On Mon, 31 Dec 2001 11:01:33 Ron Overs wrote: >Since you mention guitars, there are a couple of interesting local >luthiers who are gaining the attention of the guitar world. Greg >Smallman is making guitars with a cutoff across the 'waist line' of >the belly - the lower section only is active belly. > >Central to Greg Smallman's design philosophy is the use of an >ultra-thin wooden top that is intended to project more efficiently >the sound of the strings. To this end he has abandoned the >traditional strutting under the guitar's top, and in its place uses a >flexible criss-cross "lattice" strutting made from balsa wood >reinforced with carbon fiber. >The backs and sides of the Smallman guitar are unusually heavy and >are pressed from laminated rosewood [this particular Rosewood is an >Australian rain-forest species with similar density and strength to >Hard Maple] reduce the amount of energy that might otherwise be >absorbed from the top, yet again enhancing the guitar's projection. > >Bernard Richardson, an expert in guitar acoustics who lectures at the >Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wales >Cardiff, explains elsewhere in his book how Smallman's designs >increase the all-important stiffness-to-mass ratio of the soundboard >but keep the vibrating mass low, which permits an increase in sound >radiation. "Whether it is intentional or not, Smallman employs very >sensible engineering and acoustical principles to add stiffness but >reduce mass, which is exactly which is required," says Richardson. > >Another interesting and committed Sydney luthier is Gerard Gilet. >Gerard makes an acoustic guitar of his own design with a substantial >bent rim supporting the belly. Sting purchased a Gilet guitar during >a recent visit to Sydney. These are serious instruments worthy of >further investigation. Gerard's website can be found at; > >http://www.giletguitars.com.au/ > >Happy new year to all, > >Ron O Ron, Thanks for the references. I'm acquainted with Smallman's name. I saw an article about him and his guitars. His braces combining wood and composites are very interesting. I didn't realize that he uses a heavy rim. I'm not familiar with Gilet. I'll check out the websites. It seems that it's not true that all guitar makers think a thin or flexible rim is the way to go. On the subject of guitars, since you provided me with some links, I'll give you one that you might find interesting: http://www.garrisonguitars.com/ These guitars are made in Canada (Newfoundland I think). They were designed by a fellow I think named Griffiths. The bracing, kerfing, etc. is all injection molded as one piece in composite of some sort. Interesting idea (to me at least). Phil F -- Click here for your very own create-a-date adventure from MatchMaker Go to http://ecard.matchmaker.com/dating.html
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