Influence of thickness profile and bracing pattern in the radiation patterns of archtop guitars.

This article focuses on investigating how the thickness profile of the top plate and bracing patterns affect the vibrational and acoustic properties of archtop guitars using finite element method (FEM) simulations. Starting from a laser scan of a Gibson L-5 type archtop guitar, the authors developed a fully parametric 3D model to analyze modal behavior, sound intensity, and radiation directivity, revealing that thickness variations significantly influence eigenfrequencies and sound radiation patterns. The study compares symmetric and asymmetric bracing configurations, finding that thickness changes have a more pronounced effect on vibrational and acoustic responses than bracing differences. The authors provide open-source models and simulation codes to support further research, noting that understanding material variability and perceptual impacts remains an open challenge in musical acoustics.