Bracing Question

[William2]

I recently have read that for 2026 Taylor decided to go with an asymmetrical scalloped for V-Class, giving these guitars a little more bass bloom and a little more responsiveness, while still holding to most of the intention behind V-Class. Is this the result of scalloping the braces or is this just a sales pitch? I have to say for me on my two differently braced Larrivee's I prefer the non-scalloped bracing. I'm not thinking about bloom just that the bass is more defined and if I'm playing a melodic passage in the bass, it really stands out.

[StringPicker6]

Personally, I'd say it's just a sales pitch. But then again, I'm not a Taylor fan. Not that I don't think they are great, I've just never played many. And also... LARRIVEE ALL DAY. 

[B0WIE]

Personally, I'd say it's just a sales pitch.

^This. Not that it won't make a difference. But, it's clear that Taylor (perhaps the most heavily marketed acoustic brand) follows the strategy of getting their customers to buy another guitar. Some are lured by different woods, many love the idea of "tech". If they were really making advancements, they would have left everyone else in the dust by now. Meanwhile, more and more makers are studying how guitars were made 90 years ago.

[teh]

My Larrivee Newsletter arrived yesterday and included a paragraph discussing their use of moonwood spruce for bracing since 2014 along with photos. This means that both my 2021 Moonwood spruce/Walnut Forum VI (LSV-03) and my 2024 all mahogany 00-24 have Moonwood spruce bracing which begs the question: Is it a) the body shape, wood combinations used, cutaway versus non-cutaway, bracing patterns and materials used, satin finish, 12 fret neck, scale length that make a great sounding guitar or; is it b) a combination of all of the above? I'll go with option b.

Both guitars referenced above were ordered, paid for in advance and delivered after a 5-7 month waiting period before I ever touched them. Both guitars were a good decision on my part. The odds are that the new Forum VII owners will be saying the same thing about their guitars after they've played them for a while. I'll be most interested in the similarities and differences between the 00 and 000 body shapes and the top wood used on the Forum VII guitars.

[John Lee Pettimore]

My Larrivee Newsletter arrived yesterday and included a paragraph discussing their use of moonwood spruce for bracing since 2014 along with photos. This means that both my 2021 Moonwood spruce/Walnut Forum VI (LSV-03) and my 2024 all mahogany 00-24 have Moonwood spruce bracing which begs the question: Is it a) the body shape, wood combinations used, cutaway versus non-cutaway, bracing patterns and materials used, satin finish, 12 fret neck, scale length that make a great sounding guitar or; is it b) a combination of all of the above? I'll go with option b.

This is intriguing information.  I'll go with "b" as well. 

I'm a Larrivee neophyte.  Bought my 2023 OM-05 recently.  It is the most uniquely voiced acoustic I think I have ever heard.  Moon Spruce bracing huh?  Mine also exhibits asymmetrical hand carving of the bracing. Portions of the bracing are not neatly shaped and sanded to uniformity.
The information you shared seems a plausible source of it's uniquely pleasing voice.  Thanks! 

[William2]

I wonder how much affect the bracing material has on the sound. I see models with Sitka tops and Adirondack bracing.

[John Lee Pettimore]

I wonder how much affect the bracing material has on the sound. I see models with Sitka tops and Adirondack bracing.

To me it makes sense that the tonal qualities of the bracing material are significant.

Because different species and sub-species of trees exhibit varied structural geometry and density of their cellulose fibers.  These genetic traits are the primary constituents influencing the vibrational characteristics of the wood. 

Granted, the trees' varied environmental growing conditions also influence the geometry and density of its cellulose fibers.   Thus there is often variation from tree to tree in the same species within a forest or stand of trees.   

[B0WIE]

I wonder how much affect the bracing material has on the sound. I see models with Sitka tops and Adirondack bracing.

It's tricky because these are still all spruce, and natural variations can make one have the type of density and stiffness we'd expect from another. And, the function of brace wood and top wood are very different.

I feel the much more important factor, and the true sound of the guitar, is how the bracing is sized and placed. This is something the buyer has little choice in so it rarely gets talked about. But, the smallest decisions in bracing width, height, taper, etc will potentially have more influence than the wood choice.

So, for me, I trust the maker to use whatever brace stock they are confident gives them the result they are after. I never think about it in terms of which I like better.

[BlueBowman]

I wonder how much affect the bracing material has on the sound. I see models with Sitka tops and Adirondack bracing.

When it comes to guitar bracing, think in terms of mass and stiffness. Much more helpful than thinking about bracing species.

[StringPicker6]

From interviews I've seen with Matt Larrivee, I seem to recall them justifying moonspruce bracing for its stiffness.