Question about braces

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by Adrian Levi

Is it possible that the differences in sound between flat back vs round has to do more with the crossbars found on a flat ? I have often wondered about this seeing as so much importance is placed on the ribs and plates vibrating as freely as possible ....?

Don't assume that a braced flatback vibrates less than a roundback. A back arch is carved differently to the arch on a top; it is much stiffer, and a different wood. And as Ken says, many are now bracing the roundback as well. And there are flatbacks without a break, and these could be - depending on the bracing - somewhat less rigid than flatbacks with a break.

There are so many variables its hard to generalise. Everything in a bass contributes to the way it sounds.