leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,144 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on May 27, 2016 19:38:42 GMT
there has been some lovely rosette work on display in the build threads... But are they purely for decoration and an opportunity for luthiers to express their individuality? Or do the have some tonal or structural significance? never really thought of it before, so thought I'd ask  |
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Post by yorkie on May 27, 2016 19:51:54 GMT
A little bit of anti split insurance around the weakend area of the sound hole, but a great opportunity to advertise your craftsmanship if you have the chops.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on May 27, 2016 21:38:19 GMT
You actually have to thin the area around the hole to provide a channel for the rosette so, if you fill that with a "mosaic", I would have thought the net effect is to weaken the area. On the other hand, if you fill it with "lines" of wood running around the hole and especially if you line the edges of the hole, then I'd agree with yorkie . Basically I reckon it's primarily a bit of decoration right in the face of anyone listening to the guitar giving them a chance to admire your skill. There's often a ring of reinforcement on the back of the area since the hole is always going to be a weak point in the structure. |
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Post by yorkie on May 28, 2016 4:39:09 GMT
Top wood will tend to split along the plate joint line or along grain lines if there's trauma to the top or massive humidity changes. Although the area is initially routed out to fit the rosette this thinning is more than compensated for by the installation of a rosette with the proviso that it is installed well an interrupts the grain line and plate joint line. Additional reinforcement inside provides belt and braces.
Having said this there are some very well known makers who use partial rosettes; Somogyi et al.
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Post by seren on Jun 5, 2016 10:38:03 GMT
I tend to put a 'superman' patch around the interior of the soundhole (coined by our own Defaoite some years back) which frees me up to create a rosette that is purely decorative.
Starting on one now...
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Post by yorkie on Jun 5, 2016 17:42:21 GMT
What are you building, Sam? Hope you're well, by the way, it's been a while |
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Post by seren on Jun 8, 2016 9:56:01 GMT
Thank you for asking, Yorkie. I am doing OK, thanks - busy looking for a more local job! Well I am not building anything too exciting - just a bog standard OM to get back into practice, again. |
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Jo whoever he is.
