The Beardsell Platform Rim
One of the defining features of the Beardsell Guitar sound and design is one you can't even see—the Platform Rim. This is an idea I have been developing ever since I cut a hole in the side of a guitar and started laminating layers of veneer around these holes to reinforce them against splitting. There was a noticeable improvement in projection which brought me to the conclusion that since the guitar is essentially a drum with wires stretched across it why not build it like a snare drum? In order to minimize phase muting (as the top is hit and moves inward, the sides warp outward, the back is pulled in in the opposite direction of the top, cancelling out its energy) between the top and bottom skin of the drum the rim must be perfectly rigid—or as close to as can be done without using prohibitively heavy materials.
I have transferred this idea to the guitar by introducing an inside veneer at a distance from the rim side itself—the distancing increases the stiffening effect against any lateral movement. Between the veneer and outer rim/side is a double-kerfed spacer of lightweight material (basswood) that covers the entire inside face of the rim, and tucked into the end-blocks. This increases maximally the overall stiffness of the side while adding very little weight to the guitar. This enhances the sympathetic movement of the back to the top to be ”in phase“. By building all of the guitar's structural stability into the rim, the back is free to enhance the guitar's ability to make sound, rather than simply be a reflective surface.
The conventional wisdom of tradtional luthiery would have us believe the that lighter and thinner is (usually) better, and while minimizing weight is a big issue, the basic mechanical workings of the guitar should not be overlooked to satisfy the traditional aesthetic.