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Yes, I have seen those. A few comments.
1) 'Modal parameter variability in industrial electric guitar making: Manufacturing process, wood variability, and lutherie decisions'
This paper is a little disingenuous in its research review in the way it refers to 'timbre'. For example, the papers of Fleischer (which I have already linked to) did not look at the way different woods supposedly determine the general timbre of the instrument, but the way high neck conductance creates 'flat spots', and the role harmonics play in increading the decay rate for certain fretted positions. The paper by Arthur Patéa) et al. had a similar focus and noted that 'coupling effects arise only in case of coincidence between the string playing frequencies and the structure modal frequencies'. If anything this paper undermines the 'tone wood' hypothesis, given that 'coupling' is not something that affects all notes, and when it does, flat spots are the usual result.
As to the paper itself, it did not look at any differences in sound through the pickups that might arise as a result of different body woods. Rather it took complete instruments, weighed them and then recording the way they resonated when tapped with a hammer. They then suggest that differences in modal frequency and damping ratio found might affect the sound, but this was not tested. They also acknowledge that 'the string/structure coupling occurs mainly on the neck' (as Fleischer notes) which itself undermines the suggestion that there is a strong, direct coupling between the strings and body
2) The Effect of Wood on Electric Guitar Timbre
This is a students Honors Thesis, so not a pukka academic paper. Given this the rigour of its methods is not likely to be comparable with the paper I cited. Nonetheless it's main conclusion is that, whilst different woods might make a guitar sound different when played acoustically, such differences are not apparent when one considers the signal generated through the pickups. I.e despite some differences in the wave forms noted, the signals through the pickups are much closer for each type of wood than those picked up by an acoustic microphone. As such, on balance it undermines, rather than supports the 'tone wood' hypothesis.
3) The Effect of Wood on Electric Guitar Timbre
Another student's honours thesis, so again not a pukka academic paper.
The methodology may well have being lacking as the results were very inconsistent. However overall the study does not support the 'tone wood' hypothesis. The summary pretty much speaks for itself.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Going start the ironing now....
Some of this reminds me of a story that Ron Dennis use to tell about Senna when they were both at McClaren - Apparently Senna had a good mechanical brain and understanding, as well as been a great driver and this helped them deliver a scientific process into a practical hands on performance - But the story concerns a Saturday and qualifying and Senna stating that on a certain corner, at a certain speed and rpm, there was a 'flat spot' - he felt it via the throttle and heard it - All the mechanical data did not pick it up and all the telepathy and system analysis showed no issues - So the night before the Grand Prix, R Dennis either had to back Senna or the mechanics, as both insisted they were right - So when they were all about to lock up for the night, Dennis insisted the mechanics stripped down the car and have a look and sure enough they found a mechanical issue - some flat spot or something and I'm sorry I can't recall what it was - But it showed that Senna could feel and hear what the electronic data could not detect and Dennis was right to back him
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
I found a research paper that says Monday is the worst of all the days for ironing. You are doing it wrong.