looking inside the recording King RO-328 R0-328 with a scope camera

[@GK-vj9dz]

this shows how minor time saving production elements add up over time to their bottom line. Those braces would have been much better with (maybe) ten minutes per guitar added to them. but over the course of an entire run, that time adds up. you get what you get at that price point. the specs initially jump out at you, until you dive a little deeper. i wonder what the braces look like on their 40 series guitars. my guess would be not so much better. just more top side bling. thanks for showing that.

[@MTNSoles]

thanks for doing this. Those braces are all pretty much squared off on top, they could stand to be taken down on those sides, become pointed rather than square. Would give the top a lot more movement without sacrificing the strength.

[@billsmith3042]

I was thinking the same, but they already sound spectacular.

[@MTNSoles]

@@billsmith3042 i agree, I just bought one actually, just a little surprised at the "sturdiness" of some of them. I might take a small finger plane to some, just to remove a little excess, but who knows

[@billsmith3042]

@@MTNSoles buddy I replace the bridge pins with bone and I am totally blown away by what it did to the sustain and clarity. The pins were only $13 on Amazon. Instead of sanding the pins to fit I reamed out the holes slightly so that there is actually more contact with the pins and both of my recording King guitars sound like brand new guitars and better than my Martin's.

[@MTNSoles]

@@billsmith3042 Funny you should mention it, I ordered some bone pins and a 5-degree reamer earlier today, haha. Going to do a little slotting in the bridge as well, really looking forward to this guitar.

[@billsmith3042]

@@MTNSoles I definitely slotted the holes a bit for more contact. The tops of my 318 and R0-328 really came to life when I did that. I had the same experience with my Alvarez baritone and ebony unslotted pins. Just goes to show how important energy transfer is between strings and top, and that it can be improved with very small changes.

[@howardgodfrey1598]

Anyone else noticed that the top bracing is not notched into the lining?

[@imjason75]

I saw that too!