There are many techniques I use when setting up and voicing a top. The process starts with splitting out the brace blanks and profiling them. I use sash cross joints to eliminate parasitic dead weight and hard spots on the soundboard. I use tapered edges on the bridge plate to reduce weight and stress points. I also use a tapping mold when individually voicing each top.
That's just a few of what I call best practices that I have accumulated over the years. I think where my approach shows results most obviously is in the amount of top end I get, particularly from softer tonewoods like Western Red Cedar and Redwood.
