Superior Bracing Systems on Acoustic Guitars by Ultratone Guitars

In the search for something new in the design corner of the acoustic guitar world, the makers Ovation, Takamine, Fender, Gibson, Taylor come to mind far too easilly. While these makers do turn out a high quality product with design patents of their own on models, Morgan Hill Music has turned our eye with their Suspended Bracing System (SBS) featured on their acoustic guitars. Morgan Hill Music's line of Boulder Creek Guitars are the only guitars on the market to feature this unique bracing system.

Boulder Creek Guitars has restarted the otherwise stalled evolution of the acoustic guitar. 150 years ago or so, the "X" bracing system was patented as a design for the acoustic guitar. Ever since then, the status quo has regined supreme. In walks Morgan Hill Music with their unique bracing systems on their acoustic guitars. The "SBS" is a suspended bracing system and the first of its find within the music industry. It focuses on freeing the soundboard and allowing more vibration to produce a better tone and more sustain. The system works by using aluminum tone bars that not only make the construction of the instrument more durable, but also allows the top to be free from the constrictions of the standard "X" bracing system.

Patented in the 1850's, the "X" bracing sustem has been the industry standard since that time. Many years ago, a designer decided that there must be a better way to brace the soundboard of the guitar to allow more vibration and yet keep the strength and stability of the guitar top. It seemed that if the bridge could be secured without using traditional X-bracing, the top would vibrate more freely. This would allow greater sustain, volume, and an overall richer tone. In retrospect, there are not many other new technologies used since the pre-civil war era. While other have been happy to remain in this design rut, Boulder Creek Guitars believes that relying on covention has hurt the industry and that it is time for a change.

The "SBS" system utillizes the best of the "X" bracing system with new technology, giving the player the best of all worlds; tone, balance, sustain, and voume. When the "SBS" bracing system was incorporated witht he new Boulder Creek Sollitaire Series guitars, the sustain and tone quality became even more prealent. By not cutting a large hole in the front soundboard of the guitar, the soundboard area is increased and the top vibrates more evenly and greater sustain is achieved. By relocating the soundhole on the top of the guitar's shoulder, the player hears the deep rich tones that come from inside the chamer of the guitar. Since low frequencies are omni directional, the lows are heard all around the guitar. Mids and high frequencies that come from the front of the guitar are also increased. Put all of this together and you have a totally new way for a totally new sound to be produced from an acoustic guitar.

The Suspended Bracing System was developed by Mile Shellhammer in conjunction with Morgan Hill Music in the Silicon Valley of California. By using less points of contact and less bracing around the bridge area, the guitar top vibrates more freely but maintains its strength and stability. The exclusive aluminum tone bars allow the top to vibrate up and down, but not flex when string tension is applied. The aluminum bars secure the bridge but are suspended 1/2 inch below the top to avoid dampening the vibration. The bars are then attached at each end of the soundboard to secure the bridge.

The SBS system is simply a better way to brace a guitar. The tone, balance, and additional sustain are the results. Try not to compare the sound of a Boulder Creek Guitar with the sound of other guitars in the same price range. It's just not fair to the other guitars!