Thomann Baroque guitar bracing

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Comment by Scot Tremblay on July 7, 2011 at 16:17

Hans, most early six string guitars have very little bracing compared to modern instruments. Most often one will see three or four transverse braces, occassionally one at an angle. In general, only the Spanish and Panormo instruments had fan brace patterns. Tops were generally thicker which lent itself to less albeit more robust braces.

 

The bracing patterm in the Thomann looks like a combination of the transverse and fan brace pattern. You are correct in that it's a pitty they did it this way because they could offer a better student instrument with a little less materials and less work actually.

 

I have seen one or two of these guitars for set-up but not taken one apart. Mel has and can attest to having made a big difference in the sound with a little removal and adjustment to the bracing. I think it would be well worth it to spend a little money and get your local luthier to do some work if you own one of these guitars.

Comment by Scot Tremblay on July 6, 2011 at 5:27

Baroque guitars are minimally braced compared to the lute in your photo. Some have three transverse, one either side of soundhole, one near bridge. Maybe a couple small tone bars like in the lute photo. And some have no braces at all below the sound hole ones.

 

If you check on Mel's site (Blackbird String Arts) under "****-Bashing and ThomAnn" he has a photo of a Voboam. It's not the best photo but you will get an idea of what the inside of a quality original looks like....Absolutely nothing like the Thomann. Where they got the bracing pattern for their guitars...it's a mystery.

 

I've never seen anything like the braces in the Thomann guitar except the rafters of my house.

Comment by Mark Day on July 6, 2011 at 3:25

Like this:

I'm not sure if baroque guitars are made this way or not. I haven't made one yet. The braces in your picture run full length all the way to the ends. Is that normal in baroque guitars?

Comment by mel on July 6, 2011 at 1:50

Are they supposed to be scalloped? How would you scallop them?

Comment by Mark Day on July 5, 2011 at 21:30

Yeah, I'll say! They are not scalloped at all. Plus the pattern is a simplified Torres-style more suitable to classical guitar brace pattern. I call this pattern the cow-catcher pattern because to me it looks like you're looking at a steam locomotive head on.

Comment by Jan van Cappelle on July 4, 2011 at 20:48

Wow, overbraced is an understatement...