Electric Guitar Body Rigidity Reinforcement for Vibration Balance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The balance of vibration mode shape in electric guitars is compromised due to locally low rigidity areas created by recesses and protrusions, leading to early attenuation of string vibration and poor sound quality, especially when bridges or neck pockets align with nodes of the natural frequency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an electrical component counterbore rigidity reinforcing member and a protrusion rigidity reinforcing member made of metal or fiber-reinforced plastic materials to increase the rigidity of low-rigidity areas, thereby improving the balance of vibration mode shape and enhancing sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If recesses and protrusions are formed in the body for functional purposes (electrical components, cutaway), then ease of operation and component housing are improved, but local rigidity decreases causing unbalanced vibration mode shape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of playingVSAvoidvibration balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Rigidity reinforcing members are strategically placed only in specific low-rigidity areas (recesses and protrusions) rather than throughout the entire body, providing localized reinforcement to restore proper vibration balance while preserving the functional cutaway and component housing features

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The body combines different materials (wooden body with metal or carbon fiber reinforcing members) to achieve both the functional requirements of recesses/protrusions and the vibration balance required for good sound quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If bridges or neck pockets are positioned at node locations of natural frequency, then structural stability is improved, but vibration transmission from strings to body is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidvibration energy transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The rigidity of the body structure is modified by adding reinforcing members, which changes the natural frequency and mode shape parameters of the body, thereby shifting node locations away from critical positions like bridges and neck pockets to improve vibration transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If metal plate is added to influence vibration characteristics, then sound quality is improved, but the purpose is not to adjust mode shape balance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound qualityVSAvoidmode shape adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using a general metal plate to influence overall vibration, rigidity reinforcing members are precisely positioned in specific low-rigidity areas to target and correct unbalanced mode shapes, providing both sound quality improvement and mode shape adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces vibration displacement in low-rigidity areas, ensures well-balanced vibration transmission, and enhances the overall sound quality by preventing nodes of standing waves from forming at critical points, resulting in richer and more sustained string vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic pickup converts vibration of a string into an electric signal by means of electromagnetic induction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3598430B1Electric guitar
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP3598430B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3598430B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3598430B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A body of an electric guitar includes: a main body that includes a solid body and includes a recess; and a recess rigidity reinforcing member that is in contact with two or more contact regions of an inner surface of the recess and reinforces the rigidity of the recess, the two or more contact regions being located away from each other.