Vibrational behaviour of the guitar soundboard analysed by the Finite Element Method

A numerical model of a guitar soundboard in the low-frequency range has been designed far the successive stages of the construction process (excluding the bridge), using the Finite Element method. In parallel, a real soundboard was made by a master luthier. After verification of a good quantitative and qualitative agreement between the properties of the numerical model and the real soundboard, the model was modified to study the influence of free and hinged boundary conditions. The two cases correspond to the conditions during the construction process and when forming a pea of the assembled guitar, respectively. The method allowed an evaluation of the various contributions of the different construction stages to the vibrational behaviour of the finished soundboard, including variable plate thickness, the addition of the transverse bars and their profile, and the addition of the bracing fan.