Graphite Composite and Other Nontraditional Materials

in Guitar Construction

Beau Richards special 4/27 edition

Antonito Stradavari(1644 – 1737)

•Know for violins

Guitars current design not changed much since circa 1600

Resonator GuitarsNational Stringed InstrumentsNational Dobro Corp.

•Brass Bodies•Cast aluminum“spider” bridge•Spun aluminum cone.

Mario Maccafarri•Injection molded Styron•Not meant as a joke

Ampeg

•1969•Lucite

Danelectro

•1954•Masonite

Yamaha FGB1•Top – Back – Sides are bamboo•Sustainable material – 3 years for bamboo to grow to maturity

Adamas Guitars

•First carbon sound board•1973•“Fibronic Soundboard”

Modulus Guitars

•First patent 1978•Later patents 1989, 1993•Geoff Gould •From Voyager to Red Hot Chili Peppers

•Tow size (34K, 48K, 240K)•Twill – Exhibits warp and weft

Rainsong Graphite Guitars

•Started 1983•Patented 1990•“entirely” made of graphite

•Vacuum Bagged•Convection oven

Mold Bodies

•RTV mold

Cleaning flash

•Cheap•Easy to work with•Worth experimenting with

HobbiestsSmall production shopsRepairmen