Europäisches Patentamt *EP001281171B1* (19) European Patent Office

Office européen des brevets (11) EP 1 281 171 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.7: G10D 1/08, G10D 3/02 of the grant of the patent: 05.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/40 (86) International application number: PCT/US2001/014917 (21) Application number: 01935185.7 (87) International publication number: (22) Date of filing: 09.05.2001 WO 2001/086623 (15.11.2001 Gazette 2001/46)

(54) ARRANGEMENT OF A SOUND HOLE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SOUND HOLE BOARD IN AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR SCHALLLOCHFORM UND -LAGE UND DECKPLATTENKONSTRUKTION IN EINER AKUSTISCHEN GITARRE AGENCEMENT DE ROSACE ET CONSTRUCTION D’UNE TABLE D’HARMONIE DE GUITARE ACOUSTIQUE

(84) Designated Contracting States: (74) Representative: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU Hauck, Graalfs, Wehnert, Döring, Siemons MC NL PT SE TR Neuer Wall 41 20354 Hamburg (DE) (30) Priority: 09.05.2000 US 202764 P (56) References cited: (43) Date of publication of application: US-A- 635 872 US-A- 1 747 307 05.02.2003 Bulletin 2003/06 US-A- 4 056 034 US-A- 4 317 402 US-A- 5 469 769 (73) Proprietor: McPherson, Mathew A. Norwalk, WI 54648 (US) • DATABASE WPI Section PQ, Week 199214 Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class (72) Inventor: McPherson, Mathew A. P86, AN 1992-112669 XP002182462 -& SU 1 660 Norwalk, WI 54648 (US) 031 A (PROGRESS), 30 June 1991 (1991-06-30)

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). EP 1 281 171 B1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) EP 1 281 171 B1

Description

[0001] Acoustic guitars are constructed so as to amplify the sound wave produced by the vibration of the strings, via a resonance body having a sound board. The sound wave created by the vibrating strings is introduced into the res- 5 onance body through the bridge provided on the sound board. Inside the resonance body, the sound wave is resounded and amplified within the resonance body. [0002] Acoustic guitars typically include a round sound hole located in the sound board at a centered position in the waist and upper bout of the guitar body and underneath the strings of the instrument. The present invention has shown that this is not the optimum location for the sound hole in that the instrument is unable to deliver the clean, brilliant 10 sound for the body sound box that is put into it in the form of vibration tones put in action by the bridge. [0003] The input sound to the guitar body sound box can be heard by laying one's ear on the guitar sound board near the bridge. When this is done, one hears the clean, brilliant input sound. However, without one's ear on the guitar sound board, the normally heard output sound of the guitar is heard as a muddy sound, when compared to the input sound heard with the ear against the guitar. 15 [0004] To improve the sound quality of the guitar, attempts have been made to rearrange the sound hole in particular locations. An attempt has also been made to have a plurality of sound holes strategically located on the face of the guitar. Patents which disclose an irregular location of the sound hole include:

U. S. Patent No. 2,523,963 U. S. Patent No. 4,090,427 20 U. S. Patent No. 3,539,699 U. S. Patent No. 4,317,402 U. S. Patent No. 3,869,954 French Patent No. 2529363 U. S. Patent No. 4,056,034

25 [0005] The present invention is an improvement over the above-mentioned prior art in that it more effectively utilizes as much of the sound board as possible by positioning a single sound hole, or zone, in a specific location to optimize the vibration of the sound board. [0006] US patent No. 635,872 discloses a piano sounding-board formed of two layers of wood, crossing one another in the direction of the grain of the wood.

30 [0007] US 5,469,769 discloses a sound board for musical instruments such as the piano having a core and a fore plate and a rear plate bonded to the core. The core is maid of a material having larger shearing elastic modulus and/ or smaller shearing loss tangent than that of the fore and rear plates. [0008] The technical problem of the invention is to provide an acoustic guitar having an improved sound board. [0009] The problem is solved by the guitar according to claim 1.

35 Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to the invention the sound board comprises no more than two, layers of wood bonded, preferably glued, together, wherein - in a preferred embodiment - the grain direction of the layers are perpendicularly situated.

40 Preferably the grains are in substantially parallel planes. [0011] In combination with the invention, a single sound hole, or zone, is located on the face of the sound board immediately adjacent to the upper side panel of the guitar extending approximately from the upper end of the bridge to the upper waist portion. The position more effectively utilizes as much of the effective part of the sound board as possible by positioning a single sound hole, or a plurality of holes, in a specific location, or zone, to optimize the vibration

45 of the sound board.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

50 Figure 1 is a face view of an acoustic guitar according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a face view of an alternative manifestation of the invention. Figure 3 shows a face view of a guitar illustrating the optimum vibration area of the sound board. Figure 4 shows a face view of a sound board with a cut out portion.

55 Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the sound board of Figure 3. Figure 6 shows the approximate positioning of the single sound zone. Figures 7a-c show various hole designs in the sound hole zone.

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Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0013] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not 5 intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. [0014] Referring to Figure 1, this invention relates to an improvement in acoustic guitars such as the one generally indicated at 10 having a guitar body or sound box 12. Hollow body 12 has a waist generally indicated at 14 which identifies the narrowest portion or mid-section of the guitar. The portion of the guitar body above waist 14 is known as the upper bout and is generally designated in the Figure at 16. The portion of the guitar body below waist 14 is generally 10 known as the lower bout and is generally designated in the Figure at 18. [0015] The top, 22, seen in Figure 1 of guitar hollow body 12 is known as the sound board. The sound board 22, at its periphery, defines the edges of the upper bout 17, the lower bout 19 and the edges of upper 15 and lower 21 waist portions. The edges of the sound board are connected to side panels and in turn the rear panel to form the hollow body as is typical of guitars. As is conventional in guitars, a neck 26 is attached to hollow body 12 to extend over sound 15 board 22 as shown. A bridge 28 is also anchored to sound board 22 to transfer vibrations into the sound board. Strings generally designated 30, including bass strings 30a, which are closest to the upper edge 15 of the waist, and treble strings 30b, which are closest to the lower edge 21 of the waist, extend along neck 26 and are received by bridge 28, thereby supporting strings 30 over sound board 22. Strings 30 are attached at the distal end of the neck 26 in any conventional manner known in the art, preferably in such a way to allow for tension adjustment of the strings. The 20 strings may be steel, gut or any other type string ordinarily used with an acoustic guitar. [0016] According to the invention and as seen in figures 1-2, a sound hole 32 is formed in the sound board 22. In one embodiment, the location of this hole affects the sound produced by the guitar of this invention. Preferably, the hole is generally oval or kidney in shape in the preferred forms of this inventions as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Any shapes however, particularly an oblong one, may be utilized according to the invention to improve the sound produced 25 by the guitar. [0017] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the hole, 32 and 34, is preferably positioned between the upper 16 and lower 18 bouts and between the edge 15 of the waist 14 and the bass strings 30a. The zone 32 and 34 is positioned distally from the bridge 28 and proximally from the proximal end of the neck 11. In the preferred form of the invention as depicted in Fig. 2, the hole will be located at the waist 14, and substantially aligned with the adjacent portion of the 30 sound board edge. [0018] The sound hole positioning in the present invention utilizes more of the sound board which has a greatest capacity for vibration. Fig. 3 illustrates this area 13, which is generally in the center of the sound board. The sound hole is positioned as much above this area as possible, immediately adjacent to the edge 15 of the waist 14. The sound hole may dip down into the area 13 slightly. 35 [0019] The position of the sound hole optimizes the surface area of the sound board while allowing maximum release of sound vibration from within the sound box. Such positioning of the sound hole allows the guitar to sustain longer sound vibration and avoids wave cancellation at lower frequencies. [0020] The one sound hole, or zone, may be of alternative configurations or construction. In the alternative to one hole, a plurality of holes, or laser holes, may be made in the specific area, or zone, and covering approximately the 40 same surface area, where said only one sound hole would reside. Preferably, the zone covers approximately 8-16 sq. inches, most preferably about 12 sq. inches, of the sound board. The smaller the zone, the deeper and basier the sound. The larger the zone, the higher the frequency. The general area of this "zone" is illustrated in Figure 6, and designated as 50. Examples of potential patterns of holes in the sound zone are illustrated in Figures 7a-c. In Figure 7c the sound hole zone comprises a plurality of pin holes. Additional sound holes in other areas serve only to reduce 45 the surface area of the sound board. While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. [0021] In addition to the single sound hole described above, the present invention also includes a novel sound board 22. Typically sound boards comprise a three-ply piece of wood, wherein the separate plies are glued together and 50 laminated on the outer surface. The types of wood and glue that are used for sound boards are well known and need not be discussed further. The three-ply sound boards, due to the three layers of wood and the two layers of glue, have a tendency to sound "dumpy". The present invention employs a solid piece of wood or a two-ply sound board having one glue layer, wherein the grains of the two layers are configured in substantially perpendicular directions. In a two- ply sound board the glue is in the neutral axis with regard to vibration between the two layers of wood As such, the 55 glue layer is free from significant tension or compression and therefore has very little, as compared to multiple glue lines, effect on the pure vibration of the wood layers. The sound board of the present invention having one solid layer also does not have the dumpy effect found in multiple glue line sound boards. [0022] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the sound board 22 of the present invention. Figure 4 (sound hole not shown)

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illustrates the top layer 38 of the sound board 22 with a cut out portion 40 showing the bottom layer 42 of the sound board. The direction of the grain 44 of the top layer 38 is in the opposite direction to the direction of the grain 46 of the bottom layer 42. The perpendicular grains contribute to the stability of the sound board 22 and to the uniformity of the vibration of the sound board. 5 [0023] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the sound board 22, illustrating the top layer 38, the glue line 48 and the bottom layer 42 (the grain of the bottom layer would not be visible in this end view). [0024] The offset placement of the sound hole, or zone, of the present invention allows for optimum vibration of the sound board 22, which occurs in the middle of the sound board 22. In conjunction with the placement of the sound hole, the two-ply sound board provides further optimization of the vibration and sound. The use of only a single layer 10 of wood or two layers of wood and one glue line, wherein the grains of the two layers are perpendicularly arranged, reduces the "dumpy" sound of three-ply boards having two glue lines. The combination of the novel hole configuration and placement combined with the two-ply board of the present invention provides superior sound. [0025] In another aspect of the invention, if three layers are used for the sound board, it is preferable, also for the strength of the sound board, that the directions of the grains of the individual layers be non-parallel, while at the same 15 time be in substantially parallel planes, as shown in figure 4. As such, instead of a 90° angle between the grain direction, there could be a 60° angle between the grain directions. [0026] In an alternative feature, wherein the sound board comprises two or more layers of wood, as described above, multiple types of wood may be used. It has been found that using multiple layers of wood for the sound board, wherein each layer is made of a different type of wood, provides a distinctive and unique sound quality. The difference between 20 the compositional makeup, density, elasticity, hardness, softness, etc., of the different layers adds to the unique sound quality. Preferably, two layers are used to avoid an overly thick sound board, which loses its vibration capabilities. Once again, for added strength in the sound board, the grain directions of the separate layers are preferably in parallel planes and are non-parallel. Preferably, at the greatest angle of separation, i.e., 90° for two layers and 60° for three layers. [0027] Types of wood which may be used include spruces, ceders, furs, pines, maples, redwoods, koa, mahogany, 25 berch or popple. However, this list of woods is not exhaustive. If more than two layers are used, one of the types may be duplicated. Preferably, if there are more than one layer of a type of wood, there should be a layer of another type between them. The soundboard may use multiple layers depending on the thickness of the layers. If the layers are relatively thin, more may be used without forfeiting sound quality. The different layers may be of the same or varied thicknesses. Types, arrangement and thicknesses of wood may be chosen based on color and/or final sound qualities 30 since sound and aesthetics are important aspects of the invention, but are somewhat subjective. Combinations of interest include ceder/spruce and redwood/spruce, however, the invention is not limited to these combinations. [0028] As mentioned above, preferably the direction of the separated grains should not be parallel, but preferably are in parallel planes. Preferably, they are at a 90° from each other. If three layers are included, preferably, there would bea60°angle between the grains. The angles preferably decrease accordingly with the number of layers. The uni- 35 formity of the angles is not required, however, the grain directions should be non-parallel. Providing an angle between the grains provides strength to the final sound board. [0029] The use of multiple species of wood for the sound board may be combined with the novel orientation of the grains, as discussed above, in addition to the novel sound hole placement and the two layer sound board. [0030] The present invention includes each individual above aspect alone or combinations of any of the above as- 40 pects, including the sound hole placement, orientation of the grain, the dual layer sound board and use of multiple species of wood, etc. Alone or in varying combination, the aspects add to the quality and/or uniqueness of sound which resonates from the sound board. [0031] Having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be undeistood that many modifications thereof will readily appear or may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and it is intended therefore that this invention 45 is limited only by the scope of the following claims. [0032] The above examples and disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. These examples and description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. In the claims the term "comprising" means "including, but not limited to".

50 Claims

1. An acoustic guitar (10), the guitar (10) having a body (12) having a soundboard (22), the soundboard (22)comprising a first layer (38) and a second layer (42), both layers being bonded together, wherein the first (38) and second 55 (42) layers are made of different types of wood, characterized in that the sound board comprises no more than two layers of wood.

2. The guitar of claim 1, the type of woods used to make the first and second layers being chosen from the group

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consisting of spruces, ceders, furs, pines, redwoods, maple, koa, mahogany, berch and popple.

3. The guitar of claim 1, the body including a back side, the soundboard having an upper and lower bout, the upper and lower bout defining a mutual upper edge, a plurality of strings including bass and treble, positioned above the 5 sound board, and a bridge on the sound board in the lower bout for receiving the strings, the guitar further com- prising an arrangement of no more than one sound hole zone in the sound board being substantially located between the bridge and the upper bout and between the bass strings and the upper edge of the guitar body sound board.

10 4. The guitar of claim 3, wherein the sound hole zone has one hole.

5. The guitar of claim 3, wherein the sound hole zone has a plurality of holes.

6. The guitar of claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises ceder and the second layer comprises spruce. 15 7. The guitar of Claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises redwood and the second layer comprises spruce.

8. The guitar of Claim 7, the guitar having a waist between the upper and lower bout, wherein the hole is located between the waist and bridge. 20 9. The guitar of Claim 7 wherein the hole is located immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the soundboard at the waist.

10. The guitar of Claim 7 wherein the hole is oriented in the sound board in general alignment with the adjacent sound 25 board upper edge.

11. The guitar of Claim 4 wherein the hole is kidney shaped.

12. The guitar of Claim 11, the guitar having a waist between the upper and lower bout, wherein the hole is located 30 between the waist and bridge.

13. The guitar of Claim 11, the guitar having a waist between the upper and lower bout, wherein the hole is located immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the soundboard at the waist.

35 14. The guitar of Claim 11 wherein the hole is oriented in the sound board in general alignment with the adjacent sound board upper edge.

15. The guitar of Claim 4, wherein the hole is oval shaped.

40 16. The guitar of Claim 15, the guitar having a waist between the upper and lower bout, wherein the hole is located between the waist and bridge.

17. The guitar of Claim 15, the guitar having a waist between the upper and lower bout, wherein the hole is located immediately adjacent to the upper edge of the soundboard at the waist. 45 18. The guitar of Claim 15 wherein the hole is oriented in the sound board in general alignment with the adjacent sound board upper edge.

19. The guitar of claim 1, the guitar having a sound box, a neck, a plurality of strings positioned above the sound board. 50 20. The acoustic guitar of claim 19, wherein the two layers are glued together.

21. The acoustic guitar of claim 20, wherein the grain direction of the two layers of wood are in substantially perpen- dicular directions. 55 22. The acoustic guitar of claim 20, wherein the sound board is laminated.

23. The acoustic guitar of one of the claims 1 to 22, wherein the two layers of wood are glued together.

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24. The acoustic guitar of claim 23, wherein the grain direction of the two layers of wood are in perpendicular directions.

25. The guitar of claim 24, wherein the grain direction of the two layers of wood are in substantially parallel planes.

5 Patentansprüche

1. Eine akustische Gitarre (10), die einen Körper (12) mit einem Schallbrett (22) besitzt, wobei das Schallbrett (22) eine erste Schicht (38) und eine zweite Schicht (42) aufweist und die beiden Schichten miteinander verklebt sind, 10 wobei die erste (38) und die zweite (42) Schicht aus verschiedenen Holzarten hergestellt sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schallbrett nicht mehr als zwei Holzschichten aufweist.

2. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 1, wobei die für die Herstellung der ersten und zweiten Schicht verwendeten 15 Holzarten aus einer Gruppe gewählt werden, die aus Fichte, Zedernholz, Fur, Kiefer, Ahorn, Rotholz, hawaiische Akazie, Rebenholz oder Popple-Holz besteht.

3. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 1, wobei

20 - der Körper eine Rückseite umfasst, - das Schallbrett eine obere und eine untere Rundung besitzt, - die obere und untere Rundung eine gemeinsame obere Kante begrenzen, - eine Mehrzahl von Saiten einschließlich Basssaiten und Diskantsaiten vorhanden ist, die über dem Schallbrett angebracht sind, 25 - ein Steg auf dem Schallbrett in der unteren Rundung zur Aufnahme der Saiten vorhanden ist, - die Gitarre außerdem eine Anordnung von nicht mehr als einer Schalllochzone im Schallbrett aufweist, die im Wesentlichen zwischen dem Steg und der oberen Rundung und zwischen den Basssaiten und der oberen Kante des Schallbretts des Gitarrenkörpers angeordnet ist.

30 4. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 3, wobei die Schalllochzone ein Loch aufweist.

5. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 3, wobei die Schalllochzone eine Mehrzahl von Löchern aufweist.

6. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 2, wobei die erste Schicht Zedernholz und die zweite Schicht Fichtenholz auf- 35 weist.

7. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 2, wobei die erste Schicht Rotholz und die zweite Schicht Fichte aufweist.

8. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 7, wobei die Gitarre ein Mittelteil zwischen der oberen und der unteren Rundung 40 besitzt, wobei das Loch zwischen dem Mittelteil und dem Steg angeordnet ist.

9. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 7, wobei das Loch unmittelbar angrenzend an die obere Kante des Schallbretts im Mittelteil platziert ist.

45 10. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 7, wobei das Loch im Schallbrett allgemein in Fluchtlinie mit der angrenzenden oberen Kante des Schallbretts ausgerichtet ist.

11. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 4, wobei das Loch nierenförmig gestaltet ist.

50 12. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 11, wobei die Gitarre ein Mittelteil zwischen der oberen und der unteren Rundung aufweist und wobei das Loch zwischen dem Mittelteil und dem Steg platziert ist.

13. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 11, wobei die Gitarre ein Mittelteil zwischen der oberen und der unteren Rundung aufweist und wobei das Loch unmittelbar angrenzend an die obere Kante des Schallbretts im Mittelteil platziert ist. 55 14. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 11, wobei das Loch im Schallbrett im Wesentlichen in Fluchtlinie mit der angren- zenden oberen Kante des Schallbretts ausgerichtet ist.

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15. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 4, wobei das Loch oval geformt ist.

16. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 15, wobei die Gitarre ein Mittelteil zwischen der oberen und der unteren Rundung aufweist, wobei das Loch zwischen dem Mittelteil und dem Steg platziert ist. 5 17. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 15, wobei die Gitarre ein Mittelteil zwischen der oberen und der unteren Rundung aufweist, wobei das Loch unmittelbar angrenzend an die obere Kante des Schallbretts im Mittelteil platziert ist.

18. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 15, wobei das Loch im Schallbrett im Wesentlichen in Fluchtlinie mit der angren- 10 zenden oberen Kante des Schallbretts ausgerichtet ist.

19. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 1, wobei die Gitarre eine Klangbox, einen Hals und eine Mehrheit von Saiten besitzt, die über dem Schallbrett angeordnet sind.

15 20. Die akustische Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 19, wobei die beiden Schichten miteinander verleimt sind.

21. Die akustische Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 20, wobei die Holzfaserrichtungen der beiden Holzschichten im We- sentlichen rechtwinklig zueinander verlaufen.

20 22. Die akustische Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 20, wobei das Schallbrett beschichtet ist.

23. Die akustische Gitarre nach einem der Patentansprüche 1 bis 22, wobei die zwei Holzschichten miteinander ver- leimt sind.

25 24. Die akustische Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 23, wobei die Holzfaserrichtungen der beiden Holzschichten recht- winklig zueinander verlaufen.

25. Die Gitarre nach Patentanspruch 24, wobei die Holzfaserrichtungen der beiden Holzschichten sich im Wesentli- chen in parallelen Ebenen befinden. 30

Revendications

1. Guitare acoustique (10), la guitare (10) ayant un corps (12) ayant une table d'harmonie (22), la table d'harmonie 35 comprenant une première couche (38) et une seconde couche (42), les deux couches étant liées ensemble, dans laquelle la première (38) et la seconde (42) couches sont constituées de différents types de bois, caractérisée en ce que la table d'harmonie ne comprend pas plus de deux couches de bois.

2. Guitare selon la revendication 1, le type de bois utilisés pour fabriquer la première et la seconde couches étant 40 choisis dans le groupe constitué par l'épicéa, le cèdre, le sapin, le pin, le séquoia, l'érable, le koa, l'acajou, le bouleau et le peuplier.

3. Guitare selon la revendication 1, le corps comprenant un fond, la table d'harmonie ayant une partie supérieure et une partie inférieure, les parties supérieure et inférieure définissant un bord supérieur mutuel, une pluralité de 45 cordes comprenant les graves et les aiguës, placées au-dessus de la table d'harmonie, et un chevalet sur la table d'harmonie dans la partie inférieure pour recevoir les cordes, la guitare comprenant en outre un agencement de pas plus d'une zone de rosace dans la table d'harmonie étant sensiblement située entre le chevalet et la partie supérieure et entre les cordes de grave et le bord supérieur de la table d'harmonie du corps de la guitare.

50 4. Guitare selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la zone de rosace a une seule bouche.

5. Guitare selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la zone de rosace a une pluralité de bouches.

6. Guitare selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle la première couche comprend du cèdre et la seconde couche 55 comprend de l'épicéa.

7. Guitare selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle la première couche comprend du séquoia et la seconde couche de l'épicéa.

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8. Guitare selon la revendication 7, la guitare ayant une partie resserrée entre la partie supérieure et la partie infé- rieure, dans laquelle la rosace est située entre la partie resserrée et le chevalet.

9. Guitare selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle la rosace est située de manière immédiatement adjacente au bord 5 supérieur de la table d'harmonie de la partie resserrée.

10. Guitare selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle la rosace est orientée dans la table d'harmonie en alignement général avec le bord supérieur adjacent de la table d'harmonie.

10 11. Guitare selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle la rosace a une forme de rein.

12. Guitare selon la revendication 11, la guitare ayant une partie resserrée entre les parties supérieure et inférieure, dans laquelle la rosace est située entre la partie resserrée et le chevalet.

15 13. Guitare selon la revendication 11, la guitare ayant une partie resserrée entre la partie supérieure et inférieure, dans laquelle la rosace est située de manière immédiatement adjacente au bord supérieur de la table d'harmonie de la partie resserrée.

14. Guitare selon la revendication 11, dans laquelle la rosace est orientée dans la table d'harmonie en alignement 20 général avec le bord supérieur adjacent de la table d'harmonie.

15. Guitare selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle la rosace a une forme ovale.

16. Guitare selon la revendication 15, la guitare ayant une partie resserrée entre les partie supérieure et inférieure, 25 dans laquelle la rosace est située entre la partie resserrée et le chevalet.

17. Guitare selon la revendication 15, la guitare ayant une partie resserrée entre les partie supérieure et inférieure, dans laquelle la rosace est située de manière immédiatement adjacente au bord supérieur de la table d'harmonie au niveau de la partie resserrée. 30 18. Guitare selon la revendication 15, dans laquelle la rosace est orientée dans la table d'harmonie en alignement général avec le bord supérieur adjacent de la table d'harmonie.

19. Guitare selon la revendication 1, la guitare ayant une caisse de résonance, un manche, une pluralité de cordes 35 placées au-dessus de la table d'harmonie.

20. Guitare acoustique selon la revendication 19, dans laquelle les deux couches sont collées ensemble.

21. Guitare acoustique selon la revendication 20, dans laquelle les directions de grain des deux couches de bois sont 40 des directions sensiblement perpendiculaires.

22. Guitare acoustique selon la revendication 20, dans laquelle la table d'harmonie est stratifiée.

23. Guitare acoustique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 22, dans laquelle les deux couches de bois sont collées 45 ensemble.

24. Guitare acoustique selon la revendication 23, dans laquelle les directions de grain des deux couches de bois sont des directions perpendiculaires.

50 25. Guitare selon la revendication 24, dans laquelle les directions de grain des deux couches de bois sont dans des plans sensiblement parallèles.

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