Top Bracing Pattern: Standard ''X'' Scalloped

[Rockguy475]

Can anyone inform me what the differences are between "standard x bracing" and "standard x scalloped bracing"

Advantages of each?

Disadvantages(if any) of each?

[HHP]

Scalloping involves removing wood from the braces to adjust the tone. All things being equal, it will tend to give more bass response and be a bit louder across the spectrum.

[Aloha Goodall]

Here's what I can find - straight:



Scalloped:



Scalloped bracing allows the top of the guitar to be more flexible and vibrate better, and therefore the notes to 'bloom' and have more warmth and depth. Straight bracing gives a more direct, sharper sound that can sometimes be described to "cut through the mix" better.

That appears to modern Martin language, which means it is in the "standard" position, approximately 1 1/2" from the sound hole on a 14 fret Dreadnaught. The X-braces and tone bars are scalloped, and the guitar has a 2" maple bridge plate.

The same scalloping and be forward shifted, approximately 1" from the sound hole of a 14 fret Dreadnaught. This is used on the Vintage Series.

The GE's are more scalloped (lighter bracing overall) and the bridge plate is smaller, 1 11/16".

The Authentics are even more scalloped with an even smaller bridge plate, 1 3/8".

[DHart]

Consider also the thickness of the bracing. Bracing is commonly 5/16th thick. Some models (OM-28V and D-35, for example) have 1/4" thick bracing which, like scalloping, allow the top to be more responsive to player input. Thus, a guitar with scalloped 1/4" bracing will be more "bloomy" and responsive than a comparable guitar with scalloped 5/16" bracing of the same design.

The Vintage Series guitars have 5/16" bracing on all of the bigger guitars, OM's excepted. The word standard in this context only refers to the style of scalloping and position.

[Aloha Goodall]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

The same scalloping and be forward shifted, approximately 1" from the sound hole of a 14 fret Dreadnaught. This is used on the Vintage Series.

The GE's are more scalloped (lighter bracing overall) and the bridge plate is smaller, 1 11/16".

The Authentics are even more scalloped with an even smaller bridge plate, 1 3/8".

Do you think if everything else was equal on a D-28 but it had Authentic bracing and Madagascan Rosewood back and sides, it would likely sound just as good as an Authentic, despite not having the non-adjustable neck, hide glue, and all those other things the Authentics have?

[Tony Done]

Scallpops tend to produce a bigger more open sound and better bass response. I have had three guitars modified to change/replace plain braces with scallops, for the specific purpose of improving the bass response. In all cases it worked well, but I would not recommend it as a general cure-all; in fact I mostly prefer tighter-sounding plain braced guitars when it is done well.

[Athana]

Originally Posted by Aloha Goodall

Do you think if everything else was equal on a D-28 but it had Authentic bracing and Madagascan Rosewood back and sides, it would likely sound just as good as an Authentic, despite not having the non-adjustable neck, hide glue, and all those other things the Authentics have?

I was told a few months ago that they will not do Authentic type bracing on a Custom Shop Guitar.
But...if they did, and you special ordered it Custom Shop as above, you would basically will end up with a D28 minus the Hide glue ..T-bar..thin finish..Adi top ..hand carved neck ..at about the same price as a standard D28A (Authentic).