Stress on a Guitar Soundboard when converting to Tailpiece

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of converting a classical guitar from a traditional bridge setup to a tailpiece configuration. The participant, who purchased a damaged handmade classical guitar, seeks to understand how this conversion affects the stress on the soundboard. It is noted that a typical classical guitar experiences approximately 100 lbs of stress on the soundboard via the bridge. The inquiry specifically addresses the calculation of stress reduction when utilizing a tailpiece while maintaining the break angle through the saddle.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical guitar construction and stress distribution
  • Basic knowledge of guitar bridge mechanics
  • Familiarity with string tension and its effects on soundboards
  • Fundamental principles of physics related to torque and force
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  • Research the physics of string tension and its impact on guitar soundboards
  • Explore the design and benefits of tailpieces in string instruments
  • Learn about stress testing methods for guitar soundboards
  • Investigate the effects of break angle on string performance and sound quality
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Guitar builders, luthiers, musicians interested in instrument modifications, and anyone studying the mechanics of string instruments.

Bullpuppy
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I do have a question on a project that I am doing now (for my personal enjoyment)

I bought an nice handmade classical guitar that was dropped on the tail-block and cracking it and putting two nice crack from the end of the guitar to the sound hole. Since I only invested $100 I decided to use as the basis of experimenting.I always like the concept of using a tailpiece and build the guitar sound board with less consideration on the constructions needed to support the stresses placed on the bridge by the string.

Kris Barnett has good things to say about them http://www.krisbarnettguitars.com/#!tailpiece/c1irdI was wondering how to calculate the reduction of stress on the top when using a tail piece and maintaining the break angle through the saddle. The normal classical guitar may have as much as 100 lbs of stress transmitted to the soundboard via the bridge. The bridge lifts up from the rear and down in the front and the soundboard is built to withstand that. When adding the tail piece on guitar usually the strings just go from the tail piece over the saddle. The majority the string tension is now on the tail block with downward tension on the saddle.

But if use a tailpiece and string through the hole on the bridge (causing a steep break angle) then the bridge will torque in a similar way, but hopefully much less.

It sounds like a physics problem to me. So the question is - on any given guitar with a with the strings tied to the tie-block on the bridge, is converted so that the strings are tied to a tailpiece and the strings are lead through the same holes on the bridge, then what will be the reduction to the stress on the soundboard. for the sake of argument we can say the the string from the tailpiece are running parallel to the soundboard and are at the same height as the holes in the tieblock.

Any ideas would be most appreciated.

Thanks

TIm
 
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Thanks for the post! Sorry you aren't generating responses at the moment. Do you have any further information, come to any new conclusions or is it possible to reword the post?
 

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