Shaping Sound

These are some pics of the tops  I'm currently working on...

Three different clients means three different designs.  I really try to spend the time to figure out what each person is looking for.  I know my guitars have a certain sound in general but playing with elements can shift it in different directions.  

First, and probably most important in the final sound is choosing the top.  Density and stiffness are what we're talking about.   I've got two spruce tops in these photos but they are completely different.  One is 40% denser while still basically the same stiffness.  

Changing the fan splay ( the angle in which the fans line up with the grain direction of the top) is a big way to shape sound.  What seems like a subtle shift really can change a guitar from what some think of as a "hauser" feel to something more "granada school".  

Everything gets weighed, flexed, and tapped until completion; always keeping in mind what I think the customer is looking for.    Carving three tops makes tons of shavings... I should have got a wood stove to heat the shop or a maybe a pet hamster.  

carving braces

carving spruce kinda looks like baroque or renaissance ornament.   

Layout

Laying out the bracing stock chosen for the given top.  The bridge patch and a style soundboard supports have already been glued.  

Gluing Fan Braces

Using the go-bar type deck to glue the fans

Carved fans

The fans get carved to a baseline before the harmonic bars are glued on.   I leave room to carve them down and tune the top at the end.  

more go bars

Gluing harmonic bar

This top has an open harmonic bar design 

top in progress

This one is just lacking the shaping of the harmonic bars.

go bars

Gluing bracing with the go bars.  I tend to use a ton of go bars to apply pressure as evenly as possible.  

Finished tops

Three different designs for three clients.