panel

The numbers in the pictures correspond to the names:

 

1: Resonance Edition

2: Bridge board

3 and 4: X-shaped keel

5: Sound bar

6: Fan-shaped support beam

 

1. Soundboard

 

The soundboard directly determines the tone of the guitar, and its role is to conduct the real-time dynamics of the strings through the air.

 

When choosing a piano top, the first factor is to consider the hardness of the wood. The best choice is the wood grain vertical cut (diameter cut) plank, which is hard enough. When this index is not enough, the thickness of the sounding board needs to be increased. However, the thicker the soundboard, the less responsive it is, and the less sensitive it is to the response of the strings.

 

The soundboard with strong hardness and thin thickness has timely and agile dynamic response. However, the ratio of hardness to thickness varies in some cases.

 

2. Bridgeplate

 

The bridge is glued under the top to strengthen the structure of the piano, which is generally a hard maple. There are drilled holes to carry the string-anchoring pins. Luthiers have been searching for the best size wood for bridges for years, because even the slightest difference can be fatal to the sound of a piano. Maple is by far the best material.

 

3 and 4, X-bracing

 

There are many structures of support beams, but the most popular way is the X-shaped support keel.

 

Martin's founder, Christian Frederick Martin, first built guitars using the trapezoidal support beam design commonly used in classical guitars. Later, Martin first designed this X-shaped support keel for gut guitars. Until the 1920s, when Martin began producing steel-string guitars generally, the internal structure of acoustic guitars began to use a large number of X-shaped support beams.

 

To this day, it remains the most practical and popular acoustic guitar interior support.

 

5. Tone bars

 

To support the X-keel, many steel-string guitar tops use this ancient support beam design. The reason why it is called tone bar is because the position and shape of these support beams not only have a great influence on the vibration of the panel, but also further affect the timbre of the guitar through the vibration of the panel.

 

6. Scalloping

 

It is also used as a reinforcing structure. A high-quality steel string guitar will carefully manufacture this part of the structure to balance the huge tension of the strings. At the same time, these support beams can also ensure the free vibration of the panel.

 

 

 

 

Common wood for panels

 

The numbers in the pictures correspond to the names:

 

 

 

1: ADIRONDACK SPRUCE (Red Fruit Spruce)

 

2: WESTERN RED CEDAR (Western Red Cedar)

 

3: SITKA SPRUCE (Sitka Spruce)

 

4: ENGELMANN SPRUCE

 

5: GERMAN SPRUCE (German white pine)

 

6: MAHOGANY (mahogany)

 

1. Red fruit spruce

 

The king of violin wood is the red spruce that everyone usually calls, which grows in the northeastern part of North America. The wood is difficult to work with, but the tone is unmatched. Great price.

 

2. Western Red Cedar

 

It is lighter in color than spruce and has a "softer" tone. But the dynamic response range is wider for fingerpickers. When the piano is played vigorously, the sound is firmed.

 

3. Sitka spruce

 

Also produced in North America, it is the most common material for making guitar tops. The guitars produced with it have excellent dynamics, clarity, and dynamic range. Cost-effective.

 

4. Engelmann spruce

 

Slightly higher grade than Sica spruce. There is no obvious advantage in sound quality, but the wood is lighter and not stiff.

 

5. German white pine

 

The tone is similar to that of Engelmann spruce, which is often used on classical guitars.

 

6. Mahogany

 

There are many different kinds of this wood. The harder the wood, the firmer the tone.

 

 

 

backplane

 

 

 

1. Backplane

 

The energy of the string transmission needs to be directly transmitted to the panel and then transmit the sound through the air, and then the aerodynamic force is pushed by the back panel, so as to transmit the sound. Backing wood needs to be thin and tough. The back panel also affects the volume of the piano.

 

2. Back plate support beam

 

Different from the front panel, the support beam of the steel string acoustic guitar back panel is similar to a trapezoid. Since it only has a reflection effect on the timbre and does not need to consider the position of the sound hole, the back panel support beam is far less complicated than the panel. The backplane is generally composed of two pieces.

 

 

 

side panel

 

 

 

1. Neck connecting wood Regardless of whether the connection between the neck and the body is screwed, glued or integrated, this is a crucial part, and the design of this position determines the joint, endurance and aesthetics of the neck. Spend.

 

2. This part of the lining connects the panel and the back and side panels. In the past, this part was made up of tough wood strips that were cut by hand, but now the strips are cut with precision computer calculations and using a more flexible material.

 

3. The tail of the piano is the key part of connection and reinforcement, and it is also the position of the strap button. The load bearing of this position must be firm.

 

4. Side pillars Not all acoustic guitars have this structure, but also the role of load-bearing reinforcement.

 

 

 

Common wood for back and side panels

 

 

 

The numbers in the pictures correspond to the names:

 

1: BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD (Brazilian rosewood)

 

2: OVANGKOL (Hematoxylin)

 

3: MAPLE (Maple)

 

4: KOAS & WALNUTS (Walnut)

 

5: "NEW" WOODS

 

6: LAMINATES & HPL (pressed wood)

 

7: Other Dalbergia

 

8: MAHOGANIES (mahogany)

 

9: SAPELE (Sapele Wood)

 

1. Brazilian Rosewood

 

The price is unbelievably high. Non-renewable and difficult to transport, so in 1967 Martin discontinued use on mid-range models, only on top models. The feedback sound is extremely rich and warm, and the wood grain is indescribably beautiful.

 

2, hematoxylin

 

Produced in Africa, it is a relative of rosewood, lighter in color, and less expensive than the above. Multipurpose wood.

 

3. Maple

 

Common and special, hard and heavy. The tone is bright and sharp, with little of the mid-range warmth of rosewood, but very solid.

 

4. Walnut

 

This wood is between maple and mahogany in hardness, and the tone is also between the two, so it is also one of the choices for back and side panels.

 

5. New wood

 

As environmental resources and other issues continue to heat up, people have to look for other fast-regenerating woods for making pianos.

 

6. Pressed wood

 

The tone is okay (if you're not that demanding) and the firmness is okay.

 

7. Other Dalbergia

 

Most of the wood of the genus Dalbergia can be used to make pianos: dark Indian, light Madagascar, high quality Cocobolo and so on. Their tones are warmer.

 

8. Mahogany

 

Since Martin and Gibson often use wood, it is generally considered that the tone is a little less interesting than rosewood. The tone is cleaner and more direct, with less midrange than rosewood. However, there is a deep and powerful low frequency.

 

9. Sapele Wood

 

Produced in Africa, many characters are similar to mahogany. But the sound is more durable and powerful.

 

 

 

back of neck

 

 

 

1. Neck

 

Mahogany is the most common neck material, as are maple and maple plywood.

 

2. Heel of the neck

 

This part is the same as the headstock, and some very high-end models or vintage models are made of the same material as the neck. In most cases, this part is a few-piece structure. Different acoustic guitars have very different shapes and sizes of this part. This is where the second strap button is located.

 

3. Neck Joint

 

Wedge insertion or glue bonding is the traditional method of connecting the neck to the body.

 

This part is the key to the fit, if the cut is slightly unreasonable, it will not fit well, causing air to be trapped when gluing the body. Another way to connect is with screws.

 

 

 

front neck

 

 

 

1. Headstock

 

Cutting the headstock and neck from the same wood would be wasteful, so one-piece headstocks are usually only found on high-end models. The headstock and neck are generally separated.

 

Some people call the edge of the headstock the "ear" because this part is usually glued, and the headstock is generally sloping downwards because it has to withstand the tension of the strings from the saddle. This is good for both string vibration and tone.

 

2. Nut

 

Nuts can be made from a variety of materials: synthetic ivory, plastic, bone, and more.

 

It must be hard enough to withstand the wear and tear of the string when it vibrates, but it also needs to be flexible enough to not bind the string. The nut and hosel need to be polished very neatly. The material in this part also affects the tone. For example, the tone of bone is very different from that of brass.

 

The width also varies according to the model of the guitar. The standard model is generally 44.5mm, and the model suitable for fingerplay is wider. There is also the degree of tightness, which has a great impact on the feel of the hand.

 

3, Fingerboard

 

Most acoustic guitar fretboards are ebony or rosewood, although many artificial materials (such as Richlite) are also popular. Ebony is widely used in a variety of models due to its strong density, and the sound clarity of this instrument is excellent. Also brighter.

 

The fretboard length varies from 15 to 18 inches and is generally wider than an electric guitar.

 

4. Frets

 

Compared to electric guitars, acoustic guitars have a more slender fret because there are not as many string bends in the performance.

 

5. Truss rod

 

This part is the same as the electric guitar, adjust the curvature of the neck, I believe everyone knows it. From the headstock all the way to the sound hole.