Radiused or flat fingerboard?
The radiused fingerboard has been
around the acoustic and the electric guitar since day one. The same is
true for most instruments of the Stringed family of instruments (violas,
violins cellos, bass). Radiusing (image above) makes barre and left hand
stopping A LOT easier. The only drawback is that you will NEVER want to
play a flat fingerboard after that. If you are having your custom
guitar built, I am all pro radiusing the fingerboard. The standard
fingerboard is flat. |
Nomex Double top Configuration
on this Princess
The double top with the 9 braces
Hauser fan, was developed and introduced by Master Luthier Manuel
Contreras the II at the end of the 70s and reached its peak in the 80s.
In this Variation of the Double top, a second top is located halfway between
the main top and the back. It is held in place by means of little Mahogany
bridges located above and below the second top along the inner part of
the sides (frames 1 & 3). The second top rests on the upper bridges
and once it is glued on each little bridge (frame 2), a second bridge is
glued on top of the preceding corresponding bridge below the second top
(frame 3). This second top vibrates a fraction of a second after the first
one creating an immense sustain and punch using the air moving inside the
soundbox and thus creating a multiplying effect of the sonorous waves. |