jupiteruke
Well-known member
I have a bit of a break from commissions, so I decided to conduct an experiment. I am building three tenors, with very similar top woods but different bracing/construction details. I am interested in comparing the resultant sound side-by-side. The top wood is some very fine grained redwood. Two tops are from the same board, and the third is very similar. I counted (under a microscope) 351 growth rings across the 5" board used to make the top. Picture is of a .5mm pencil point.
The three experiments from right to left:
An X braced top - a design which is my standard, and has yielded very good results. Note, no lower transverse brace, allows more of the top to vibrate I think.
Kasha braced top - I have built some Kasha instruments, and the results have been good, but I am interested in hearing this side-by-side with the X braced top. This uses wood from the same board as the X braced top.
Double-back - I read recently about having an inner back so that the instrument back does not get damped by being against the player. There are a few builders who seem to have built double-back instruments. I have a friend with a double-back Appalachian dulcimer which is quite loud. An intriguing concept, and an opportunity to figure out build issues and do something rather different. Spruce inner back (shellac on inside of top).
The three experiments from right to left:
An X braced top - a design which is my standard, and has yielded very good results. Note, no lower transverse brace, allows more of the top to vibrate I think.
Kasha braced top - I have built some Kasha instruments, and the results have been good, but I am interested in hearing this side-by-side with the X braced top. This uses wood from the same board as the X braced top.
Double-back - I read recently about having an inner back so that the instrument back does not get damped by being against the player. There are a few builders who seem to have built double-back instruments. I have a friend with a double-back Appalachian dulcimer which is quite loud. An intriguing concept, and an opportunity to figure out build issues and do something rather different. Spruce inner back (shellac on inside of top).