What are the typical causes for loose braces?

[Bob Womack]

While in high school I had a Silvertone Grand Concert that had a nice, light top with light braces. One day I took it school and was playing it on a swivel seat. I swiveled and whacked the top on another piece of furniture. It didn't make a mark but I could tell something was wrong from the first strum - there was a buzz on the top behind the treble side of the bridge. When I tapped I could hear it rattle.

My father was one of those guys who could fix practically anything. I had him look at it. He loosened the string and used his inspection mirror to located the problem brace. Then he put the entire syringe and cannula into the sound hole and used it to wick some Tightbond under the brace. Because he didn't have a long brace clamp, he piled a stack of encyclopedias on top of a smaller book that he set over the brace to apply local pressure to the joint.

Twelve hours later, voile'! Back in business and I never had another problem with it.

Bob

[Br1ck]

A crack in the top can take braces with it, certainly with neck block movement.

[Aimelie]

Pogo sticks and trampolines!


(I apologize in advance for this largely useless post. Sometimes, though, you just have to let these things out. )


Edited to add: a case could be made for unicycles, too, however rare their ridership may be.




Again … sorry. I’ll show myself out, thanks.

[Rjlipton]

Originally Posted by Aimelie

Pogo sticks and trampolines!


(I apologize in advance for this largely useless post. Sometimes, though, you just have to let these things out. )


Edited to add: a case could be made for unicycles, too, however rare their ridership may be.




Again … sorry. I’ll show myself out, thanks.

and ... scurvy

[Bluenose]

Orthodontist on holidays.

[rstaight]

I have had the braces come loose on only 1 guitar. It was an inexpensive Camelot.

These braces aren't your typical spruce brace. They are made from a thin sheet of Masonite. It is about 1/2 the thickness of any bracing I have seen. Not enough glue surface.

[zeeway]

Sticky candy.