Comparison of the vibration damping of the wood species used for the body of an electric guitar on the vibration response of open-strings

Ray, Tony (author), Kaljun, Jasmin (author), Straže, Aleš (author)

Research show that the vibrations of the strings and the radiated sound of the solid body electric guitar depend on the vibrational behavior of its structure in addition to the extended electronic chain. In this regard, most studies focused on the vibro-mechanical properties of the neck of the electric guitar and neglected the coupling of the vibrating strings with the neck and the solid body of the instrument. Therefore, the aim of the study was to understand how the material properties of the solid body could affect the stiffness and vibration damping of the whole instrument when comparing ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) wood. In the electric guitar with identical components, higher modal frequencies were confirmed in the structure of the instrument when the solid body was made of the stiffer ash wood. The use of ash wood for the solid body of the instrument due to coupling effect resulted in a beneficial reduction in the vibration damping of the neck of the guitar. The positive effect of the low damping of the solid body of the electric guitar made of ash wood was also confirmed in the vibration of the open strings. In the specific case of free-free vibration mode, the decay time was longer for higher harmonics of the E$_2$, A$_2$ and D$_3$ strings.

• Language: English
• Keywords: wood, electric guitar, solid body, acoustic properties, vibration damping
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 18, art. 5281
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-131617
• UDC: 630*8
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14185281
• COBISS.SI-ID: 76586755
• Publication date in RUL: 30.09.2021

RAY, Tony, KALJUN, Jasmin and STRAŽE, Aleš, 2021, Comparison of the vibration damping of the wood species used for the body of an electric guitar on the vibration response of open-strings. Materials [online]. 2021. Vol. 14, no. 18,  5281. [Accessed 18 May 2025]. DOI 10.3390/ma14185281. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=131617

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: les, električna kitara, akustične lastnosti, vibracije