FEATURING SPEAKER(S):

Dr. Dick Lyon, Acentech - R.H. Lyon Division

DESCRIPTION:

We've all seen the old Chladni patterns of vibration of a plate cut to the shape of a violin top, or the more modern pictures of the vibrations of violins and guitars using vibrational modal analysis or optical interferometry. Usually 5 or 10 patterns will be shown at resonance frequencies showing differences among designs, but without any direct connection drawn between the quality of the sound and those patterns. After taking up the guitar as a post retirement activity 10 years ago, it occurred to Dr. Lyon that there didn't seem to be enough resonances to support all the frequencies to be radiated. And if that were the case, why didn't one note sound a lot louder (or quieter) than the others? This talk describes how Dr. Lyon approached the task of trying to answer that question.

As an ancillary, Dr. Lyon has two guitars; one of student and the other of professional quality. Has his analysis supported his paying 10 times as much for the one as compared to the other?

DATE: Wednesday, November 8, 2006

TIME & PLACE: UPDATE

5:30 PM – Dinner (optional):
Location: Summer Shack Restaurant
149 Alewife Brook Parkway
Cambridge, MA

7:00 PM – GBCASA Presentation
Location: Acentech
33 Moulton Street
Cambridge, MA
www.acentech.com