Dynamic mechanical characterization of composite and traditional luthier wood samples for musical instruments

In recent years, composites have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional materials in various technological applications, including the manufacturing of musical instruments. This study investigates the dynamic behaviour of conventional luthier woods used in crafting guitar bodies, necks, and fretboards versus composite materials. The primary objective was to compare the dynamic characteristics of popular woods such as maple and mahogany with those of composites constructed from premade carbon fibre laminate and custom epoxy resin based mixtures of different fillers including microballoons, aerosil, graphite, and aluminium powders. Samples of both wood and composite groups were prepared, and a frequency sweep was performed on each using a modal shaker and accelerometer setup. Frequency response curves were generated from the collected data, allowing for the calculation of dynamic parameters for each sample and subsequent group averaging. Comparative analysis revealed that while the amplitude across the frequency sweep remained similar between materials, there were notable shifts in frequency peaks. The composite materials generally maintained higher dynamic modulus values at lower frequencies and demonstrated superior retention of dynamic properties at higher frequencies compared to wood. Additionally, variations in the mass ratio of epoxy and fillers visibly altered the dynamic characteristics, suggesting the potential for tailored material performance. These findings imply that by manipulating filler mixtures within composite laminates, it could be feasible to engineer synthetic materials capable of substituting natural wood, while offering comparable or enhanced dynamic properties. This study opens a pathway for further research into the role of specific fillers in modulating the frequency response of composite materials, which may ultimately lead to more optimized designs in musical instrument manufacturing.