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  • © 2020

Classical Guitar Design

  • Explains the entire process of designing and building guitars
  • Applies ideas from physics and design engineering in order to build the most effective instruments
  • Offers a cultural and an intellectual journey, above and beyond guitar-making practices
  • 12k Accesses

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
  2. The Sound

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 1-29
  3. The String

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 31-40
  4. Oscillating Systems

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 41-67
  5. The Resonator Components

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 69-93
  6. The Resonator as a Global System

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 95-156
  7. Upper Resonances

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 157-179
  8. Analysis Systems

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 181-189
  9. Quality and Evaluation Methods

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 191-195
  10. The Modern Guitar

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 197-225
  11. Building and Using the Mould

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 227-231
  12. The Soundboard on the Mould

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 233-266
  13. The Soundboard on the Frame

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 267-272
  14. The Back

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 273-278
  15. Closing the Instrument. Final Tuning

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 279-287
  16. Analysis of Historic and Modern Guitars

    • Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone
    Pages 289-320

About this book

This book describes the entire process of designing guitars, including the theory and guidelines for implementing it in practice. It discusses areas from acoustics and resonators to new tools and how they assist traditional construction techniques.

The book begins by discussing the fundamentals of the sounds of a guitar, strings, and oscillating systems. It then moves on to resonators and acoustics within the guitar, explaining the analysis systems and evaluation methods, and comparing classic and modern techniques. Each area of the guitar is covered, from the soundboard and the back, to the process of closing the instrument. The book concludes with an analysis of historic and modern guitars.

This book is of interest to luthiers wanting to advance their practice, guitar players wishing to learn more about their instruments, and academics in engineering and physics curious about the principles of acoustics when applied to musical instruments.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Pianezza, Turin, Italy

    Giuseppe Cuzzucoli

  • Acqui Terme, Italy

    Mario Garrone

About the authors

Mario Garrone was born in 1932. As an entrepreneur, he managed a metallurgic and mechanic company, producing goods for houses. This helped him gain an extensive knowledge of the physics of materials and metallurgy. For years, he spent a lot of time as a radio-amateur, learning from that experience the basics of electricity and electronics. Simultaneously, he learned how to build violins and guitars by himself or from other luthiers – historical or contemporary. Today, his instruments are highly prized, and are played by professional musicians as well as students at musical academies. He is the author of the book ‘La Costruzione della Chitarra Classica’ (Bèrben 1994) in Italian. He is married and has two children. 

Giuseppe Cuzzucoli has degrees in Electronic Engineering and Information Science, from Politecnico di Torino and Università di Torino, respectively, and he has developed electronic systems for the automotive industry. He has also devoted himself to the guitar – his instrument of his choice – and has explored its history, music, literature, and acoustics. He now works full time on the physics of the guitar. He is the author of the book ‘Fisica della Chitarra Classica’ (Create Space Independent Publishing – 2018) in Italian and of a number of papers on the physical model of the classical guitar. He is married, with one daughter.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Classical Guitar Design

  • Authors: Giuseppe Cuzzucoli, Mario Garrone

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32992-1

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Engineering, Engineering (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-32991-4Published: 02 December 2019

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-32994-5Published: 02 December 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-32992-1Published: 21 November 2019

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 320

  • Topics: Engineering Design, Acoustics, Vibration, Dynamical Systems, Control, Music

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access