how to build

When braces are scalloped, material is removed from the center of the brace, which makes it more flexible in this area.

Those scalloped, tapered supports do way more than just keep your flattop from caving in.

Acoustic guitar bracing is something the general guitar-buying public rarely considers. And why would they? A guitar's braces are hidden on the inside of the instrument and, with the exception of the back braces, are never seen at all. However, the fact remains: When a bracing system is combined with the soundboard's material, it has the single most profound effect on the performance of a guitar. At their best, a guitar's braces help to offer superior sound, response, and reliability. At their worst, they are either overbuilt, which makes a guitar feel laborious to play, or are underbuilt and fail prematurely. Guitarists simply need an understanding of what the various bracing styles are communicating, how they affect the soundboard, and what that might mean to the player.

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Takamine Factory Tour

PG's Chris Kies treks to Nakatsugawa, Japan, for a first-hand look at how the acoustic-electric pioneers craft their world-renowned flattops.

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