Dupont Chorus f-hole top bracing

deadedith

Not sure if this is the correct part of the Forum, but looking at pix of the Dupont DM-50 Chorus, I can't quite figure out the bracing pattern - the s-holes are at the waist, instead of in the lower bout as is 'normal'. I know how to brace for the lower placement of the holes, but on the DM-50 not so much. How does Dupont work around those holes smack dab in the waist area?
Any ideas? Thanks, Dave.

deadedith

C'mon, help a brother out! :-)

frater

Hope this helps...

deadedith

Thanks Frater - I ran across that pic as well, and the bracing does make sense for those f-holes in the lower bout. Moved up into the waist area, though......well, maybe. Thanks for the input!

Bones

Don't know but guessing just move that stuff up toward the waist and then add a second cross brace under the bridge just like on regular selmacs???? Maybe eliminate the top one as well...

deadedith

Bones, you may be right, I was thinking that as well. All of my experience is in making x-braced instruments and that might be a way to go on this as well. The ladder braces produce a stronger fundamental at the cost of some bass focus and lack of roundness in the trebles; the x-braces give a fuller and rounder sound but too 'wet' for swing.
That being said, the DM-50 is almost a hybrid of the two and I'm not sure what magic Dupont used to achieve that.
Thanks again
Dave

frater

Probably Dupont did the magic looking inside a Di Mauro :-)

deadedith

Heh heh, you're right! Now I need to get a glimpse inside a Dimauro..

deadedith

I did find this pic on a French language site - yes, I speak no French - which gives a glimpse of the bracing scheme. I've contacted the luthier - Martin Tremblay - asking/begging for a sketch or picture of the rest of the bracing. I hope he answers.

frater

Looks like a very personal interpretation (in fact I'd be surprised he'd gave it away ). Anyway the guitar sounds great although not precisely in the range of a Di Mauro tonally (wider spectrum, sounds almost like an OM but I love it!)

deadedith

I've emailed a number of luthiers that build gypsy guitars, and not gotten one response. I find it surprising, since in all the years I've been building x-braced instruments I've never failed to get a response from even the top tier of luthiers. Much more openness in that community.

Be that as it may, I think I've come up with a solution to my problem, so thanks for your input; I'll be hanging around here for sure.