Martin's "skeletonized" bracing system

[GGJaguar]

Time will tell about this, I reckon.

Inception Series | C.F. Martin & Co.

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[chazmo]

I've seen some luthiers do this kind of thing. I think the intent is to reduce the mass of the braces.

I'm not sure what all the other grooving in the soundboard is for.

Pretty weird.

 

[Stuball48]

I've seen some luthiers do this kind of thing. I think the intent is to reduce the mass of the braces.

I'm not sure what all the other grooving in the soundboard is for.

Pretty weird.

Chazmo, my guess would be to achieve less weight but still let the guitar maintain original outside dimensions.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Reminds me of what airplane builders do. This is from a Van's RV-7:

 

[chazmo]

Chazmo, my guess would be to achieve less weight but still let the guitar maintain original outside dimensions.

My guess too, Shelby, but I would think those grooves would affect how the soundboard vibrates. Interesting.

 

[chazmo]

Reminds me of what airplane builders do. This is from a Van's RV-7:

Is this a wet wing aircraft, GJ?

 

[Stuball48]

My guess too, Shelby, but I would think those grooves would affect how the soundboard vibrates. Interesting.

Agree on soundboard vibrates but I am thinking the grooves are strategically cut so the soundboard still vibrates, consistently. The pitch may change slightly.

 

[chazmo]

I dunno. I'm not liking our theory that much. Maybe this top is just specifically to show of the braces and not to actually be used. Anyway, tallyho!!!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Really fun for guitarists who have the doctor throat mirrors and tiny flashlights.

"dude your Martin looks really great, I love the burst..."
"bro, wait till you see the inside".

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[AcornHouse]

I don't know how much weight they are actually saving in the braces. They look taller than usual and could weigh nearly the same, if not more.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

All in all, good for Martin, experimenting to move the proverbial ball forward. Without intending to sound snarky, the big production shops are the largest consumers of the so-called "exotic woods" that they are now needing to find alternatives for. As for the innovation, many of these trails have already been blazed by independent luthiers. But it is nice to see the factories starting to pay attention.

In full-on snark mode, I am waiting to see who first debuts the article titled, "Robots build better guitars!"

 

[davenumber2]

Chinese-built Walden guitars have been doing this for some time as far as production guitars go.

 

[Boneman]

interesting strategy, but it sounds generic, not really a full throaty bass tone in that to my ears

I dunno. I'm not liking our theory that much. Maybe this top is just specifically to show of the braces and not to actually be used. Anyway, tallyho!!!

watched that first video, the grooves are explained, talk about the top starting at about 6 minutes

 

[jp]

Interesting approach. My gut is telling me it's a bit over-engineered, but what do I know? The most telling part will be to see how well this system ages, as temperature fluctuation, humidity, and shrinkage, starts to affect the wood over time.

I do appreciate that they're trying to create a guitar completely of domestic hardwoods that yields the rich tonality of exotic hardwoods. This seems to be the impetus behind this effort.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Is this a wet wing aircraft, GJ?

On the Vans RV7, fuel tanks are mounted on the inboard leading edges of both wings. Some have aux tanks at wing tips.

 

[SFIV1967]

Ukulele builders like Kanile'a also use such bracing since already 10 years:

This style is used since 2017 at Kanile'a:

Interesting other details:


Ralf

 

[Nuuska]

Obviously this begs for The Question : Is it necessary that the braces are made of wood ?

While I have seen - and even read some - countless articles and discussions about top woods - I can not recall anything about the brace material.

 

[chazmo]

Is it necessary that the braces are made of wood ?

Definitely not, Timo. There are luthiers who use all kinds of composite materials for braces and even soundboards.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Obviously this begs for The Question : Is it necessary that the braces are made of wood ?

While I have seen - and even read some - countless articles and discussions about top woods - I can not recall anything about the brace material.

Laminated wood braces (using woods from two or more species, such as Spruce/Rosewood/Spruce), as well as Wood and Carbon Fiber laminated braces have been used for some time, now. Metal gets heavy, quickly, and all-carbon bracing is extremely costly, and the fact that the latter results in a "brittle" sounding instrument is considered less than desirable by more than a few. Currently, it is popular to fashion a slightly-smaller-than-normal wood brace, then glue strands of carbon fiber (called "tow") between the brace and soundboard, as well as across the exposed top of the braces, after they are shaped. This dramatically stiffens the overall brace, while reducing the overall weight. And that's just one way, another way, to accomplish the task.