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I'm currently in the midst of scalloping the top bracing in my 1st build (a dread w/ sticka top)

Does anyone out there care to share a sound file of a tap tone for a finished top? I'll be glad to post my tap tone (as soon as I get done scalloping)...

Maybe I'll post some pics too...
Now off to bed...
JP

JP, I just finished scalloping my top's bracing today and forgot to mention in my threads that the tap tone i got afterwards was tremendous, loud ping, i wish i had equipment to record, i'd share it with you too! Hey, you're not so far behind me there, keep it up!

Serge

Hesh, you just woke up my wife , now get to the kitchen and start makin' me an extra batch of cookies that you will bring at Bob C's! I owe ya one!

I'll keep on scalloping...since my top definately won't be waking any one up just yet. (I did mention that it was sticka and not Red Spruce (Ad.).

I'm definately a newbie at this...so I am taking my sweet time...although it is great knowing that Serge and I are about at the same place in our builds...

I'll see if I can get some pics uploaded to share...maybe a tap tone or two...you may need a good Amp to hear it with....the top just seemed dead once I braced it. I'm about 1/2 way through with scalloping using the Martin Dread plans and the top still seems pretty tight. The top is about 0.105-0.110" in thickness (I had to thin out around the rosette a bit so I lost my even 0.110")

Thanks for the chuckle...
JP

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Here is how my last top sounded.....

Edit: I took the sound byte out since it woke Serge's wife up........ Sorry Serge[/QUOTE]

Sorry Hesh, it didn't wake up my wife but i did have to turn the volume down in a hurry! No need for an extra batch of cookies, you were forgiven right then and there but please do bring some cookies and all your great collection of wonderful geetars at Bob Cefalu's my friend

I guess I must be dense, because I never could make heads or tails out of people's descriptions of tap tones. I use a 'technoid' version of that; Chladni or 'glitter' patterns. It allows me to actually see the vibration patterns and get exact frequency information as well. My experience suggests strongly that neither the clarity nor the pitch of the tap tones is as important in determining the tone of the guitar as are the _shapes_ of the mode patterns. Usually good shapes do sound a bit clearer when you tap them, but not always.

When you tap on a top you're feeding in energy at all possible frequencies, up to a limit that is set by the time your finger stays in contact with the top.

The top itself can only respond at certain pitches: its 'resonant modes', which are set by the size, the wood, the structure and so on.

Of all the possible resonant modes you will only actually activate effectively those that are active at the spot where you are tapping, AND not active at the spot(s) where you're holding it.

Of the modes you activate, you'll only clearly hear the ones that are active at the spot where your ear (or the microphone)is.

All of this stuff is incredibly sensitive: changing your holding or tapping point by a fraction of an inch can make the difference between 'boinngg!' and 'thud'. Although most guitars with 'standard' structures have much the same 'family' of resonant modes there are differences from one to the next, and they can be hard to predict. Shaving the braces changes both the shapes and the frequencies.

The upshot is that most people either reinvent the wheel with this stuff, or learn hands-on from somebody who has worked out a system. I'm not sure how much anybody can tell from a sound sample posted on line without a whole bunch of other information. THen again, I could be wrong....

    

Alan...

Thanks for the post...I agree that a sound byte is not enough information on this subject. The more I read up on tap tones and resonant freq. the more I start to realize that tap tones are to luthiers as wines are to wineos (pardon the term if your into wine)...

Tap tones must be very subjective based on the builder's ear and technique (in building AND producing a tap tone).

Like I stated previously...this is my 1st build and I am learning alot...hearing some other taps would have just been part of my "homework" to help me learn more about what I am doing.

UPDATE: I have completed the basic carving to the Martin Dred plans and have achived a nice low ring with pretty good sustain. The top is somewhat thin for a steel string (0.105-0.110") So I'll have to be careful to not nick or marr the top surface during the rest of construction.

If anyone would like to hear the tap tone *.wav files...I would be glad to e-mail them (I don't have a personal web site at the present time since my host server is down). Build pics will be posted soon on another thread...keep an eye out for them.

Thanks,
JP