Acoustical Properties of Wood for Musical Instruments

Abstract

After a review of the acoustic properties of wood for musical instruments such as violin, guitar and piano, the relationships between nano- and micro-structure of wood and the acoustic properties are explained, and the effects of chemical treatments on the acoustic properties of wood are reported. Formaldehyde cross-linkings formed between hydroxyl groups of wood constituents decreased the internal friction of wood significantly. A violin having formaldehyde treated top plate was judged to be brighter, sonorous, and comprehensively better than the same violin having untreated top plate. Finally, a new type of wood-based materials for guitar top plates and back plates produced from Japanese cedar logs with a small diameter is introduced. © 2007, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.