Abstract: A soundboard for a musical instrument is disclosed the soundboard having at least one layer of material. In some embodiments the material comprising carbon fiber, fibrous laminate material, resin or a plastic matrix and combinations thereof. At least one bracing structure is engaged to the at least one layer of material. The at least one bracing structure comprising at least one layer of honeycomb or shaped core and at least one sheet of material bonded to the honeycomb or shaped core.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to guitars or other string instruments (10) that incorporate materials that are lighter than wood. Rather than achieving weight reduction by solely removing wood, which can weaken the structural integrity of the guitar and negatively alter sound quality, this disclosure provides replacement of removed wood with materials (16) commonly used in aerospace.

Abstract: Method for making light and stiff panels and structures using natural fiber composites. An improved composite material utilized in musical instruments. Bio-based industrial fiber such as flax, cellulose, hemp, bamboo, and jute combined with a core material such as foam, aramid honeycomb, carbon fiber or balsa wood, and a resin, serves as a replacement to traditional tone wood. In another embodiment, the bio-based composite has no core material but simply layers of fabric with resin. Another embodiment finds layers of the woven bio-composite as the core between outside layers of carbon fiber or aramid. In the case of a string instrument, bio-composites can be used to make a substantially hollow unitary body, neck and head as well as soundboard. Another usage is for the bracing material of the soundboard. In fact in its various forms, bio-composite can effectively replace all the old growth wood currently used.

Abstract: A sounding board (1) for musical instruments having a first plurality of planks (2) in which each plank (2i) of the plurality of planks (2) is provided with respective longitudinal sides (2ia, 2ib); wherein the planks (2) of the first plurality of planks are approached to one another, each one at the respective longitudinal sides (2ia, 2ib), so as to form a first panel (P1) of the sounding board (1); a second plurality of planks (3) in which each plank of the plurality (3) of planks (3i) is provided with respective longitudinal sides (3ia, 3ib); wherein the planks (3i) of the second plurality of planks (3) are approached to one another, each one at their respective longitudinal sides (3ia, 3ib), so as to form a second panel (P2) of the sounding board (1); in which the first and the second panel (P1, P2) are overlapping with one another with their respective planks (2i, 3i) extending along the same angled direction (A) of the sounding board (1); wherein the planks (2i) of the first plurality of planks (2) are

Abstract: A sounding board (1) for musical instruments having a first plurality of planks (2) in which each plank (2i) of the plurality of planks (2) is provided with respective longitudinal sides (2ia, 2ib); wherein the planks (2) of the first plurality of planks are approached to one another, each one at the respective longitudinal sides (2ia, 2ib), so as to form a first panel (P1) of the sounding board (1); a second plurality of planks (3) in which each plank of the plurality (3) of planks (3i) is provided with respective longitudinal sides (3ia, 3ib); wherein the planks (3i) of the second plurality of planks (3) are approached to one another, each one at their respective longitudinal sides (3ia, 3ib), so as to form a second panel (P2) of the sounding board (1); in which the first and the second panel (P1, P2) are overlapping with one another with their respective planks (2i, 3i) extending along the same angled direction (A) of the sounding board (1); wherein the planks (2i) of the first plurality of planks (2) are

Abstract: A method for increasing the resonance of an instrument such as a woodwind instrument having a cap holder inside and a pad coupled to the cap holder comprises: an agitation step for agitating a mixture of a conductive medium that contains at least one of platinum, gold, silver, copper, nickel, bronze, brass, phosphor bronze with solid silicon; a mixture heating step for heating the agitated mixture; a coagulation step for naturally cooling the heated mixture and coagulating into a solid; a mixture pulverization step for pulverizing the mixture; a mixture application step for applying the mixture to the inside of the cap holder; and a pad attaching step for attaching a pad to the interior of the cap holder after the mixture application step.

Abstract: The present invention is a hollow body stringed musical instrument that utilizes a low mass, soundboard having a 12 foot radius dome configuration. The soundboard is made of a three ply torsion box design utilizing a honeycomb substrate as the central core. Linear adjustable tuning braces are incorporated in the hollow body. The side and back of the instrument are also of a three ply construction having a closed cell, resilient polymer foam as the central layer. All structural braces are eliminated from the interior of the instrument's body.

Abstract: An acoustic guitar having a single sound hole placed on the perimeter of the sound board for enhancing its sound generating characteristics and a novel sound board design.

Abstract: A stringed instrument soundboard is provided, including composite structure that includes first and second opposed layers of a stiffened graphite sheet material and a low-density core material interposed between the first and second opposed layers. Methods of making the soundboard and stringed instruments including the soundboard are also provided.

Abstract: A guitar is described which is essentially made up of a plurality of plies of composite laminates individually selected and arranged together to provide desired sounds.

Abstract: In a laminated construction of a soundboard for use in musical instruments such as the piano, the use of a core having larger shearing elastic modulus and/or smaller shearing loss tangent than that of the fore and rear plates assures small shearing loss in the treble range, and greatly improves the total tonal balance over the entire tonal range.

Abstract: An improved acoustic guitar soundboard comprising a composite sheet formed of multiple layers of epoxy impregnated graphite fibers which have been accurately preimpregnated at about 33% resin to 67% fiber, after which they are layed up in laminates of unidirectional fibers with a woven graphite fiber fabric located as both top and bottom surfaces. The fiber orientation is preferably three to four times as many fibers in the longitudinal direction as in the latitudinal direction. The layups also are always equal and opposite in layered sequence so as to eliminate uneven stress. The sheet is cured in a heated platen press at uniform pressure and temperature. The soundboard may also have either standard wood bracing, rib-like bracing or no bracing at all. The waves applied in radial orientation enhance vibration, while orienting the waves into surrounds for individual sound plates tend to create individual resonance reservoirs for specific sound frequencies.

Abstract: A sound board incorporated in a musical instrument such as, for example, a piano or a string instrument comprises a wooden plate member containing wood fibers substantially oriented to a first direction, and a plurality of thread members fixed to at least one major surface of the wooden plate member at spacings and extending in directions substantially parallel to the first direction, in which the wooden plate member has a first modulus of longitudinal elasticity to a force exerted thereto in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction and in which each of the thread members has a second modulus of longitudinal elasticity larger than the first modulus of longitudinal elasticity so that the sound board is reinforced against a force in the direction substantially parallel to the first direction only, thereby allowing the sound board to produce a soft deep sound.

Abstract: A soundboard for an acoustic guitar is made of a composite-materials plate having an area density matching that of wooden soundboards while having a bulk density exceeding the bulk density of wooden soundboards. The soundboard is preferably made of a lay-up of woven polymer (preferably aramid) fabric and a layer of unidirectional graphite fibers followed by a layer of decorative fabric (e.g., silk), all embedded in a resin matrix. The side and back are made of at least one layer of woven fabric embedded in a resin matrix. The neck is made of a foam plastic core preferably covered with a woven fabric layer and a decorative fabric layer embedded in a resin matrix. The head is preferably cast of fiber-filled thermoplastic covered with a fabric layer embedded in a resin matrix. The head and neck are channelled to receive a composite-materials reinforcing rod, a fret board of similar material being bonded thereto.

Abstract: Improved construction material especially suitable for use in the manufacture of soundboards and panels used in stringed instruments which equal or surpass the sound radiation qualities and physical properties of wood. The construction material of the invention includes fibers having a Young's modulus of elasticity greater than 18.times.10.sup.11 dynes/cm.sup.2 and a density less than 2 g/cc bonded to a material having a density lying within the range of 0.15 g/cc and 1 g/cc, the said fibers of the composite are oriented in such manner so as to provide a final material having a bending stiffness ratio of at least 4:1.

Abstract: A soundboard assembly for use in a piano, harpsicord or similar stringed musical instrument comprises a thin, laminated soundboard consisting of a center sheet of wood and two outer layers of composite material. The center wooden sheet has a substantially unidirectional grain and the two outer layers of composite material are made of unidirectional carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix. A plurality of ribs, which may also be made as laminations of wood and layers of composite material, are secured to one face of the soundboard, and the ribs, grain of the wood, and direction of the carbon fibers are so related to one another and to the associated bridge as to produce a desirable reaction from the soundboard in response to string vibrations transmitted to it through the bridge.

Abstract: A laminate soundboard for a piano or the like having a metal core of a modulus of elasticity and an inherent damping factor corresponding to steel of at least a grade St 34, and at least one outer cover layer of wood or plastic bonded thereto in full surface contact on each side thereof. The outer cover layers have a damping characteristic corresponding to that of wood.