please advise ---X-brace notch

[Dean C. Wilson]

By redesigning the notch in the X-brace I have doubled the breaking strength of the braces at the intersection. Is this of any value or is the regular notch more than adequate. Am I wasting my time by trying to improve the stiffness of the area of the X-brace, or should I just stay with the regular Martin design.

[Tim Mace]

Innovation is the root of all improvement..gooood luck!

[Ron Frazier]

I am interested !!

Ron

[Dean C. Wilson]

Ron, If you would like to see what I have done, send me your email address and I will send you a drawing.

[Ron Frazier]

[e-mail]

That would be nice to see what you have come up with.

Ron

[FRANK]

[e-mail] I would be interested also

[FRANK]

hey dean I am interested in this drawing of an X brace could you em ail it to [e-mail]

[Russell Vance]

At Lockheed they put the wings on an airplane we were picking up with 4 little bolts and they (the wings) stayed on for all my career - could have put 8 bolts on I guess but that would have been a waste of bolts. Martins don't suffer from problems in this area (or maybe they do - anybody?)......that's all. Rusty.

[Nick Anthony]

adding strength to the x bracing also stiffens the top which could and probably will by my estimation have adverse affects in volume and tone...i once read an article by a builder that said the idea is to make the weakest sound board possible without the string tension imploding the guitar...that being said... i also agree with tim ...experiment and see what happens

[Jim Bancroft]

No problem trying to improve things. Give it try and see if you like the design.

Jim

[Len Biglin]

Is there a reason why you cant post a photo so we can all see it ?Len

[Steve Frost]

I'm not aware that X braces were prone to failure at the joint under normal operating conditions. Still we're curious about what you've come up with. Show and tell!

[Bob Webster]

You know, at this point, I'm a bit puzzled why you want our input and what you're looking to hear. It's certainly not clear that the joint actually needs either more strength or less flexibility. The only method I've seen that lent strength to that joint is to glue a strap of thin graphite across the top of the joint. The person who did that had no comments about what it did for the sound. Anything short of that will require that both long braces have their effective depth reduced by half right at the joint. I suppose one could graft on something in the corners of the joint or make the braces twice as thick right at the joint, but all that adds some weight. And for what?

Lastly, if you think you have something patentable, this forum isn't going to be recognized as an authoritative reference as to the value or the uniqueness of your solution. So, come on, at least lift the skirt over the knees and show a picture.

Bob