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Forward
Bracing
Q C.F. Martin
and other builders offer "vintage/reissued" models featuring forward-shifted
(toward the soundhole) top bracing. If this was such a desirable
feature of older guitars, then why did modern builders move away
from it?
Michael B. Rentz
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
A The reason guitar companies such as
Martin shifted the X-brace further down, away from the soundhole,
was the same reason they later stopped scalloping the braces: the
heavy-gauge steel strings commonly used back in the good ol’ days
put too much stress on the guitar’s top, causing the soundboard
to bulge or even buckle. As warranty claims and customer complaints
began to mount, manufacturers strengthened the soundboard by shifting
the intersection of the X-brace closer to the bridge, thus putting
more bracing directly under the source of all that tension.
Today, guitarists are far better educated, or at least more wary
of over-stringing their guitars, so lighter bracing is not such
a liability for manufacturers. For large guitars like dreadnoughts,
however, forward-shifted bracing and/or heavy scalloping can be
a mixed blessing, as along with a more flexible soundboard comes
booming bass on such a deep guitar. Many players actually prefer
the sound of a guitar with a stiffer top because they think it provides
better balance and a more controlled bass response. A highly flexible
soundboard is particularly problematic if you are amplifying the
guitar, because of the increased chance of feedback, and under-saddle
piezo pickups often sound better in guitars with somewhat stiffer
tops as well.
––Richard Johnston
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Playing
Pains
Q When
I stand up to perform, I’ve been feeling some pain in my left shoulder,
usually beginning where the bulk of the strap lies. Repositioning
the strap has not solved the problem. What should I do?
Jennifer Lundquist
Goosebay, Newfoundland, Canada
A There
are many variables that you need to address. How heavy is your guitar?
Are you unconsciously pressing down on it or tensing your muscles
when you play? It’s important to learn to relax while you are playing.
How wide is your strap and what is it made of? Many are too narrow.
I make my own straps out of heavy leather because I have been unable
to find commercial ones that address these needs to my satisfaction.
There is a nerve on each side of the neck that extends down the
arm through the elbow area and to the hand. It moves through small
ribs that are high up near the neck and collarbone, which presents
several possible trouble areas. The chances of pinching this nerve
vary from person to person.
I strongly encourage all guitarists to visit a trained physical
therapist who specializes in musicians’ issues. They have an amazing
amount of useful information. I was recently connected to a biofeedback
machine at a therapist’s office that enabled me to pinpoint areas
of tension while I played various guitars. I found that merely thinking
about relaxation in specific areas reduced the tension there.
––Gary Joyner
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Endpin
Reglue
Q
I recently received an old Alvarez acoustic guitar from
my husband’s brother, and the endpin has come out. I tried to glue
the piece with Elmer’s, but the weight of the guitar is pulling
it out. Any ideas?
Alondra Sell
Dallas, Texas
A Most
glues (with epoxies being a notable exception) are not gap-filling;
they work best with well-matched parts. Your endpin probably doesn’t
fit very well. Endpins are tapered and should fit into a matching
tapered hole; when they fit correctly, it only takes a dab of glue
to make them stick. If you are trying to glue a pin that doesn’t
fit well, it probably won’t work, especially if it’s a plastic endpin.
A correctly glued pin will stay in place yet still be removable
in the future with just a bit of a "pop." This might be the ideal
time to make the acquaintance of your local luthier, who has just
the right tools, just the right glue, and perhaps a better fitting
endpin for your guitar.
––Rick Turner
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Beginners'
Tip: Daily Practice
The key to success is practicing regularly, making time every day
or close to it, even if you can spare only 20 minutes. "People who
practice only once or twice a week will never get any better," says
Old Town School of Folk Music guitar teacher Jacob Sweet. "They
will stay in the same spot or even regress. It is amazing to me
how many of my adult students don’t realize this." Short, frequent
sessions can be very effective—in fact, 20 minutes of focused practice
will pay off more than an hour of distracted, aimless playing while
watching television.
––Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Send Questions, tips, or observations to Acoustic Guitar’s online
discussion forums at www.acousticguitar.com
or write to Dear A.G., Acoustic Guitar, PO Box 767, San Anselmo,
CA 94979-0767.
Excerpted
from
Acoustic
Guitar
magazine, July 2001, No. 103.
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