Greg Smallman Lattice Design with Carbon Fibre

Kim Strode · Post by **Kim Strode** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:52 pm

Can anyone provide further information on the design used by Greg Smallman for his Classic guitars and how he uses carbon fibre for the bracing?

Kim Strode (showtell)

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:24 pm

http://www.nicholas-scott-guitars.co.uk/ImgA.htm

I love this pic. Almost tempts me to make a guitar. Almost.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:09 pm

Kim,

A good source of info on the construction of Smallman's bracing is the Guild of American Luthier's Big Red Book series. There are four Big red Books out so far and a fifth one due out early next year. They contain a wealth of material on guitar building.

If youre thinking of playing with lattice work bracing then be prepared to get covered in epoxy glue!!

Cheers Martin

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:53 pm

Matt, i think you're coming over to the dark side

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:58 pm

Paul B wrote:Matt, i think you're coming over to the dark side

No, you got it wrong I already AM on the dark side

... its you guys who need to see the light ... er ... dark ... er ... um ... maybe we better take this thread to Anything Goes ...

Kim Strode · Post by **Kim Strode** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:15 am

Thanks for the information so far. Too expand the question a little - I am looking for ideas and techniques to incorporate carbon fibre bracing into my classical guitars. Another maker mentioned who uses this technique was Simon Marty, perhaps there are others. I would appreciate any references or links which would help explain the use of carbon fibre further.

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:13 pm

Kim

The only place that I know of that has a run down on the construction of Spruce/carbon fibre braces is at Mario Proulx website, but he's a steel string builder. A google search will find him.

Still, there is a reasonable explanation there on how to construct the braces and what types of glue work with carbon fibre.

As far as how they are applied in classical guitar construction I'm not sure.

I only ever use carbon fibre for neck re-inforcement in steel strings.

One tip is to keep any cutting blades away from carbon fibre - it'll blunt 'em real quite. Oh and try not to get any splinters from it. You won't be able to get them out easily.

Maybe Jim Redgate in Adelaide may be able to point you in the right direction.

http://www.redgateguitars.com/

I think he used to use carbon fibre and certainly uses lattice bracing a la Smallman.

Bob

Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Greg Smallman Lattice Design with Carbon Fibre

Greg Smallman Lattice Design with Carbon Fibre

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