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Results of an experiment with a thin/light soundboard with narrow/tall lattice type bracing on a steel string, inspired by a Greenfield video and made for myself,.
Top is sitka at 1.9-2.0mm thickness, lattice/triple X braced, with soundhole doubler, large bridge plate is spruce/EIR laminate, live back.
The bracing pic is before final brace profiling, they ended up a lot more delicate and almost triangular, but were difficult to get in to with a chisel! Ended up roughing out with a Dremel.
Lucked out with coupled resonances, came out reasonable with body at 89hz, top at 189hz, back very weak at 235hz.
Bridge rotation is 1.8 degrees.
Sound is subjective of course, but it is loud, with strong basses and trebles, and sustains well, although not played in yet of course. I'll be looking to local players for their opinions, but I'm pretty sure I will be making more with this top/bracing type combo.
Myrtle/Sitka, Ebony fretboard and bridge, Sapele/Idigbo neck with Bubinga bindings and headplate.
Finish Enduro Var Satin.
Neck is 48 mm at the nut, 650mm scale (25.6"). 410mm lower bout, 310 mm upper. (sort of medium Jumbo/GS size)

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Looks great! May I ask what finish you chose for it ?


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It's the satin endurovar.

Colin, that finish is right off the gun, no? Impressive.

She's a beaut!

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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

I appreciate folks willing to take risk and experiment!

Cheers, M

Wow! That's a thin top for what looks like a fairly big guitar. What Michael said!

A couple questions.

Is the lower end of the X let in or free floating?

Is the lattice notched and capped? It's hard to tell from the pic.

Live back? Other than leaving it ridiculously thick, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on achieving this.

It looks like a lovely guitar Colin. Wish I was a little closer for a test drive!


Cheers!
Danny

Lower end of the main X
is let in.
Is the lattice notched and capped?
Yes, it is, at the 4 intersections
Live back? Other than leaving it ridiculously thick, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on achieving this.
A live back is just one where it's resonant frequency is close enough to couple effectively with the top's resonance, in my case about 4 semi-tones higher.
If it's too thick, frequency tends to go too high for is to happen, and the weight tends to make it unresponsive. Its not so unusual for a "normal" guitar to have a live back, if it's not heavily built.
There's a lot to take into consideration - wood's stiffness, bracing height and style, radius of the back. Recommend Trevor Gore's book.
It looks like a lovely guitar Colin. Wish I was a little closer for a test drive!
Thanks Danny, you would have been welcome too.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

That's a beauty Colin. It is really nice to see experienced people venture out and try new things! Even better when it works!!!

Hope you post some sound clips.

What is the back and sides? Black Limba?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Oregon Myrtle, from Lance.
Thanks Joe, here's my first poor attempts attempts at recording a friend playing, made with a Zoom H1 at my kitchen table.
https://soundcloud.com/stream

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Love the Myrtle!! Very sharp looking build.

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Colin, I can't seem to find your clip on soundcloud...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Not sure why, probably something I've done not being familiar with it.
Try these -
https://soundcloud.com/colin-north-849679653/red-and-black-1
and
https://soundcloud.com/colin-north-849679653/3a-1

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Got it this time Colin. The guitar sounds very nice and I love the playing and the tune!

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Exc colin , very tastefully done , cheers from KC MO usa

Great looking and sounding guitar. Your friend plays well and has a nice voice. Does he play and sing professionally? I also liked the selection of songs.

That was a treat, Colin. Thank you for sharing the clips. Sounded great!




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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Not professional, but very enthusiastic folk club player and a bit of a collector, 35 instruments so far.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

The guitar sounds great. Was the Red and Black track played bare fingered or with thumb and finger picks?

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

That guitar sounds great. From the bracing I expected a tighter sound. I guess the thin top took care of that.
Nice work!

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Bare naked fingers.
Here's another song, his original composition, which I just edited as he had to retune (and chat)

https://soundcloud.com/colin-north-849679653/runway

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

That;s one sweet sounding guitar Colin

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust