Acoustic Guitar Finishes and Their Acoustic Impact: An Analysis
How guitar finishes affect mass, stiffness and damping. Compare nitro, polyester, polyurethane, shellac and oil finishes by thickness, protection and repair.
Wood, finishes, adhesives, structures, vibration and guitar acoustics.
Exploring “Unusual” Guitar Top Appearances: Yin-Yang Effect, Color Variation and Mineral Streaks
Part 1: The Anatomy of a Guitar Top: Understanding the Origins of Its Appearance Before diving into the various visual differences and so-called “flaws” of guitar tops, we must first establish a baseline by understanding the qualities of an ideal top-grade soundboard. This section lays out the scientific foundations of top wood, providing the physical…
A Preliminary Acoustic Model of the Guitar
Understand how strings, bridge, soundboard and air interact in an acoustic guitar. Explore energy transfer, radiation and the limits of simplified models.
Exploring Bearclaw
Learn what bearclaw spruce reveals about appearance and material structure. Distinguish specimen tests from guitar tone, and compare condition, playability and price.
The Aroma of Wood: Exploring the Scent of Guitars
Guitar smells come from wood, glue, finish, cases and storage. Learn cedar species differences and why scent does not establish tone or wood quality.
Fundamentals of Guitar Modal Concepts
Understand guitar modes, damping and coupling, with the assumptions behind vibration equations and an illustration of nodes and antinodes.
Acoustic Guitar Wood Selection: Empiricism and Engineering Capability
Choose guitar woods by density, directional stiffness, loss and moisture. Understand impedance, radiation-ratio limits and equilibrium moisture estimates.
An Analysis of the Science and Practice of Adhesives in Guitar Making
Compare guitar adhesives by joint fit, load, cure and repairability. Understand hide glue, wood glues, CA, epoxy, open time and water-resistance limits.