Ladder vs. X-bracing: wassup?

[zombywoof]

Another back from the dead thread.

I own a 1930s ladder braced Oscar Schmidt-made Galiano Jumbo. Like the Harmony OM mentioned, the guitar does not pump out a lot of volume. Nice crisp upper end though with some decent thump to the low end. My repair guy was in total agreement about adding bracing, particularly around the soundhole area. But all in all the guitar has held up extremely well.

[SongwriterFan]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

Ladder braced guitar design was abandoned after . . .

Mainly because they only had the RUNGS of the ladder?

[devellis]

Of course, Collings has reintroduced ladder bracing on its Waterloo instruments. The tone is quite different from the X-braced guitars I have but also very appealing. I think a lot of the problems people associate with ladder braced guitars, like tops looking like roller coasters, have more to do with their being inexpensive, quickly assembled instruments than ladder braced per se.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by devellis

...snip... I think a lot of the problems people associate with ladder braced guitars, like tops looking like roller coasters, have more to do with their being inexpensive, quickly assembled instruments than ladder braced per se.

I totally agree with this.

Though very much a skeptic on ladder bracing, I have recently become a believer. I think I'd have to say that the two best sounding guitars I've recently owned are the two ladder braced guitars in my signature (the Harmony built Regal and the Gibson LG-0).

I find the warm, compressed, percussive, balanced, mid-focused "vintage-style voice" of these guitars remarkably appealing, and they provide wonderful accompaniment to my voice when using them for solo performing. YMMV.

[blue-wily-fox]

Here's a recording I mad with my friend's John How guitar…they are loud! Good for blues!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHlvVRVjhEY

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Reviving this thread by posting a couple of interesting and enlightening videos...

I seem to always find myself favoring the ladder braced guitars in these comparisons!

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by gitnoob

Here's a pic of one of his tops:

The three lateral braces (plus bridge plate) are what separated these from the Harmonys and such which were heavier built.

Here is the Schmidt Stella bracing. Compare this to the pic of the Harmony you posted.