Dennis L mentioned that I use a top bracing system that I have developed. This is something I started working on a bit over 4 years ago in responce to a request from one of my wood customers. It has gone through a number of iterations, but the present state is about what I consider pretty final. I will not go into a lengthy explanation for now, but can attempt to answer any questions later. Here are a couple of braced tops (pretty much OM size):
All bracing is spruce. The curved ones are made from bent laminations. You can ignore everything above the soundhole. That is specifically set up for my adjustable neck system. That part can be standard steelstring bracing. I have mostly done this development using my own white spruce to keep the variables down to a minimum. Not sure what it would do with other spruces or cedar. Since white spruce has a very high crossgrain stiffness, something like sitka might turn out considerably different, I don't really know. I get a really loud, but well balanced sound from this and a pretty well "played in" sound right from the git-go.
If anybody is interested in trying this out, have at it. I will assist as much as I can.
Grant Goltz
Seriously though, thanks, Grant, for sharing those photos. It's always encouraging when someone steps outside the standard borders, and gets good results.
