Sound Analysis

A frequency analysis of No.1-6 strings of a guitar using the conventional type bridge (zinc die cast saddle) and a guitar using the new Ti bridge was performed, and the results(sonagraph and long-time FFT spectrum) were compared.

*Extract from analysis (Ti=left side)

Frequency Analysis : Japan Acoustic Lab.

Results of high E string frequency analysis comparing titanium and steel saddles (sonagraph)

Left：Ti Saddle                    Right：Steel Saddles

In comparison with the conventional type, the reverberation times of the fundamental and the second higher harmonic are extended by approximately 20% with the Ti bridge. Moreover, with the conventional type, the third higher harmonic shows an unstable vibration, in which the sound is interrupted or amplified one time. However, with the Ti bridge, vibration is substantially stable.

Results of D string frequency analysis comparing titanium and steel saddles (sonagraph)

Left：Ti Saddle                    Right：Steel Saddles

In comparison with the conventional type, in particular, the reverberation time of the second higher harmonic is extended by approximately 12%. With the conventional type, in the fundamental, second, third, and fourth higher harmonics show an unstable vibration, in which the sound is interrupted or amplified one time, but with the Ti bridge, vibration is substantially stable.

Results of A string frequency analysis comparing titanium and steel saddles (sonagraph)

Left：Ti Saddle                    Right：Steel Saddles

In comparison with the conventional type, in particular, the reverberation times of the second and third higher harmonics are extended by approximately 20%, and that of the fourth higher harmonic is extended by 120%.

B string frequency analysis comparing titanium and steel saddles (long-time FFT spectrum)

Left：Ti Saddle                    Right：Steel Saddles

With the conventional type, the sound pressure level of the third higher harmonic is approximately 8db larger than that of the second higher harmonic, and shows unnatural irregularities in the envelope. In comparison, with the newly developed type, the difference in the sound pressure level of the third higher harmonic and second higher harmonic is approximately 1db, and virtually no unnaturalness can be seen in the envelope.

G string frequency analysis comparing titanium and steel saddles (long-time FFT spectrum)

Left：Ti Saddle                    Right：Steel Saddles

With the conventional type, the difference in the sound pressure level of the third higher harmonic and fourth higher harmonic changes gradually, at approximately 13db, but the difference in the sound pressure level of fourth higher harmonic and fifth higher harmonic changes suddenly, at approximately 17db. In contrast, with the newly developed type, the difference in the sound pressure level of the third higher harmonic and fourth higher harmonic is approximately 15db, and that of the fourth higher harmonic and fifth higher harmonic is approximately 10db. There is no unevenness in the envelopes, which slope gently downward to the right.

Conclusion

From the above results, in comparison with the conventional type, the sound pressure level gradually becomes smaller as the frequency increases with the newly development Ti bridge, and the envelopes of the frequencies show a gentle downward slope to the right. These results show that, in comparison with the conventional type, when the newly developed Ti bridge is used, the low sound region of the generated sound becomes wider, and the feeling of "depth" increases. From a comparison of audibility, in comparison with the ordinary type bridge, when the newly developed Ti bridge is used, there is an overall lengthening of sustain, and it is possible to obtain the effect of using a guitar body with good resonance, even when using an ordinary resonance body.