Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
- News
- 1 likes
- 2762 views
- 0 comments
Customize the sound of your guitar: science applied to lutherie
The search for a predictable and repeatable sound has become one of the greatest challenges in modern guitar making. This is precisely the aim of the research carried out by luthier and engineer Giuliano Nicoletti, author of Mastering the Sound of the Acoustic Guitar (2023), a manual that offers a scientific and hands-on approach to measuring and optimizing the acoustic properties of the guitar
The goal of this method goes beyond just analyzing the instrument’s response—it also enables you to reshape the sound through small, targeted adjustments, whether during the building process or even after the guitar is finished. This approach is especially effective when it comes to identifying and correcting wolf notes.
In collaboration with Giuliano, Maderas Barber now introduces a custom tool and accessory set designed so that any workshop can start applying his method with ease. Below you’ll find a summary of the key points from our interview with him, a detailed walkthrough of the kit, and an invitation to watch the full conversation.
Science applied to lutherie: The work of Giuliano Nicoletti
Also known by his brand name Iulius Guitars, Giuliano brings together academic training and hands-on craftsmanship. After more than a decade studying soundboard vibration, he published Mastering the Sound of the Acoustic Guitar (2023), along with several articles on deflection and modal analysis.
His key contribution is a method that connects frequency, stiffness, and mass to predict how a guitar will sound before it is closed.
“You don’t need an engineering degree—just the right tools and a clear protocol. Any luthier can get consistent, comparable data,” he explains. That belief is what drives the kit we’re introducing.
The three-phase acoustic measurement protocol
Tap‑test — The process begins with a controlled tap on the top. The UMIK‑1 microphone captures the signal, and the REW software maps out the frequency response, identifying the peaks of monopole, dipole, and tripole modes.
Chladni patterns — Using the identified frequencies, the Faital 4FE32 speaker powered by the Nobsound amplifier emits sustained tones. Fine dust sprinkled on the soundboard reveals the nodal lines and antinodes, showing where vibrational energy is concentrated and confirming the modal distribution.
Controlled deflection — A calibrated structure with a dial gauge and a 1 kg weight applies a point load to the bridge. The resulting deflection, combined with the monopole frequency, allows you to calculate dynamic stiffness and effective mass—essential parameters when deciding on thickness or brace adjustments.
The sequence of these three tests transforms acoustic evaluation into a measurable and repeatable practice, making it easier to compare instruments and tonewood batches across different builds.
Contents of the Acoustic Analysis Set
● UMIK‑1 Microphone (24 bit, 20 Hz–20 kHz) with mini tripod and windscreen
● Felt hammer for controlled tapping.
● Faital 4FE32 speaker with Manax SC22150 cable.
● Nobsound Mini Bluetooth amplifier (2 × 50 W a 4–8 Ω).
● Deflection frame with Yato YT‑72450 dial gauge and 1 kg calibrated weight.
● Protective bone saddle and earplugs.
● Mastering the Sound of the Acoustic Guitar book and assembly manual.
Measuring the soundboard response lets you anticipate the tonal outcome and reduce variability between instruments. With Giuliano Nicoletti’s method and the Maderas Barber Acoustic Study Set, any workshop can rely on a proven protocol to turn data into design decisions.
Acoustic precision is no longer limited to university labs—it’s now within reach at your own workbench.
Out-of-Stock
$590.68
Guitar Acoustic Analysis Kit
This complete set is designed so you can carry out in your own workshop the measurements and analyses proposed by Giuliano Nicoletti in his book Mastering the Sound of the Acoustic Guitar. It includes all the necessary components to carry out the three phases of acoustic study that allow you to evaluate, visualize, and...
$60.93
Mastering The Sound Of The Acoustic Guitar
Ever wondered how to measure the sound of the guitars you build? How to shape its sound signature, with a simple method? How to choose the best tone wood for your project, or to solve problems of resonances, or wolf notes?Mastering the sound of the acoustic guitar is a workshop manual written for guitar makers,...
$216.56
UMIK-1 Omnidirectional Measurement Microphone
The UMIK-1 is an omnidirectional measurement microphone individually calibrated, ideal for precision acoustic studies in the workshop. Each unit includes a serial number to download its own calibration file from the manufacturer's website, ensuring a precise and reproducible frequency response.
It connects...
Out-of-Stock
$76.98
Faital 4FE32 Precision Speaker with Cable
The Faital 4FE32 is a 4-inch speaker designed to deliver accurate response across the mid and high frequency range. This set includes the speaker along with a 1 meter Manax SC22150 cable, featuring marked polarity and excellent flexibility for workshop use.
The unit is mounted on a small 3D-printed enclosure,...
Last items in stock
$82.45
Nobsound Mini Bluetooth Amplifier
This compact amplifier is an essential tool for acoustic analysis using lab speakers or modal testing setups. Despite its small size, it delivers enough power to drive soundboards under test conditions.
The Nobsound Mini Bluetooth offers fast pairing from phone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth 5.0, and also features...
Out-of-Stock
$164.89
Deflection Measurement Frame with Yato Dial Gauge
This set is designed to accurately measure the deflection of the soundboard under a localized load, a key parameter for assessing its actual stiffness during the building process.
It includes a wooden frame with a dial gauge mount, a Yato YT-72450 dial indicator with 0.01 mm resolution, and a 1 kg...
Out-of-Stock
$590.68
Guitar Acoustic Analysis Kit
This complete set is designed so you can carry out in your own workshop the measurements and analyses proposed by Giuliano Nicoletti in his book Mastering the Sound of the Acoustic Guitar. It includes all the necessary components to carry out the three phases of acoustic study that allow you to evaluate, visualize, and...
$60.93
Mastering The Sound Of The Acoustic Guitar
Ever wondered how to measure the sound of the guitars you build? How to shape its sound signature, with a simple method? How to choose the best tone wood for your project, or to solve problems of resonances, or wolf notes?Mastering the sound of the acoustic guitar is a workshop manual written for guitar makers,...
$216.56
UMIK-1 Omnidirectional Measurement Microphone
The UMIK-1 is an omnidirectional measurement microphone individually calibrated, ideal for precision acoustic studies in the workshop. Each unit includes a serial number to download its own calibration file from the manufacturer's website, ensuring a precise and reproducible frequency response.
It connects...
Out-of-Stock
$76.98
Faital 4FE32 Precision Speaker with Cable
The Faital 4FE32 is a 4-inch speaker designed to deliver accurate response across the mid and high frequency range. This set includes the speaker along with a 1 meter Manax SC22150 cable, featuring marked polarity and excellent flexibility for workshop use.
The unit is mounted on a small 3D-printed enclosure,...
Last items in stock
$82.45
Nobsound Mini Bluetooth Amplifier
This compact amplifier is an essential tool for acoustic analysis using lab speakers or modal testing setups. Despite its small size, it delivers enough power to drive soundboards under test conditions.
The Nobsound Mini Bluetooth offers fast pairing from phone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth 5.0, and also features...
Out-of-Stock
$164.89
Deflection Measurement Frame with Yato Dial Gauge
This set is designed to accurately measure the deflection of the soundboard under a localized load, a key parameter for assessing its actual stiffness during the building process.
It includes a wooden frame with a dial gauge mount, a Yato YT-72450 dial indicator with 0.01 mm resolution, and a 1 kg...
MB Sound: Acoustic Analysis to Help You Choose Better
This kit also ties in with MB Sound, Maderas Barber’s specialized catalog that features tonewood sets with audio and video samples plus complete analysis of their acoustic properties. Every piece in MB Sound is individually measured for density, resonance frequency, stiffness, Q factor, and radiation coefficient thus providing valuable information for making more accurate decisions when selecting materials. A complementary tool that enhances the luthier's work from the selection of wood to the final tuning of the instrument.
The connection between the measurement kit and MB Sound is clear: both provide objective data to help you make smarter decisions. The kit lets you analyze how a top behaves right at your bench, while MB Sound lets you predict that behavior before you even start carving. Together, they form a complete acoustic-evaluation system that supports you from choosing the wood to dialing in the guitar’s final sound.
Related articles
Luthiers reviews
Explore our MB Sound catalogue
Last items in stock
$186.41
<
Red Cedar Top MB Exclusive 000116 Features:
Dimensions: (545x220x4mm)x2
Botanical name: Thuja plicata
Origin: Canada
Year: 1994
Density: 323,2Kg/m3
Stiffness / Young's Modulus: 5Gpa
Resonance Frequency: 54,6Hz
Sustain (Q Factor): 195,3
Acoustic Radiation Coefficient: 12,2
Density (Kg/m3): The mass of an object divided by its volume....
Last items in stock
Malaysian Blackwood
Malaysian Blackwood Set Nº132 Acoustic Guitar MB Exclusive
MB Exclusive
14641 y 14642
$472.55
Overview Malaysian Blackwood Set Nº132 Acoustic Guitar MB Exclusive:
Malaysian Blackwood is one of our favourite woods for its many aesthetic and acoustic qualities. For a number of guitar makers it is the future of guitar making, ranking it on a par with the legendary Brazilian Rosewood. These unique sets represent the most exclusive selection in an...
Explore our MB Sound catalogue
Last items in stock
$186.41
<
Red Cedar Top MB Exclusive 000116 Features:
Dimensions: (545x220x4mm)x2
Botanical name: Thuja plicata
Origin: Canada
Year: 1994
Density: 323,2Kg/m3
Stiffness / Young's Modulus: 5Gpa
Resonance Frequency: 54,6Hz
Sustain (Q Factor): 195,3
Acoustic Radiation Coefficient: 12,2
Density (Kg/m3): The mass of an object divided by its volume....
Comments (0)
No comments at this moment
