Archtop Guitar Dynamics

Abstract

This study is a modal analysis tracing acoustic changes along each step of the build process of an archtop guitar. The eigenmodes and corresponding eigenfrequencies were theoretically modeled and experimentally measured for the archtop guitar through finite element analysis, frequency sweep analysis and Chladni figure analysis. The archtop shares acoustic behaviors with instruments in both the violin and guitar families, resulting in its own acoustic signature.