Go-Bar Deck — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Go-Bar DeckType: toolA two-tiered clamping station that uses flexible sticks (go-bars) to apply even pressure for gluing braces to guitar tops and backs.## Description A go-bar deck is a two-level clamping fixture consisting of a rigid base platform and an upper deck separated by vertical posts, typically 16 to 24 inches apart. Flexible sticks (go-bars), usually made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, or thin strips of straight-grained wood, are bowed between the upper deck and the workpiece below. The spring tension of the bowed sticks provides consistent, even clamping pressure. The base platform often includes a concave dish to match the radius curvature of the guitar top or back. ## Use in Lutherie The go-bar deck is primarily used for gluing braces to the top and back plates of acoustic guitars. The plate is placed face-down on the radiused dish (which matches the desired top or back curvature), braces are positioned and glued, and go-bars are sprung between the braces and the upper deck to hold everything in place while the glue dries. The beauty of the system is that each bar applies independent pressure, and bars can be placed exactly where needed. It is also used for gluing bridge plates, rosette channels, and reinforcing strips. ## Selection Guide Go-bar decks can be purchased ready-made from LMI or Stew-Mac, or built in the shop from plywood and dimensional lumber. The critical dimension is the height between the base and upper deck, which must accommodate the go-bars at the correct flex. Fiberglass rods in 3mm to 6mm diameters are the most popular go-bar material. You will need 20 to 40 bars for a typical bracing opera…