Guitar Bracing Explained

In this video, our luthier Adrian Farmer explains what bracing is and what makes it so incredibly important to acoustic guitars! He'll discuss all the different kinds of bracing and explain which one's (might be) best for you. Enjoy!
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[@pcbif]

Thanks a million, that was the best discussion of bracing I've ever heard. You guys are real pros.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thank you! Always happy to help :)

[@eildertvinkenborg4761]

Tell me more about cedar and spruce. Thank you!

[@miahconnell23]

My guitar teacher told me he liked the warm tones from a cedar topped guitar I bought. It DOES have warm pleasant tones, I agree. But, I wasn’t able to choose spruce (as I wanted). My life’s battle-24/7-365- is righteously questing for guitars that grant equality to all six strings. Through various testing methods, you can find out which strings are your guitar’s favourite children. For FAR too much of my life, I’ve lived with the A string and the wound E dominating, and I am DONE with that sh**. Spruce is stiffer & brighter, and its treble- love CAN sound ugly. I admit it. But your high E and your B string are less likely to get lost. I believe (excluding all other factors for the sake of this talk) that spruce is usually more egalitarian regarding wound & unwound strings. Wound-string “squeek” is louder with spruce, but that’s not the guitar’s fault: we ALL should be practicing our playing to avoid / eliminante that. For me-personally-I’d trade or exchange cedar’s warmth for spruce’s articulate clarity.

[@bishopk99]

Adrian! You nailed this lesson. Thanks so much for taking the time to break it down for Charlie Brown! I appreciate it. So complex but your delivery is very comprehensive. Awesome!

[@slpc30]

Wow thank you so much for this video!

[@agenuineg]

Outstanding! (And underrated, like a lot of true expertise.)

[@renotitawano1407]

Thanks Adrian, very helpful and well explained👍🏾

[@danfrost7477]

Love the way your accent has changed, love your work. ❤️

[@tomdaoust]

Wonderful explanation, short and sweet. I'm a new owner of. 2019 Martin D-18 and i love to understand the technical and physics aspects of my beautiful instrument. Thanks for sharing.

[@hellopsp180]

Thanks for this amazing resource Scalloped bracing = less stiffness = more volume Stiffer unscalloped = more sustain and less volume

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Glad to help!

[@adachan7589]

Thank you very much for sharing! So pro!

[@Ruigewaard]

Really liking this series

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Good to hear Joris! We'll keep them coming ;)

[@gettindrunker]

That was a beautifully spoken video my friend! Thank you so much for sharing your passion! It makes it easier to understand when the person doing the talking is enjoying it. I’m learning a lot on the differences of bracing and sounds lately. I bought a vintage high Yairi and it just doesn’t have that boom I adore that comes out of my Alvarez MD60. The Alvarez is forward shifted X and that makes complete sense now after listening to you. Thanks! Subscribed!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thank you so much and we're always glad to help! Hope our new content keeps you satisfied :)

[@patricksmith4424]

Excellent lesson on bracing. As someone who is hoping to make a guitar, this was seriously informative on the guitar top. There is not much information on this, so thanks for putting this up.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Glad to help Patrick! Good luck (& fun) with building :)

[@larrylong5367]

Hey Adrian. Thanks a lot. This Video answered all of my questions rearding Guitar bracing Take care. Mike

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Glad to help Larry!

[@jimcastillo8950]

Great education........... thank you.

[@EliNews]

Thank you so much!

[@UCS0608]

Great video, Adrian!!!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks!

[@JoseSalas-wn7im]

Thank you for your presentation. Could you get into discussing the size or thickness of the braces and how it affects tone in your next video? Again thanks.

[@martinlouden9005]

Very informative. Thanks for that.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

You're welcome!

[@mariomarcoustic7899]

very informative. Thank you

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks for the compliment Mario :)

[@monasticphil5658]

Good info.Could you do a video on choice of woods different companies used for bracing.

[@NickWendelsGuitarLessons]

Geweldige video!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Dankjewel Nick!

[@GamerPro__7]

Hi Adrian! I believe v-class bracing has really improve intonation and sustain, however overtones became less complex and bass frequencies are not amazing to say the least. What are the changes that needed to be applied on the bracing so we get back those complex overtones?. I really hope Taylor do something about that. Everything else on Taylor Guitars is amazing, they are excellent in every feature, but those are my only complains (unfortunately very important ones). Great video! Very informative.

[@MikeFowlerguitars]

I did enjoy that. Cheers

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thx Mike, cheers!

[@andihart9837]

Thank you for your education about guitar bracing. Could you explain about C class bracing?

[@AcousticFab]

Best video ever

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Damn, thanks!

[@robertlafave7256]

😊 great video

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Thanks Robert :)

[@stevensmith3976]

Great video, very informative, thanks I hope to build a hybrid acoustic But should I allow the bracing to touch the sides/make slots for the bracing in the sides of the hollowed out solid body, or should the braces end, leaving a clear parameter around the edges?

[@jparker1823]

I recently purchased a fusion/crossover nylon string guitar and I noticed that the fan bracing is shifted over to the bass string side. What the benefit of moving the braces left and right as you mentioned the benefits of moving x beacing up and down. Thanks.

[@behroozcompani2348]

Search for curfed bracing in US patents. Curfed braces can be used with any bracing patterns. They would accomodate the top to vibrate better than the regular braces.

[@diegorhoenisch62]

I suspect you mean kerfed.

[@abd-ix5qd]

What about double X bracing? Does it affect response/volume as compared to single X bracing (Martin)?

[@Rhezoloution]

What a great video. Thanks. Question. Does the X brace mean you can use steel strings even if the headstock is a typical slotted classical guitar but with X bracing inside?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hey, yes it does! X-bracing isn't the only bracing type that will fit slotted headstocks or steel strings, but in this case you're correct ;)

[@car5car5]

Sir! I need to replace or install additional Number 1 brace. Which wood and size should I use? String moved up because the brace is bent down. Thanks.

[@tdw57]

Martin's gradual tapering of the bracing towards the side edges is rather because the areas of the top, approaching the side edges, is gradually receiving support from being fastened to those sides. The sound (resonant top vibration) would be correspondingly deadened if the bracing weren't tapered there. This way, it keeps its linearity of vibration amplitude across the top, which is very important for balanced sound across the spectrum. That's why he's added extra bracing on the bass side, for another example. The 'stone dropped in the water,' implies that there is somehow a significant lessening of vibration moving away from the bridge, owing to wood damping it. While this is a relatively minor consideration, the bracing would be carved, if that were the primary factor, to emulate the inverse square law all the way from the bridge plate. It is not. Voila.

[@markseverson3358]

Your couch is perfectly fine!!!!!

[@saml4157]

Hey thanks for the video! Q: Do you think that taylors V bracing is more of a gimmick to stand out from other acoustic guitars or does it actually have some advantages? I'm also curious if you prefer it to X bracing or not, thanks!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

V-Class bracing is not just a gimmick! Taylor claims that V-Class can produce more volume and sustain with a good balance between the top's stiffness and flexibility. Which type of bracing is better is mostly a matter of personal preference. Our advice: try out both and discover what fits you best! 😊

[@JrgenRasmussen-ul8ck]

Very informative video, thank you. I am building a OM guitar in spruce and rosewood and want to produce a “crisp, dry and woody” base sound. How do I shape the brasing to get that? I work with a “Martin” X brace. Thanks again Jørgen, Denmark

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

That's the quest many luthiers are on! It is often said that with less material, you'll get more bass response. But there are many, many ways to do the bracing, so it will be a process of testing and experimenting.

[@fransgreg]

Great one! Could you please spell out the name of this luthier making parlour guitars with ladder bracing? You mention him at 2:36, but my french ear can't hear that name ;-)

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Waterloo! We just received a used model from 2017 with ladder bracing! --> www.tfoa.eu/nl/waterloo-wl14-l-sunburst-2017.html?sqr=waterloo&

[@ronaldrice4085]

What do you think of the River song guitars?

[@R.L.Humpert]

Yes, I bought the v bracing guitar and it’s not very good. so I went back to Martin and got me an HD28 adi top with standard X brace and it sounds amazing. However, in your opinion, which is better the scallop bracing regular forward shifted just for overall play be at rhythm style, etc. thank you

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

The forward shifted bracing allows for more bass projection so for rhythm playing it really adds a lot low end. But for other styles this could also be very valuable. It depends on the tone you're looking for. ;)

[@robertshorthill6836]

I had a '64 made Gibson J-50. I don't know what type of bracing they used, but it had a booming, punchy sound and sustain that I really liked. I was forced to sell that guitar and somebody got a real prize. The $1850 I was paid for it has long been spent.

[@maraviyoso8473]

Probably "standard" bracing. The tone of a J50 comes from the shape, the top thickness and the scale.

[@LifeSavingDefense]

What is the best glue for the braces? I have one that’s loose in a 1960-70 that I just picked up. The body is solid, neck is straight but if you tap you’ll find the vibration from one loose brace. Just need the right glue. Very interesting brace info. Will have to look up construction changes by year.

[@rickessegern1920]

Original titebond works great. Unless the guitar was originally built with hot hide glue, then use that, not bottled hide glue.

[@jamesfe5]

Belly bulge is a big problem with x types of bracing . Taylor guitars were not immune to this. My fantastic Taylor GS acoustic is now a victim of bulge. Do you think the new Tylor v bracing will help prevent the bulge problems. Those two long v rods look like they will stop this maybe ?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hmmm I don't think so. Bulge almost always stems from humidity problems, and wood that thin just isn't capable of handling that! No matter the bracing type.

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

For classical Spanish guitars, lattice bracing was introduced several decades ago, and it does help the instrument refine its harmonics .. is it possible to implement it in some form on the steel string guitars?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Great question. To be honest, I'm not sure. Strength whilst remaining a light build are key for acoustics, sounds like it could be too weak for steel strings.

[@ggoetz100]

Yeah you can use lattice bracing on steel strings. I know Batson guitars use them on at least some models.

[@hobiecat901]

Very interesting Adrian, I was wondering about the wood types for the braces. I see where spruce is used for bracing. Can mahogany or just any type of spruce be used for braces. Does the Spruce need to be Adirondack or Sitka spruce, for the Braces? is all spruce wood good for Bracing? Thanks, Russell

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hey Russel, Maarten here over at TFOA. Using different tonewoods than Spruce is nothing out of the ordinary. Spruce is definitely the most common, but Mahogany and Cedar are used as well. Although there are certain tonewoods that don't make fantastic braces ;)

[@hobiecat901]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics Thanks Maarten.

[@MarkJVSomers]

As a lefty, I also look at right handed guitars to switch over to left handers. How does the bracing affect that? tx

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hey Mark, great question! Wether it makes a difference is debatable, some people think it does whilst some think it doesn't. But looking at the facts, bracings aren't symmetric and on paper this will affect the sound.

[@MarkJVSomers]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics Tx, that's what I always thought, it should make a difference. I had it done a couple of times, and still have an old Yamaha FG75 waiting for it, or not, I don't know, while having shied away from a couple of '70s (cheap) D18s, because I had doubts how it would work out.

[@rickessegern1920]

​@@MarkJVSomers the bracing will make little difference on a FG75 with it's laminate top. Saddle intonation and nut slots need to be reversed along with pickguard.

[@tcjensen1]

So do you like the Taylor V class stuff vs the martin d28 for example?

[@captaindip6970]

I personally don't like the taylor v class bracing.

[@el34glo59]

Nah

[@johnroseman9087]

Hello Adrian! I own a Martin HD-28. (2002) Can you tell me if it's scalloped bracing or straight? I heard the scalloped bracing stopped in 1944. But it was mentioned that "HD" 28 & 40 models were still scalloped. Also, it is an Electric, factory installed. So I guess its an HD-28-E Thank you!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

99% sure it's scalloped! :)

[@johnroseman9087]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics Thank you!

[@DarkWhatever91]

i'm kind of surprised you didn't mention the most superior bracing: lattice bracing

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

We mainly tried to focus on western-guitar bracings :)

[@atomic432]

What about lattice bracing.

[@ldf4064]

How does the bracing change in guitars with 12th fret neck to body joints?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Our luthiers could write a complete book about this haha! In a nutshell: with a 12 fret neck, the bridge will move further away from the sound hole. Often the bracing also moves the same amount so it comes more in the center of the lower bout (but doesn't have to!). It depends on the body shape, dimensions of the body, and type of sound you're aiming for.

[@TheAgiluzjm09]

is there a difference in terms of durability? which one is the weakest/strongest?

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Most flat-topped guitars are the same in terms of durability. A ladder-braced guitar would be the 'weakest' but nothing to worry about, also a classical fan-braced guitar could be considered 'weak'. But guitars are made to last :)

[@TheAgiluzjm09]

@@thefellowshipofacoustics nice, thank you!

[@captaindip6970]

Taylor's V bracing sucks really bad.

[@JACKWHEELERMUSIC]

The most over rated guitars! The cheapest Martin with fake wood beats any taylor guitars

[@davidtait1450]

I love a heavy relic custom shop as much as the next man, but the relicing on that rory gallagher sofa is just too much.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Hahaha, we're not ready to give up on this couch yet :p

[@billb1316]

The guy nextdoor had a tighter baught in the waist now he has Egg Gas

[@mclovin583]

You need a new couch......

[@williamb4652]

It’s brand new. Relic’d .

[@mrjamrol]

Looks like all the nauga came off your naugahyde

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

It's just Hyde now 🤣

[@pcmountaindog]

What I wonder is, how many guitars did CF have to make until he thought had the sound he wanted and understood the mechanics. Must have been a huge amount of trial and error and lots of failed guitars.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Interesting question! Maybe it was a 'happy accident'... :p

[@USA4thewin]

i need to drop the electric for one of those