UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A handcrafted guitar paired with complex acoustics measurements; the art of sound and the science of sound. All of these elements came together in a research project involving the research expertise and resources of Penn State’s acoustics facilities and the talent and tradition of Martin Guitar — an iconic sixth generation family business in Pennsylvania.
Micah Shepherd, assistant research professor of acoustics, and a team of Penn State acoustics experts worked with Martin Guitar to develop a method to analyze acoustic properties of guitars and components — to understand the science behind the variance in sound produced by different guitars and guitar components.