Toonsmith
New member
Can anyone tell me what are the resonance frequencies of acoustic guitar? Or is it dependent on the guitar and it's playing style? Alternate tunings certainly change the frequencies but is it all that great a difference?
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New member
Resonance frequencies are dependent on the size, stiffness, weight, bracing, species of woods, and weight to strength ratios of the top and back, the volume of the box, the size of the soundhole (or holes), the weight and stiffness of the bridge, and the thickness and density of the finish film.
There are builders who feel that they can control the sound of their instruments by controlling these factors, but most (including me) find the complexities of trying to control all of these impossible. We do, of course, take great care in controlling the elements we can, but there is only so far you can go. I do believe that some of these elements are easier to control (and more important) for arch top, mandolin, and violin family instruments.
A lot of guitar builders try to tap tune their tops to an "A", but by the time you add the rest of the box, and the finish, and the fingerboard tongue, and the bridge, you just can't even hope to keep it the same. It does not happen.
You can, however, figure out the resonant frequency of your guitar, if you have a pickup installed. You turn up the gain until you start to get your first ring, and then measure that frequency. That is the resonant frequency.
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"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
There are builders who feel that they can control the sound of their instruments by controlling these factors, but most (including me) find the complexities of trying to control all of these impossible. We do, of course, take great care in controlling the elements we can, but there is only so far you can go. I do believe that some of these elements are easier to control (and more important) for arch top, mandolin, and violin family instruments.
A lot of guitar builders try to tap tune their tops to an "A", but by the time you add the rest of the box, and the finish, and the fingerboard tongue, and the bridge, you just can't even hope to keep it the same. It does not happen.
You can, however, figure out the resonant frequency of your guitar, if you have a pickup installed. You turn up the gain until you start to get your first ring, and then measure that frequency. That is the resonant frequency.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
