[Michael Watts]

Originally Posted by WhistlingFish

Why bother? For any aspiring luthier, surely it's far more important to gain an understanding of their materials and the mechanics of what's driving the top.

The vast majority of modern guitars don't depart significantly from Martin's standard "X" brace and the two tone bars below it. That being the case, why is that guitars with such a bracing layout span the range from OK to stellar. I'm sure the results would vary to the same degree if luthiers lacking Somogyi's skills and knowledge were simply to cut across to his current bracing layout.

Very well put.