Official Luthiers Forum!

I don't use a upper transverse brace because I use an upper extension on by neck block. I'm struggling with the size of the brace right above the soundhole that alot of people call the upper face brace with a size about 1/2 inch wide with a hole in the middle for the truss rod. I'm wondering if I need that brace at all or maybe go down to 3/16 inch wide? Any thoughts?
Clinton

So the FB extension is causing enough pressure that my extension on my neck block can't handle on it's own? I'm very new to this, I'm having trouble getting my head around this theory. I certainly don't want to have a structural failure, but I was told that my last guitar was too heavy and I'm looking for ways to cut weight. Maybe I should cut out the neckblock extension,
Clinton

It's not the fingerboard extension that transfers the pressure, It's the pull of the strings trying to fold the guitar and collapse the body. The upper brace spreads this energy over the entire width of the top, and carries it to the sides as well.

Al

[QUOTE=crich] I certainly don't want to have a structural failure, but I was
told that my last guitar was too heavy and I'm looking for ways to cut
weight. Maybe I should cut out the neckblock extension,
Clinton [/QUOTE]

How did it sound? If you've ever held one of Ervin Somogyi's guitars
you'll know they are pretty heavy. He too uses a massive neck block with an
extension. His tops however are very light and responsive and to my ear his
guitars sound wonderful. My thought is that that the balance of the
instrument is more important than the weight. My $.02...

Cheers,
-Dave

Good point! I really liked the sound. I considered myself luck, really lucky considering it was my first one. I have several handmade guitars and I like to listen to this one just as much. Beginners luck. I'm going to have to investigate Somogyi and see if he has a site showing the interior of his guitars. I never considered the forces from the strings trying to collapse the top. Thanks. Clinton

Clinton, i think we were both lucky!

My second guitar was pretty heavy probably because us newbs have a tendancy to overbuild our first instruments so what Hesh, Al and Dave said is right, we do need strength in the right places and this is one you can't compromise too much with.

Love this place!

I tend to use a fairly massive head block with neck extension and a Spanish heel. The headblock is the heart of the guitar, it's the bit you hang in the air and everthing else is connected to it, so to me it's the first thing I make and the first thing I design. Also, my fingerboard is attached to the neck extension and is not glued to the top plate.   That said I still use a 12.5mm upper face brace, but no upper transverse brace, as the strings are still attached at either end and are trying to pull the whole guitar into a boomerang.

This is a pic of my latest Walnut OM, the head block is cherry as is the neck shown with it, don't worry the FB is not glued on crooked, its just propped up with it!



This is the headblock and neck extension.



ColinColin S38997.7700810185

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

The overall weight of the guitar will be very little affected by anything you do to the braces, they are are a very small part of the final weight... the thickness and species of the back and sides are the main contributors to the weight of the finished guitar.

                       Peace, Paul

WOW Colin, that's pretty impressive. Although I'm going to have to go and translate 12.5mm Clinton