COMPOSITE GUITAR

My most rewarding project from my time at Delft University of Technology. My MSc project in 2015-2016 focused on the development of a novel composite material designed to capture the acoustic magic of traditional tonewoods—without the limitations that come with natural wood. I set out to engineer a material that delivers the warmth, resonance, and nuanced sound of wood, yet offers enhanced durability and environmental sustainability.

Working on this project was both a technical challenge and a personal passion. I have played the guitar from the age of 3 and started lessons at the age of 4. I envisioned an alternative for high-quality musical instruments, especially guitars, where consistency and reliability are as crucial as sound quality. The problem is that wood is an extremely good sound radiator as the ratio between stiffness and density is amazing. That means that even the most advanced Carbon Fiber composite materials do not get close to the sound quality of Spruce wood, the material of which most acoustic guitar tops are made.

The composite material I developed not only emulates the acoustic characteristics of wood but also overcomes issues like variability and scarcity. This work has opened up exciting possibilities for instrument design, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering. My research report is publicly available online (see link below):

Master Thesis report:
https://repository.tudelft.nl/record/uuid:919fdb70-55a1-4be9-8795-fb7ef87d3382

Delft Univeristy of Technology Media Coverage:
https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ae/current/research-stories/a-guitar-for-the-future