Do a half lap, drill hole tip to but (from headstock to opposite), then a slightly ovalish peg that also tapers slightly. Should lock and also spread the two thus stiffening. This from a toolmaker, machinist, gunsmith, woodworker (Queen Anne furniture, jointery, carving), bushcrafter, bow builder (archery), gunstock maker and snowshoe and ski builder. I came from a line of land developers and home builders (many generation). If those two cross braces had a tension twixt them it would make them under some slight tension stiffening them considerably. Easiest way is make hole, ream a slight taper, make plug that is a hair oversize (0.005-0.010"l then make one side perfect size, that slight difference will wedge it.

Good video Eric. I've only built two guitars, well ones not finished yet, but I've used this little patch on both of them.

thank you Eric

Exceptional attention to detail I have now watched a number of your videos and find them very informative, I really want to build my own acoustic guitar, also thinking of buying your online course to help me as I do not have any experience in building from scratch I have recently started to buy a few bits and bobs tool wise but still need quite a few more any advice and info would be much appreciated

When you notch out the X braces for gluing to the top, which one gets the notch that needs reinforcement from the graft? Looking at your example, it seems that the brace that extends onto the bass side of the lower bout is the one that has a continuous glue surface to the top? Perhaps because that side has the greater forces acting upon it by the heavier strings?

Could this be added to an already « finished » factory-made guitar ?

This is all a bunch of bs.