Lutherie Demystified Ep. 7 | Concepts: Understanding and Selecting Soundboards, Part 1

Lutherie Demystified is a video series hosted by Garrett Lee that explores the world of classical guitar building--from techniques and theory to commentary and perspectives about the instruments, players and lutherie profession.
GarrettLeeGuitars.com

[@josetarragonatyvallejoslut2]

Thanks so much for sharing and putting this amount of information all together . We as guitar builders often dive in this infinite ocean of data , and without the rigth approach we get overwelmed... Tanks for this unvaluable approach you are sharing... this is very generous ... Looking forward to the next video ! Best wishes from Argentina Argentina!

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Thank you very much for the kind comment. I think the upcoming video on thinning tops to a prescribed flexibility will be helpful to you.

[@JoseOchoa-dw9vk]

A masterclass of classical guitar building. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Thank you for the kind words, Jose!

[@jamesstroud3230]

A great builder and a super nice guy.

[@dukhovich]

Thank you for such essential information, I look forward to each of your videos

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Thanks for your keen interest. I hope you find them helpful.

[@endosuanda2183]

Your explanation is very interesting and useful. Thank you very much

[@userAA]

I'm a guitarist and I find this series interesting too!

[@jessejonescomposer]

Great content, Maestro! Very helpful/informative!

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Thank you for the encouragement!

[@ianyule8687]

Fascinating stuff, thanks. Would love to see a similar video on the effects of carving the braces.

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

I'm glad you find the videos interesting. We will eventually get to brace carving, but we have a few more important topics to cover first.

[@garethdavies8416]

Great videos - I've found them really useful, especially because they take a lot of the guesswork out of selecting and thinning a soundboard - they are very empowering! I do have one request/question, which is about the settings you use for Visual Analyser - I've downloaded the software but am struggling to generate spectrum profiles for a couple of newly acquired soundboards that look anything like yours e.g. if I use the A channel I just get a lot of noise. Any further info or pointers you can provide would be much appreciated.

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Gareth, I'm happy you're finding the videos useful. Trevor Gore generously provides great info on how to set-up, run and trouble shoot Visual Analyser here: goreguitars.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/existing/Tech_note_on_data_collection_R1_2018_A4-1.pdf

[@garethdavies8416]

Many thanks, Garrett, that's perfect. 🙂

[@Daniel22147]

Hello Mr. Lee. Does density matter if you thin your top wood to a certain deflection ? If I understand correctly the denser soundboards will end up thinner and the less dense will be thicker.

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

This is an excellent and very astute question. While it’s true that thinning a denser board can reduce its flexibility to compensate for its inherent stiffness, the acoustic character in the final guitar may be different than if you used a lower density board (but adjusted to equivalent stiffness). This is because for the same flexibility and soundboard size, the denser board will always give higher weight since flexibility changes faster than weight when thinning. Higher weight will give less responsiveness and power, but potentially more sustain. The operational word is “may” because it depends on the difference in density you’re considering (the difference between 0.30 and 0.38 g/cm3 is pretty significant, between 0.35 and 0.38 not so much) and the fact that we have at least 4 more big tools (such as doming, bracing, brace carving, bridge weight) to use as optimization tools as we build the soundboard assembly. We’ll talk about these other tools in future videos.

[@gregglind]

I would love to tour a tonewood warehouse. How would I find one?

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Do a Google search on "tonewood supplier". You may be able to find one that will offer you a tour or visit. You can also find producers listed with the Guild of American Luthiers or in their publication American Lutherie.

[@userAA]

Does it mean we can never have a guitar that has balanced trebles and basses?

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

We can absolutely achieve bass to treble balance. By starting the building process with deliberate selection of materials, we’ve only peeked into the luthier’s toolbag of techniques that can further control the sound. Thinning and arching the plates and bracing and brace carving all can optimize the way the soundboard assembly vibrates in different directions and frequencies. Stay tuned. I’m very glad you’re enjoying the series, even as a player not a builder. It’s made for everyone.

[@GarrettLeeLuthier]

Another consequence of what I showed in the video is that we have a mechanism through which we can control bass to treble balance. However, it's a matter of personal taste for the player and builder where that sonic balance point lies.

[@userAA]

@@GarrettLeeLuthier thanks for your reply. I'm eagerly waiting for the next episodes!