Lattice Guitars and their construction. Handmade Classical Guitars by Damian Lodge

Damian Lodge a Guitar Builder from Australia talks about his lattice guitars and how they are constructed. Damian goes into detail about the balsa and carbon fiber lattice, the lattice bracing, plywood structure and the western red cedar top. Damian's lattice braced classical guitars take inspiration from the brilliant lattice guitars of Greg Smallman. Damian has carried out significant research on the carbon fiber lattice guitar and its construction and discusses some of the principles behind the design. www.lodgeguitars.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lattice Guitar
• Greg Smallman
• Balsa Guitar
• Carbon Fiber
• Classical Guitar
• Luthier
• Hand made guitars
• Building a guitar
• guitar building
• inside a guitar
• Damian Lodge

[killxthexsmile]

i understand why you think trapping the tone to just the top would project better, but honestly, a strong set of sides, and fine tuned bracing design is best, because the tention on the top plus the vibration and energy of the strings push the sound to the BACK, and the sound bounces off the back, and that wave of sound that comes back, is what you want, thats the projection, it hits the top and explodes out of the soundhole and fills the room :)

[Lodgeguitars]

@killxthexsmile

Thanks for your both your comments. Lattice guitars do work differently to traditional guitars. Some people love the sound and some dislike it. I think its a personal preference. Guitarists buy my lattice guitars because 1. they sound good and 2. are set up very well 3. have great projection and 4. great value for money when you compare them against a Smallman. I will freely admit they are not to everyones taste but that is fine too.

Best Wishes

Damian

[SummertimeSeries]

Interesting theorys. However i cannot imagine those two LARGE braces under the sound board actually sounding good.

I dont doubt the guitar is strong. But does it sound good. I believe the more gismos and braces that are inside a guitar the sound goes down hill from there.

I played pete barthel luthier guitar and he has a wierd design inside and a big hodge podge of latice bracing. Sounded like poop.

Unless proven other wise i think its not a good idea.

[Lodgeguitars]

@SummertimeSeries

Those two large braces stop the body from moving or compressing and lock in the string energy to the top so the top is working a lot harder. Those two braces are not attached to the cedar top but rather the plywood ring so the area under the bridge is still free to move, vibrate etc to create sound.

Regards

Damian

[pdpluthier]

Hi Damian,

Many people like the sound of australian guitars, their volume and sustain, but they don't want the weight. Have you tried any variant in that sense? How much of the sound is due to the thin-latticed top and how much to the strong back, sides an internal structure? Do you know of any book or article written by G. Smallman? I remember an interview in radio ABC Australia, but unfortunately is not available any more. Cheers.

[Lodgeguitars]

@pdpluthier

Articles I found very interesting were: Meet Greg Smallman by Graham Caldersmith & Jim Williams

AL#8 p.30

and

Lattice Bracing Guitar Tops from a 1992 convention lecture by Jim Williams

BRB4 p. 206 AL#43 p.11

The heavy back and sides do lock in the energy to the top so the guitar projects more. If you build it with a traditonal back and sides you do get more of a traditional sound but with reduced projection.

[KISSarmyist]

When you tap on it it just sound devistating..

[killxthexsmile]

strength means nothing if the guitar sounds mediocre. your lattice guitars might sound like a nice guitar to the normal untrained ear but to the guitarist and luthier that have played a classical lets say made by Somogyi (rare to find a classical by him, but they exist), your lattice classical will sound very dull and nothing about the sound would excite them. traditional spruce or choice of wood bracing sounds much better im sure.

[SummertimeSeries]

@SummertimeSeries I like the neck idea! Sorry to sound spectical. I do appreciate your breaking headway and perhaps expanding the horizons of the classical guitar

[PetruBecker4Rusty]

@Lodgeguitars it's the same story on an traditional braced guitar? And another question, how much are thick sides and back ? Thanks! :D

[ReiMonCoH]

I guess the lattice/ carbon fiber thing is new to me.... Just not sure, guess I'd have to hear it or play it.

[fawnication]

how about a tune?