Lattice Braced Concert Guitar Plan

• Size: A-2 (420 x 594mm)
• Scale: 1:1
• Dimensions: In millimeters
• Quantity: 4 sheets
• Sheet One: Head, Rosette, Bridge, Heel 
• Sheet Two: Soundboard viewed inside
• Sheet Three: Fingerboard, neck, Section through centre of body
• Sheet Four: Notes 
• By for: Roy Courtnall
• Description: There are many ways of designing the interior and the plate thicknesses of the classical guitar. Conventional wisdom viewed the sound box as a single element, made from various species of wood, that all vibrate when activated by the plucked string; - this multitude of vibrations contributes to the overall timbre and projection of sound produced by the sound box. There are many advantages to this approach, but one of the problems is that some of the energy produced by the plucked string is lost as it moves into the sides, back, neck and even the body of the guitarist.

  There are many variations on this 'lattice' approach, the most extreme sometimes being criticised for being too 'banjo'-like, with a piercing sound but little sustain and a loss of the traditional warmth of the Spanish classical guitar sound. With careful use of wood, thicknesses and interior support, it is possible to create a guitar with a traditional 'guitar sound', at the same time having greater projection, with good balance across the bass, mid and treble ranges, and simply being a greater pleasure to play.

  This type of guitar is more demanding to make, as it involves many more steps in the construction process, and bringing the soundboard down to the membrane-like thickness required, takes great control of tools and materials.