X bracing, go bars and Sharp pencils
![Laying out the braces for the spruce top.](http://guitarmaker.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Laying-out-the-braces-300x225.jpg)
Laying out the braces for the spruce top.
A sharp pencil is a precise tool, while a dull writing utensil can make for an unfit guitar. There is no room for error when building a fine instrument – 1/100 of an inch here and there times 100 measurements adds up to a whole inch! Yikes that can mean your neck is crooked, so sharpen those pencils before making any marks on your wood.
The white sheet is a template for a dreadnought acoustic Martin style guitar. I transfer the line from template to spruce and then use a ruler to connect the dots. This is the blueprint for the top’s braces.
Once the spruce top is marked, I need to build the x-brace itself. A file is used to notch the x-brace precisely for a tight fit. The x-brace consists of two long pieces notched to fit inside one another. This is the main brace for the top of the guitar.
![Filing notch in the x-brace for top of guitar bracing.](http://guitarmaker.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Making-the-notch-in-the-x-brace-e1478249565834-300x285.jpg)
Filing notch in the x-brace for top of guitar bracing.
Go bars are used again to apply downward pressure on the glued surface.
![X brace glued on with go bars.](http://guitarmaker.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/X-brace-glued-on-e1478249507523-300x292.jpg)
X brace glued and positioned with go bars.