Simian Ridge
Project
Jack MacKenzie
|
I call it the soundhole frame double X design. In reality, there are 4 interlocked crosses of the main braces, but double X sounds better than quardruple X...
This is not a copy of anything I have seen in 50 years of guitar repair and building. But the soundboard in the lower bout is clearly inspired by the Martin X brace design. That part is hard to improve on. My design is an attempt to address the structural distortion from string tension that ultimately results in the need for a neck reset. It also turns the upper shoulders into sound generating panels. It has largely succeeded in accomplishing these aims.
Below is a photo of the bracing design of which I speak. It's a fully 'voiced' top, I have no worries about this being intellectual property. Guitar building, in my case, is not a commercial project. It is more a hobby, although several of the guitars that have been made have been bought.
This is not a copy of anything I have seen in 50 years of guitar repair and building. But the soundboard in the lower bout is clearly inspired by the Martin X brace design. That part is hard to improve on. My design is an attempt to address the structural distortion from string tension that ultimately results in the need for a neck reset. It also turns the upper shoulders into sound generating panels. It has largely succeeded in accomplishing these aims.
Below is a photo of the bracing design of which I speak. It's a fully 'voiced' top, I have no worries about this being intellectual property. Guitar building, in my case, is not a commercial project. It is more a hobby, although several of the guitars that have been made have been bought.
The Design
The guts of it is the soundboard. And that's what is different, and hopefully better.
I had an idea that it might be possible to improve on the famous Martin X bracing design. It is the industry standard, and for a good reason. But after 50 years of guitar repair, I can see how it might be improved.
I saw two problems with it: 1) The upper shoulders were quite inert when it comes to sound production. The Martin upper bout is heavily braced to the sacrifice of sound generation. And 2) There is an inherent structural short fall where the fingerboard meets the soundhole. This brief span has virtually no bracing. The area of soundboard between the upper shoulders and the bridge is under huge structural load, and even a small amount of deflection (distortion) can change the geometry of the instrument, often requiring a neck-reset repair to address.
I came up with a soundboard bracing design that I thought would address these two things simultaneously. Pictured is the original sketch I made to capture the idea.
The guts of it is the soundboard. And that's what is different, and hopefully better.
I had an idea that it might be possible to improve on the famous Martin X bracing design. It is the industry standard, and for a good reason. But after 50 years of guitar repair, I can see how it might be improved.
I saw two problems with it: 1) The upper shoulders were quite inert when it comes to sound production. The Martin upper bout is heavily braced to the sacrifice of sound generation. And 2) There is an inherent structural short fall where the fingerboard meets the soundhole. This brief span has virtually no bracing. The area of soundboard between the upper shoulders and the bridge is under huge structural load, and even a small amount of deflection (distortion) can change the geometry of the instrument, often requiring a neck-reset repair to address.
I came up with a soundboard bracing design that I thought would address these two things simultaneously. Pictured is the original sketch I made to capture the idea.
The first 'prototype' was too restricted, and the bracing mass was too great for the thickness of the soundboard. The second had a thicker top and thinner (but still tall) braces. It had an incredible bell like tone in the mid-range and treble, but was still too restricted to have the warmth in the low end that I was seeking. I still have that guitar and might scallop the bass side of the main x someday. It think this would put it just about right.
Gradually, I've learned to balance bass and treble and the more recent Simian Ridge guitars are achieving high potential acoustically. I own one, and love it. Mine is made of kowhai (see the woods page)
Gradually, I've learned to balance bass and treble and the more recent Simian Ridge guitars are achieving high potential acoustically. I own one, and love it. Mine is made of kowhai (see the woods page)