What's the verdict on scalloped bracing? My DV52 had it; my D25 doesn't. I think the D25M sounds better.
Do all the USA Guild acoustics have scalloped bracing now?
Do all the USA Guild acoustics have scalloped bracing now?
Scalloped bracing is different. Better or worse is subjective. Right now, full and lush is in vogue. It sells guitars. It is only over time that a straight braced guitar becomes appreciated. The direct clarity and punch is something many will like. Competing with other resonant guitars with en or fifteen minutes to make an impression, the scalloped bracing generally wins. No one takes a year to learn what a guitar can give. Short attention spans. Many adi topped guitars get sold before owners even realize what they will be.
I couldn’t have said it any better myself.In my experience, you can only evaluate a guitar based on what it sounds like when you pick it up and play it, no? Who buys guitars based on what they think they MAY sound like in a year, or ten years?
I've got a number of scalloped and non-scalloped braced guitars in my collection. My subjective opionion when I first picked them up was my basis for buying or not buying, not what kind of bracing was inside, or what woods were used.
Not that I'm uninterested in those things -- on the contrary! -- but my first considerations are always, "How does it sound?"; "How does it play?"; maybe "Does it need any major work?"
Beyond that, my ears and my fingers tell me what I need to know
Who buys guitars based on what they think they MAY sound like in a year, or ten years?
When I bought my Taylor I did so because I loved the tone. As it aged it mellowed and I liked it less. I'm sure most would like it better since it was very bright to begin with, but in this case buying what sounded perfect at the time came with a disadvantage (at least to me).I would want to buy a guitar that sounds good today. If it sounds better in 10-20 years that’s a bonus. That’s not to say that we all don’t want to buy a guitar that sounds good now obviously, but I would never base my decision on the potential it might sound better in a decade.
What's the verdict on scalloped bracing? My DV52 had it; my D25 doesn't. I think the D25M sounds better.
Do all the USA Guild acoustics have scalloped bracing now?
In New Hartford, Guild used a CNC cutting machine to make multiple, perfect copies of braces. They'd put some red spruce in the machine and cut 4 to 6 braces out of a single block of wood. They didn't have to run the machine a lot to keep up with production in New Hartford.
But wouldn’t a 40-50 year old D18 be less of a question of “potential” and more “what does it sound like now”?Plenty of people buy a guitar based on potential. I'd like to buy a 70s D 18 and send it to Bryan Kimsey for evaluation. But there are no guaranties.
I would imagine you’d need to change the braces outright, which would result in yet more variance.Is there any way to unscallop braces to see if it sounds better?
LOLIs there any way to unscallop braces to see if it sounds better?