The backs are on the two guitars I’m building to compare bracing patterns, and this allows me to measure the main frequencies of each guitar body. The results fit my expectations with the more modern Gore-inspired bracing producing higher pitched main frequencies than the scalloped X-bracing. In fact, the latter was so low (main air frequency 83.5 hz, which is just above the lowest note on a guitar) that I’m concerned it will be too bass-heavy. It also produces plenty of strong mid-range frequencies, but this is meant to be a dreadnought, not an acoustic bass!
I decided to fill in the scallops on the main X-braces with spruce splices, and that raised the frequency by nearly 4 hz, though this dropped a bit after trimming the splices (the far left peaks on the graph). This initial fingerprint will shift further as the finish is added and the final bridge glued on, but I expect the relationship between the 2 guitars will remain similar.
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