MK bracing

[5string]

The MK Elegente is advertised as having tone bar bracing.............do any other of the MK's have bracing?? None of the websites mention this....?

...dave

[Tim Saxton]

I think that all of them are tone bar braced.

Tim

[PlayerOf8]

Does it really matter?

GM

[mpeknox]

Does it really matter?

GM

Well, apparently it does to somebody...I don't really see the point behind your post.

[Greenmando]

The MK Elegente is advertised as having tone bar bracing.............do any other of the MK's have bracing?? #None of the websites mention this....?

...dave

Dave

All MK's have bracing. The F holes have tone bars and the oval holes have cross bracing.

[5string]

Thanks Greenmando! I didn't know that's the way you could tell about the bracing. Called one of online mando stores to ask about the supposed tone bracing on advertised on the Kentucky 750.....he said something like,"yeh, it's got what look like tone bars, if that's what you want to call these things." Either he wasn't sure what he was looking for, or was not impressed with what he saw. Got the impression it was the latter.

Reason I asked.........having read discussions on both types of bracing, "sounds" like tone bars will bring me more of the type of sound that I am looking for. And, yes to what you are thinking..........Try Before You Buy!

Thanks.......dave

[Greenmando]

Some F holes do have cross bracing or X braces like the Eastman's, but I understand that was only in early production. Easiest way to see the braces is to remove the end pin and peek inside.

Generally accepted is that parallel tone bars take a lot of playing to get the mando to break in and find it's voice.
Mandolins with the cross bracing or also known as X braces do not change in tone with long playing and you get a consistent tone right off.

Either method of bracing could still be considered tone bars.