C.F. Martin and X-Bracing

During the nineteenth century instruments have been increasing in size but has failed to bring quality sound and stability until C.F. Martin came along and changed all that forever.

One of the most innovative structural designs for the acoustic guitar was the X-Bracing. During the 1850’s, Martin had begun to feature a bracing that was never been seen before in acoustic instruments, and that was the X-Bracing design. The X-Bracing design was installed between the sound hole and the bridge. For those of you who don’t know what the sound hole or the bridge means, it is the hole that is iconic in the guitar world and the bridge is towards the bottom of the guitar that holds the strings. This is the area where there is extreme tension so Martin had to come up with a design that can offer excellent sound and durability. The X-bracing did just that. It provided strength and stability to the tops of the instrument.

Now, one of the biggest controversies in the guitar world is the question of who is the first person to invent the X-Bracing design. Between Martin, Schmidt & Maul, and Stumcke, all of these guitar makers had the X-bracing design. Although these guitar makers are all aware of each other, at one point in 1850, they all had X-bracing design in all of their guitars. This is when the argument of who invented the X-bracing started. Martin claims that they are the ones who invented the X-bracing, and I tend to believe them because Martin has documents stating that they started making X-bracing guitars and have been selling them longer than the other manufacturers, and this is all recorded and documented.

Source: Gura, Philip F. C.F. Martin & His Guitars, 1796-1873. Chapell Hill: University of North Carolina, 2003. Print.

X-Bracing Design