Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Carruth
The equations we use to derive the Young's modulus from vibration tests are approximations that only get close to the 'right' answer. McIntyre and Woodhouse published some articles on all of this, also in the JCAS, in '85 and '86. They gave some hints about using results of several modes in rectangular plates tuned so that the lengthwise and crosswise 'pure' bending frequencies would be the same, to account for shear moduli and Poisson's ratios and get better 'E' values. None of this is simple...
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And...very importantly to the builder, be they factory, small boutique factory, or solo or small group luthier...none of it is simple, and it is time consuming to test...and time IS money...or production cost...for any and all the builders.
It might be one thing is someone is a builder who can command $20K and up and up for their guitars, so they can build in the testing time costs and still come out in the green, but isn't likely a viable scenario for large output factories or small output makers who can't charge the big BIG bucks.
And really...all the testing in the world/building by highly scientific method is no guarantee of absolute success and/or better and more consistently superior sounding guitars. Of the luthiers, like Trevor Gore, who are working to varying degrees in this way, there is no big buzz out there in the guitar community saying that that the high science high testing high test data reliance style makers are building more consistently much better sounding guitars than ABC or XYZ guitar makers who build in the more old school touch and feel, hands and hearts, eyes and ears and instincts style.
I think, through the years out here on the AGF Mr. Carruth has been gently and kindly trying to say this...that all the testing and data are good to know and understand, but at the end of the day, the builder is still going to have to make educated guesses in the process of building any given guitar, and the educated guesses may be as much or more by experience, instinct and gut feeling as they are by researched data points.
duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher