I can't believe it, I finally got around to testing four speakers in these beautiful horns, wired correctly, impedance match is correct, what a difference. Went from what I called "bombastic" to smooth as can be. I now know these horns love to have four drivers, the power was incredible! I mean finger picking at ease, produces a beautiful sound, with plenty of dB (did not measure yet).
I started rocking and stopped quickly, if I kept going my snoring wife would have gone through the roof! I mean really that much different!
Plus the tone was not degraded in any way, still beautiful. I can't imagine for the life of me why anybody would want to change the tone of an acoustic guitar.
If you want different sounds and tone, that is great, play a Line Six modeling guitar (they are owned by Yamaha now).
I have options, two drivers, four drivers, amp internal, amp external, all to be patent protected WHEN the USPTO finally reviews my second patent for this guitar. It has been 15 months since I submitted, 16 months is their average time to review now (after COVID). The more I research Yamaha, the better they look. Can you imagine how they build their stunning Grand Piano, WOW!
I started rocking and stopped quickly, if I kept going my snoring wife would have gone through the roof! I mean really that much different!
Plus the tone was not degraded in any way, still beautiful. I can't imagine for the life of me why anybody would want to change the tone of an acoustic guitar.
If you want different sounds and tone, that is great, play a Line Six modeling guitar (they are owned by Yamaha now).
I have options, two drivers, four drivers, amp internal, amp external, all to be patent protected WHEN the USPTO finally reviews my second patent for this guitar. It has been 15 months since I submitted, 16 months is their average time to review now (after COVID). The more I research Yamaha, the better they look. Can you imagine how they build their stunning Grand Piano, WOW!
Try a Seagull S6 sometime you make a trip to GC. I bought one after hearing how it sounded. Yamaha's made more guitars than Carter has pills; many of the instruments they've built are pretty good. I've had at least one dog from that brand, but...that's what you get sometimes when you buy a guitar sight-unheard.
I think the Transacoustic system is sort of a one-trick pony. It does make the guitar's sound fatter and louder than without the electronic assist, as does the aftermarket DIY system I've been fooling with. It's an improvement that Yamaha and others believe people will value and pay for. But...a one-trick pony.
For me, things get real interesting when you can add vocal reverb on top of the guitar's reverb, all coming out the guitar's body. I'd have to believe the same would be true when adding vocals to the guitar's sound, all coming out those horns of yours. Reverb'd, Chorus'd - or dry. Might have to do something about feedback from a mic necessarily so close to the horn outputs.
I played my Yamaha FG410E last night, which I recently picked up for a song, shipped. It's an earlier attempt by Yamaha to electrify an acoustic; old style electronics with just 3 knobs V-B and T - passing through the side wood - versus a rectangular cutout for tuner, graphic EQ seen in all the modern packages.
Man, does it sound nice. That open E so powerful and authoritative, with piano like tonality. With the strings it came with, save I replaced the D with one from another guitar I was planning on changing the strings anyway. I had to repair the 9V battery connector to get the electronics working, which convey the sound in excellent form.
Hat's off to Yamaha on this old bird - she flys!
Man, does it sound nice. That open E so powerful and authoritative, with piano like tonality. With the strings it came with, save I replaced the D with one from another guitar I was planning on changing the strings anyway. I had to repair the 9V battery connector to get the electronics working, which convey the sound in excellent form.
Hat's off to Yamaha on this old bird - she flys!
Seagull S6 eh? I will get it on the radar JJ. So you have a Yamaha, great to hear it sounds so good, I am amazed their prices are so reasonable, for a nice guitar with great tonewood, ah the benefits of mass production. I really need to buy a Yamaha Transacoustic, man is this project getting expensive, but worth it. My wife told me I would rather spend money on my guitar than my house, I was like you are just figuring this out now? 
My neighbor just asked me if I played piano, I said no not much, why do you ask? They know I have a grand piano in our living room (not ours, keeping it for a friend that just moved). I was like oh **** they can hear my guitar through the walls of their house! After I apologized, I learned they only heard it like twice during the day, what a relief, I almost always jam at night, they can not hear that, as bedroom is on other side of the house.
Since the Yamaha Transacoustic system is in their upright piano also, I got to thinking, why not get another patent with big beautiful folded horns inside a piano? I mean these could be real horns with exponential growth and a large mouth (with magnetic Helpinstill pickups). OK I spilled the beans, not sure I want to try for a fourth patent, so time consuming, but I am thinking about it. Obviously I don't care if somebody else does it, or I would not mention it here, but something to think discuss with Yamaha!
I am at 28,000 hits in about 3-1/2 weeks, so getting there faster, attached the same PPT for anybody that has not seen it before.
I will jam tonight with joy, just being hopeful and waiting for a possible Yamaha demo request, would love it, I am in the dream stage now.
Next is REW, has been so long. I need to do all my options: regular acoustic, my acoustic, 1,2,3,4 drivers, battery, or plugged in, all data presented together for comparison. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
My neighbor just asked me if I played piano, I said no not much, why do you ask? They know I have a grand piano in our living room (not ours, keeping it for a friend that just moved). I was like oh **** they can hear my guitar through the walls of their house! After I apologized, I learned they only heard it like twice during the day, what a relief, I almost always jam at night, they can not hear that, as bedroom is on other side of the house.
Since the Yamaha Transacoustic system is in their upright piano also, I got to thinking, why not get another patent with big beautiful folded horns inside a piano? I mean these could be real horns with exponential growth and a large mouth (with magnetic Helpinstill pickups). OK I spilled the beans, not sure I want to try for a fourth patent, so time consuming, but I am thinking about it. Obviously I don't care if somebody else does it, or I would not mention it here, but something to think discuss with Yamaha!
I am at 28,000 hits in about 3-1/2 weeks, so getting there faster, attached the same PPT for anybody that has not seen it before.
I will jam tonight with joy, just being hopeful and waiting for a possible Yamaha demo request, would love it, I am in the dream stage now.
Next is REW, has been so long. I need to do all my options: regular acoustic, my acoustic, 1,2,3,4 drivers, battery, or plugged in, all data presented together for comparison. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
I see that used FS-TA models are obtainable for <$500 shipped, if you look on Reverb or from GC. Some of them are old, looks like the TA system has been around for > 10 years now. I bet Yamaha is looking for something new and novel to make ;')
In some ways, my Folded Horn Acoustic Guitar reminds me of my old 68 Chevy Impala I bought from a friends parents, 50 bucks. Sat in their driveway, did not run well, was a small block 307, really just needed a tune up.
The body had big holes in the bottom, about 4" by 4", rusted out. I riveted sheet metal on the holes, Bondo thick as can be. I worked at a body shop, was 20 years old, they were Corvette specialists. My boss painted that thing in the booth with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
It took just a little bit of time for it to run smooth, but when it did, it had big power, and ran like a beast!
My guitar is the same way. I made so many mistakes along the way. I finally have the pickups right, the drivers are rocking! The chamber divider is just right.
The soundboard, which is screwed on, is dancing!
Boy you better have this thing in perfect tune, because everything is magnified, with the powerful sound.
I have played four weekends in a row (I think) and it is firing on all cylinders, ******* rocking power, great tone! I went so long trying to get this to work. Now I just pick it up and play, a sonic machine! I am sooo waiting for another response from Yamaha. I have about ten songs I have played over and over on this guitar, and man am I ready to rock on a demo!
The body had big holes in the bottom, about 4" by 4", rusted out. I riveted sheet metal on the holes, Bondo thick as can be. I worked at a body shop, was 20 years old, they were Corvette specialists. My boss painted that thing in the booth with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
It took just a little bit of time for it to run smooth, but when it did, it had big power, and ran like a beast!
My guitar is the same way. I made so many mistakes along the way. I finally have the pickups right, the drivers are rocking! The chamber divider is just right.
The soundboard, which is screwed on, is dancing!
Boy you better have this thing in perfect tune, because everything is magnified, with the powerful sound.
I have played four weekends in a row (I think) and it is firing on all cylinders, ******* rocking power, great tone! I went so long trying to get this to work. Now I just pick it up and play, a sonic machine! I am sooo waiting for another response from Yamaha. I have about ten songs I have played over and over on this guitar, and man am I ready to rock on a demo!
Probably be a great thing to do at this point. Especially if you can do that outside, where room effects wont confound what it sounds like. Many amateur guitarist's recordings I hear - with the fancy mics and all - room, room, room; moreso than the guitar. Unless its an auditorium, get the room out of the recording if at all possible.
Rocked on my guitar last night, so much fun, even with the electronics off it sounds great. I am so used to it, I really don't want to play my Taylor or Guild anymore. I love those guitars, can't believe I am saying this, but I think my guitar acoustically sounds better also. OK maybe I am talking myself into this, I need to be careful, but damn the lows are so rich and the highs just sparkle, even just acoustically, no tinny sound at all. Not as good as with the horns of course, but needed before the horns can do their magic. Plus of course my light but strong soundboard is also adding to this.
The big difference is when I added the two deep chambers in the guitar to the upper chamber. Before I did this, I was just not happy with the sound acoustically, was not cutting it.
I still for the life of me can't imagine the Fender Acoustasonic sounds good only acoustically, with that thin little chamber, there is just no way it is possible. Anybody own one? Please let me know! With pickups on I am sure it rocks great, love Strats.
I attached a file showing my two deep chambers, makes all the difference in the world acoustically, and then of course also using the pickups. I added some misc. info also, just for fun.
I am starting a fourth patent, but I can't say what it is, will discuss after I file and have FITF (first inventor to file) status. I am about halfway through the Invention Disclosure, and I have the design about 25% done, much more work to do, stay tuned! I am going to blow through this one pretty fast, man that first one was an absolute bitch!
New downloads for me (and some old) that I highly recommend for your listening pleasure:
I Can't Get There From Here - Alan Parsons
I Blew It - Pretoria (they are from Western Michigan, caught it on the radio during a work road trip).
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera - also heard on the radio, did not know it was her, man can she sing!
Walk - Doug Henthorn - recommending again, great rocking song.
Raised On Robbery - Joni Mitchell
Southern Girl - Heartsfield
Still dreaming of Yamaha, let's just say my new patent is something they might be interested in, trying to sweeten a hopeful deal.
Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
The big difference is when I added the two deep chambers in the guitar to the upper chamber. Before I did this, I was just not happy with the sound acoustically, was not cutting it.
I still for the life of me can't imagine the Fender Acoustasonic sounds good only acoustically, with that thin little chamber, there is just no way it is possible. Anybody own one? Please let me know! With pickups on I am sure it rocks great, love Strats.
I attached a file showing my two deep chambers, makes all the difference in the world acoustically, and then of course also using the pickups. I added some misc. info also, just for fun.
I am starting a fourth patent, but I can't say what it is, will discuss after I file and have FITF (first inventor to file) status. I am about halfway through the Invention Disclosure, and I have the design about 25% done, much more work to do, stay tuned! I am going to blow through this one pretty fast, man that first one was an absolute bitch!
New downloads for me (and some old) that I highly recommend for your listening pleasure:
I Can't Get There From Here - Alan Parsons
I Blew It - Pretoria (they are from Western Michigan, caught it on the radio during a work road trip).
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera - also heard on the radio, did not know it was her, man can she sing!
Walk - Doug Henthorn - recommending again, great rocking song.
Raised On Robbery - Joni Mitchell
Southern Girl - Heartsfield
Still dreaming of Yamaha, let's just say my new patent is something they might be interested in, trying to sweeten a hopeful deal.
Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
Hello Steve - I assume you mean the recording I send to Art and JJ a while ago. That recording is OK, but not what I would call great. I have made improvements since then. I really believe the best way to hear this guitar, compared to a standard acoustic guitar, is live, but obviously hard to do.
I do have a studio in Indianapolis that I can use, really need to get a professional recording, I do not have the equipment for that, need a YouTube video. I have been saying that for a while, will do it eventually!
I got back into REW and really don't remember all the steps required for this software. Really like it, just rusty. I will take a measurement mic to my hotel during work travel, and get used to it again, just with vocals. Then I will record: Taylor acoustic, my acoustic. one speaker, two speakers, three speakers, and four speakers. Will overlay all six Frequency Outputs on one graph, will be very interesting to see this! Attached is marketing and technical info again, if you have not seen it before.
I am going to jam hard tonight, and also some mellow finger picking. This guitar is so much fun! I am going to put it on 9-1/2 gain. That is when the damn thing ALMOST feeds back. Hold on to the strings, put your hand on the soundboard, so much power, do NOT let it feedback, but let it get close, WOW!
I do have a studio in Indianapolis that I can use, really need to get a professional recording, I do not have the equipment for that, need a YouTube video. I have been saying that for a while, will do it eventually!
I got back into REW and really don't remember all the steps required for this software. Really like it, just rusty. I will take a measurement mic to my hotel during work travel, and get used to it again, just with vocals. Then I will record: Taylor acoustic, my acoustic. one speaker, two speakers, three speakers, and four speakers. Will overlay all six Frequency Outputs on one graph, will be very interesting to see this! Attached is marketing and technical info again, if you have not seen it before.
I am going to jam hard tonight, and also some mellow finger picking. This guitar is so much fun! I am going to put it on 9-1/2 gain. That is when the damn thing ALMOST feeds back. Hold on to the strings, put your hand on the soundboard, so much power, do NOT let it feedback, but let it get close, WOW!
Jamming tonight, I can't believe how much my low E string moves when I am playing a song in E, up and down the fretboard, E string open
for the entire song, that thing moves like I have never seen before. I mean I need to measure just the movement distance somehow, what great low end!
The light but strong soundboard and the drivers blowing 120 dB through the horns turns this thing into a sonic ******* machine, but the tone is all still there, not a distortion mess in any way, I do not even hit the strings that hard, no fret buzz. I can't believe it!
I am going to get this thing in front of Yamaha, if it is the last thing I ever do. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
for the entire song, that thing moves like I have never seen before. I mean I need to measure just the movement distance somehow, what great low end!
The light but strong soundboard and the drivers blowing 120 dB through the horns turns this thing into a sonic ******* machine, but the tone is all still there, not a distortion mess in any way, I do not even hit the strings that hard, no fret buzz. I can't believe it!
I am going to get this thing in front of Yamaha, if it is the last thing I ever do. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
I understand about being somewhat "chicken" about it. Exposing yourself to the internet can be quite dangerous to the ego, if you're less than a certified God's gift to humanity in all aspects.
I played guitar on a video once, Hmm, what did the only person to respond say? You , your playing , your guitar sounds like ***, I wouldnt give you $1.50 for it, nevermind $150... It was a vintage classical I was trying to sell; I thought a prospective buyer might like to hear how it sounds tuned up and strummed, as most other sellers do not offer that; you get what you get. I know something about that too; unbox, tune up, first strum - Ugh. I have a feeling I'd get that from one of those Acoustasonics
Tough row being an artist on the web as outlet for your creations. That's for everyone. You need a heart of iron.
Oh that does not bother me JJ, there will always be people that like, and do not like (maybe even hate) what you are doing. I exposed myself to this diyAudio site, to plenty of people that know much more about Audio than I do. I still don't have everything 100% correct, but man it is miles above what I was doing, and what I knew about audio, for that I will forever be grateful. One of my favorites was the guy who said this thing will be a feedback mess. Was he right? He sure could have been, and it got my attention, but that is something I always worried about, problem solved!
My favorite part was how much I learned, I don't mind critics, in fact I often like them, because they help me. Now this site is likely a different animal than the internet, people know what they are talking about here, so yes that will be much different.
My goal is not in any way to hope people like my guitar playing, and it is not that I hope they like my guitar. I hope they like my invention, my concept, and how it can be used by many different people (licensing), or maybe a big corporation (Yamaha). I hope they like the drivers/horns (waveguides) concept, that is the essence of this design.
Ian told me there are plenty of horn haters on the internet, not sure how somebody can hate something that works so well. I could see not wanting to buy it, or doing something different, but why hate?
The best way to showcase this is live, when I do the before and after horns/drivers, the guitar explodes with great sound, very obvious, very powerful, a major head turner.
On YouTube the only way I can do this is with a direct before and after at the same recoding level, right away, so it is obvious I have not changed anything. I am going to do it, just need to find the time.
So JJ do I think your take on internet exposure is accurate, yes I do. But I am going to do it anyway, damn the torpedoes!
Rocked again last night, was pure joy, four hours, but of course mixed with listening to music on my headphones (real headphones, not ear buds).
Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
My favorite part was how much I learned, I don't mind critics, in fact I often like them, because they help me. Now this site is likely a different animal than the internet, people know what they are talking about here, so yes that will be much different.
My goal is not in any way to hope people like my guitar playing, and it is not that I hope they like my guitar. I hope they like my invention, my concept, and how it can be used by many different people (licensing), or maybe a big corporation (Yamaha). I hope they like the drivers/horns (waveguides) concept, that is the essence of this design.
Ian told me there are plenty of horn haters on the internet, not sure how somebody can hate something that works so well. I could see not wanting to buy it, or doing something different, but why hate?
The best way to showcase this is live, when I do the before and after horns/drivers, the guitar explodes with great sound, very obvious, very powerful, a major head turner.
On YouTube the only way I can do this is with a direct before and after at the same recoding level, right away, so it is obvious I have not changed anything. I am going to do it, just need to find the time.
So JJ do I think your take on internet exposure is accurate, yes I do. But I am going to do it anyway, damn the torpedoes!
Rocked again last night, was pure joy, four hours, but of course mixed with listening to music on my headphones (real headphones, not ear buds).
Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
I get horn haters about my system too.
Most have never heard a proper dialled in, < 3 octave per horn, full range system.
Most have never heard tapped horn subs either
Just come and listen I say to them..
I liked your music selection.
Here's one of mine.
Play this one loud.
Instantly transported to all the best bits of Justified's Raylan Givens and co🙂 Dave Alvin even had a cameo playing this track, series 3 I think it was.
A bit of Rory, an original boogie kind of thing..
I like a bit of Reina
Oh Lissie's vocal and piano!
The beautiful subtle guitar work of Richard Thompson in the righthand speaker, and the soaring vocal.
Love Joan's slightly fractured vocal and the bass, if your system does 24Hz!
Bring a tennis lover... This also has deep bass.
What can I say, epic insight into.., addictive melodies and changes.
Lana's trademark 31Hz booming bass, well into the track.
Sorry, to derail.
Most have never heard a proper dialled in, < 3 octave per horn, full range system.
Most have never heard tapped horn subs either
Just come and listen I say to them..
I liked your music selection.
Here's one of mine.
Play this one loud.
Instantly transported to all the best bits of Justified's Raylan Givens and co🙂 Dave Alvin even had a cameo playing this track, series 3 I think it was.
A bit of Rory, an original boogie kind of thing..
I like a bit of Reina
Oh Lissie's vocal and piano!
The beautiful subtle guitar work of Richard Thompson in the righthand speaker, and the soaring vocal.
Love Joan's slightly fractured vocal and the bass, if your system does 24Hz!
Bring a tennis lover... This also has deep bass.
What can I say, epic insight into.., addictive melodies and changes.
Lana's trademark 31Hz booming bass, well into the track.
Sorry, to derail.
You could always try a volume pedal; do volume swells through the horns as part of some piece you're playing. "Lay lady lay" by Dylan perhaps?
Just a thought..
I believe you have 2 horns of different lengths?
Do you time align them?
Usually you position the measuring mic (use Holmimpulse or REW or similar), where listening will take place.. Then measure 1st peak positive sound pulse generated by the measuring app.
Delay the shorter horn path driver in DSP so the measurings align in time.
I'm my system this is 13 or so milliseconds for the other drivers due to the long tapped horn subs path.
The others horns are a few fractions of milliseconds different.
That is how I did it for years..
Recently, thanks to this place, I did the same, but then added the time taken for sound to travel out of each horn.
Calculate using speed of sound 344 metres / second. Longest horn I'm delaying is 1m long.
So 1/344 = 2.9 millseconds added on. The others are shorter..
Upper mid horns are just 0.32m from diaphragm to horn mouth!
Once done and changed in DSP, the results are pretty impressive in my system.
Definitely preferable in sound.
I perceive this as clarity and lower distortion.
The sound eminates from the horns in unison to integrate with the room! and in harmony😂 -
Rather than at different times and interfering with each other to a greater or lesser degree.
I wondered if you could try the same with your multi path horn guitar - if applicable?
I believe you have 2 horns of different lengths?
Do you time align them?
Usually you position the measuring mic (use Holmimpulse or REW or similar), where listening will take place.. Then measure 1st peak positive sound pulse generated by the measuring app.
Delay the shorter horn path driver in DSP so the measurings align in time.
I'm my system this is 13 or so milliseconds for the other drivers due to the long tapped horn subs path.
The others horns are a few fractions of milliseconds different.
That is how I did it for years..
Recently, thanks to this place, I did the same, but then added the time taken for sound to travel out of each horn.
Calculate using speed of sound 344 metres / second. Longest horn I'm delaying is 1m long.
So 1/344 = 2.9 millseconds added on. The others are shorter..
Upper mid horns are just 0.32m from diaphragm to horn mouth!
Once done and changed in DSP, the results are pretty impressive in my system.
Definitely preferable in sound.
I perceive this as clarity and lower distortion.
The sound eminates from the horns in unison to integrate with the room! and in harmony😂 -
Rather than at different times and interfering with each other to a greater or lesser degree.
I wondered if you could try the same with your multi path horn guitar - if applicable?
I mentioned earlier that maybe my Folded Horn Acoustic Guitar sounds just as good, or maybe even better than my Taylor and Guild Acoustic guitars, WITHOUT any electronics on, no horns, no drivers, just good old strings and wood. It sounded just a little more powerful, and also seemed to have a little more sparkle on the high end, and some definite advantages on the low end,
I thought, OK Joe you are getting too big for your britches, how could this be possible?
Well it is possible! See attached REW comparison. The mids are almost identical, kind of spooking they are so close from 200 kHz to 350 kHz.
The highs and harmonic overtones are even stronger on my guitar, and the lows and undertones are especially stronger on my guitar. WOW!
So I was not imagining this, it is real. Now overall guitar "sound" is a matter of opinion. Do I think my Taylor sounds great, YES! Do I think mine sounds better? Not really, just different, in a very positive way, but it holds its own.
Can I build a guitar that is as well crafted and as beautiful as a Taylor or Martin, not a chance! Hey I built this thing at work on CNC machines and in my basement, no way in hell can I compete with any of the great Luthiers out there, when it comes to how well a guitar is crafted and looks. Can I compete on sound, you bet I can!
BUT when it comes to any musical instrument, in my opinion, sound is EVERYTHING! Do I like great works of art, especially with musical instruments, YES very much. Is it the most important thing, NO! I would imagine a blind person could form a life long love with just about any musical instrument that speaks to them.
I know for sure my soundboard that is 3" longer and about 25% more surface area plays a big roll. I also know this soundboard is lighter and stronger, also helps vey much. As I mentioned before, my two deep chambers are 5" deep, 1" deeper than a standard dreadnought, big help.
Now here is where it gets tricky, again WITHOUT any electronics on, do my horns in the bottom chamber add to this beautiful sound, they must! I mean the chamber divider is on top of the horns, so they are obviously playing a roll, but not as standard horns with the drivers, How does this help? I don't know! Any ideas out there?
Steve the Swede, I hope it is OK to call you that, great name. Would be silly in Sweden, but not in the U.S! Thank you so much for all your comments and contributions, and yes I have been thinking about different horn lengths (thanks to JJ for suggesting this). Right now my horns are exactly symmetrical.
My MiniDSP measurement mic is on the fritz, I think it is the small connector, not exactly like my iPhone lightning connector, but close, they both suck. It prevented me from doing more measurements last night, new one on the way. Can't wait to measure all Folded Horn methods, 1, 2, 3 and 4 drivers, and of course all overlays with my guitar acoustically, and the Taylor and Guild, was just about to do all that last night, and BAM, no dice, frustrating. Good to be back in REW, love that software.
JJ - please chime in about all this my friend, would love to hear your take on this, and also Art, any comments about the horns in the bottom chamber, being used in such an unusual way?
Still waiting for a Yamaha answer, will contact them again, but taking it slow, hoping they are thinking about it. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
I thought, OK Joe you are getting too big for your britches, how could this be possible?
Well it is possible! See attached REW comparison. The mids are almost identical, kind of spooking they are so close from 200 kHz to 350 kHz.
The highs and harmonic overtones are even stronger on my guitar, and the lows and undertones are especially stronger on my guitar. WOW!
So I was not imagining this, it is real. Now overall guitar "sound" is a matter of opinion. Do I think my Taylor sounds great, YES! Do I think mine sounds better? Not really, just different, in a very positive way, but it holds its own.
Can I build a guitar that is as well crafted and as beautiful as a Taylor or Martin, not a chance! Hey I built this thing at work on CNC machines and in my basement, no way in hell can I compete with any of the great Luthiers out there, when it comes to how well a guitar is crafted and looks. Can I compete on sound, you bet I can!
BUT when it comes to any musical instrument, in my opinion, sound is EVERYTHING! Do I like great works of art, especially with musical instruments, YES very much. Is it the most important thing, NO! I would imagine a blind person could form a life long love with just about any musical instrument that speaks to them.
I know for sure my soundboard that is 3" longer and about 25% more surface area plays a big roll. I also know this soundboard is lighter and stronger, also helps vey much. As I mentioned before, my two deep chambers are 5" deep, 1" deeper than a standard dreadnought, big help.
Now here is where it gets tricky, again WITHOUT any electronics on, do my horns in the bottom chamber add to this beautiful sound, they must! I mean the chamber divider is on top of the horns, so they are obviously playing a roll, but not as standard horns with the drivers, How does this help? I don't know! Any ideas out there?
Steve the Swede, I hope it is OK to call you that, great name. Would be silly in Sweden, but not in the U.S! Thank you so much for all your comments and contributions, and yes I have been thinking about different horn lengths (thanks to JJ for suggesting this). Right now my horns are exactly symmetrical.
My MiniDSP measurement mic is on the fritz, I think it is the small connector, not exactly like my iPhone lightning connector, but close, they both suck. It prevented me from doing more measurements last night, new one on the way. Can't wait to measure all Folded Horn methods, 1, 2, 3 and 4 drivers, and of course all overlays with my guitar acoustically, and the Taylor and Guild, was just about to do all that last night, and BAM, no dice, frustrating. Good to be back in REW, love that software.
JJ - please chime in about all this my friend, would love to hear your take on this, and also Art, any comments about the horns in the bottom chamber, being used in such an unusual way?
Still waiting for a Yamaha answer, will contact them again, but taking it slow, hoping they are thinking about it. Let's Make The Acoustic Guitar Rock!
I'll bite. Your chamber divider is 1/2" thick, so I doubt much sound is making it off the soundboard and through that. What you have is a very heavy and rigid back on an acoustic guitar. 1/2" board, plus the mass of the routed out portion (from solid wood), speaker drivers - a lot of mass to "push against".
Most acoustics have a braced thin board on the back, which radiates sound from the string energy too - at least some; the whole guitar radiates, though of course most of it comes off the soundboard. When you "lute hole" the sound hole, that acoustic restriction shifts the balance toward the soundboard - and everywhere else. Energy will find a new path out...
If you put a brick wall as the back of an acoustic like you have, energy will find a new path out also. I'd guess more to the soundboard, as it's suspended against a more stiff frame. I wonder what would happen if you made a Open Baffle acoustic guitar; no body, just a stiff, high mass frame surrounding the sound board. Giant soundboard, like you have. Probably have no bass ;')