A survey of woods for acoustic guitar soundboards

Authors

  • Devon Pessler School of Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
  • Eva Haviarova Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
  • Mark French School of Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Abstract

The soundboards of guitars have been crafted from wood since the beginning of string instruments. Based on industry-specific criteria, soundboards have traditionally been made from spruce and a few selected tropical wood species. This paper aims to find potential U.S. hardwoods that can serve as viable options to supplement the current manufacturing needs of the guitar industry. This paper also identifies the properties within the industry-specific criteria and determines how each property contributed to the market success of the soundboard woods used in production. The woods were separated into spruces, other woods in production, and U.S. hardwoods. A decision matrix determined which U.S. hardwoods would make viable options for production-grade soundboards. Basswood has the most promise of being a supplemental option.

Author Biographies

Eva Haviarova, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Dr. Eva Haviarova is a professor of Wood Products in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University. She is responsible for teaching, research, and extension. She is conducting research in Sustainable Product Development, Value Added to Hardwoods, Woody Biomass Utilization, and Addressing Global Sustainability Issues. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications and delivered over 200 professional presentations. Through her extension activities, she works extensively with all forest product industry sectors. Dr. Haviarova is also a director of The Wood Research Laboratory at Purdue and Past President of The Society of Wood Science and Technology.

Mark French, School of Engineering Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Mark French is a professor of Engineering Technology at Purdue, where he works on stringed instrument design and experimental mechanics.  He was trained as an aerospace engineer, with degrees from Va Tech (BS) and the University of Dayton (MS and Ph.D.).  Before coming to Purdue, he was a civilian aerospace engineer with the US Air Force and, later, a lab manager and senior engineer in the automotive industry.

Wood and Fiber Science title superimposed over an abstract design evoking a mesh pattern of interconnected wood cells in a gradient of blue, green, and yellow

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Published

2025-07-23

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 3 (2025): Wood and Fiber Science

Section

Research Contributions