I in no way can speak for any of the the luthiers on the AGF, but I do know that John Mayes went through 16 guitars over the years while trying to achieve his new bracing that he uses on his GC's. #17 was what he had been searching for. As for the 16 guitars he built before #17, all went through the band saw and into the firewood pile.
Here is the story by John. Pretty good read.
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...ight=mayes+l32