Thread: Classical Bracing Material - Australian Timbers Question

I might have not read your post properly but you make no mention of what you plan on using for a top.

edited post - Carpathian or Red Spruce for top. Thanks for pointing that out.

- Riggsy

I generally use same wood Im using for the top as brace material. I use mainly Sitka, Lutz and Englemann on my acoustics so same wood is used for bracing. As far as Australian woods for tops on classicals go...from reading and talking with other builders Huon and King Billy produce the best results.

So if Huon or King billy are used for tops they can also be used for bracing.
I have customers using both also Celery top.
Cheers Bob

Whilst I agree that when using Spruce and Cedar (the real stuff not the Mainland stuff that is called Cedar) one gets the longitudinal stiffness-to-weight/mass ratio right, I am not convinced that Huon has the guts to get us there. It is a soft spongy wood in comparison.

King Billy on the other hand may have that issue just barely covered... tap tuning the stock that is available to us evokes the feel, ring, and longitudinal speed of Western Red Cedar from the lower altitudes of the Pacific Northwest.

Not sold on either, to date, for top wood. While I am aware that there are folks building with both of these, I have had my hands on a few King Billy topped pieces and they dont have the "snap" - that quick response to transient attack - that more traditional top woods exhibit.

Certainly not a nay-sayer here and really want to build a world class sounding piece out of as much native stuff as possible - just not willing to sacrifice tone for the sake of using local timbers.

Thoughts? Truly appreciate any input here...

- Riggsy

Might be worth corresponding with Bob OConnor on the ANZLF Riggsy. I think that most Aussie native species have been given the thumbs down for classical instruments for precisely the reason you state. I know Bunya is used for tops by Cole Clark but Im not sure what bracing he uses. I dont know if he does a Bunya classical.

On smaller instruments such as mandos KBP is favoured by Peter Coombes. I also know of violins built with Huon but there hasnt been a great rush for the Aussie timbers for tops unlike B&S timbers such as Blackwood and Sassafras.

My limited tapping experience seems to mirror yours, Ive not found tops to get all sweaty about. Ive not played with Celery Top.

I've used Australian red cedar as bracing on the last two guitars I've built - OOO king billy/maple steel string and king billy/houn flamenco (strung up for the first time last night).

I have to admit that it was an exceptional chunk of Aust cedar... cut over a hundred years ago from what I suspect was a very old tree (hard grain lines are 1mm thick). I have other bits of Aust cedar here but Idoubt they would work as well.

I don't know if this forum will let me post a link offsite but if it will then here is a comparison between three acoustic steel strings. first is a fender dread (up market solid timber one) next is a martin dread and last is the little OOO I made. It's interesting to hear the diference. Why do none of the guitar forums let you post sound files?

http://www.zshare.net/audio/62465642d73c7823/

Cheers
James

Neil and are probably quite happy to store your sound files...if you pay them for the space they take up the hard drive. The forum doesnt cost us members a cent to participate in so there are a few payoffs....well worth it IMHO.

Sorry… wasn’t meant as a criticism of this or any other forum… many of which I benefit from and am grateful to the hosts of. It was just a general question, this forum is better supported in the attachments we can use than most, video files at 47MB for example.

James

No apology necessary...and no criticism intended. Just answering the query about many forums not accepting media files.

Cheers Martin