide glue was a common side reinforcement back in the day (you hear that expression a lot on "Pawn Stars") To help the rim keep it's shape and eliminate the "spring" we use and provide reverse rounded kerfing.

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/RE ... RFING.html

[nkwak]

It just occurred to me that I haven't thought of the end graft yet. I've already got some rosewood body binding and BWB purfling strips from LMI and I was thinking that I'd do something similar for the end graft. This would be the time to do it, right?

I don't think I'll do anything crazy, just a slight taper so that it compliments the binding without drawing visual attention away from it. I'll have to check how much rosewood I have on those strips. Hopefully I have enough to use for the end graft. If not I'll have to check the scrap pile for rosewood with a similar hue/grain.

[Darryl Young]

I'm not an expert but I understood that fabric was used on the sides to limit the growth of side cracks along grain lines. The vertical wood strips also do this but they are further apart so a crack could run further before running into the wood strip reinforcement. I've never considered that fabric might also stiffen the side, but it might. I used the vertical wood strips on my first build.

I know. I don't much like the idea of tape though and when I was looking through Kinkead's book I thought that the idea of side braces just looked nicer. I wanted to just experiment with the idea and see what (if any) benefits there were. FWIW they haven't really helped with side flex. Mahogany sure is springy!

[tippie53]

tape won't strength the side it is a crack preventative as is the side braces actually . They both work , I switched to cloth as it has less mass. You can't believe all you hear on Pawn Stars , I heard them say Martins have a birch top. Ahhh to have our own reality show . LOL

Only my opinion but that was the way Martin did it and I am a traditionalist . One way is as good as the other .

[kencierp]

John I am sure you mis-read the above comment - "back in the day" is an expression used often on that show -- I hope no one is getting their guitar construction advice from Chumbly or any of the other shop guys!! On the other hand some of the local expert historians share a lot of knowledge regarding art, firearms, coins etc. -- Antiques Road Show also has an excellent staff of experts. "You don't know what you don't know"

[Darryl Young]

I like that show too Ken.

[Darryl Young]

John, you should do a mini-toot on how to apply/use cloth to sides. I have no idea what to use or how to apply it.....so I used vertical wood strips. Just to keep things lightweight I used balsa strips I believe.

[deadedith]

John I second that request - a toot on cloth xbrace patch and side reinforcement patches.