Why is an Acoustic Guitar so much LOUDER than an Electric Guitar?

[The Observer]

Thank you, for your interest in this.

                                     The situation is this...

                       1)     2 Guitars ... 1 Acoustic, 1 Electric.
                       2)     Same string, same length.
                       3)     Each strummed with equal force.

                 The Acoustic Guitar emanates a sound wave 100's
              perhaps 1000's of times louder than the Electric Guitar.


a) Where does the "extra" sound come from?

b) What happens that would produce this effect?

c) Does energy "appear" to be amplified?

d) Is energy being amplified?


                           I would appreciate any answers to
                             these questions you can provide.
                                               O O
                                                 0   
                                                \__/

                                        The Observer

[IotaYodi]

Thats easy since I play both. An Acoustic has a Resonance chamber the electric doesn't. The frequency's resonate within the cavity bouncing out the sound hole. If you only pluck one string it will continue to produce its frequency until the string comes to a complete rest. When you pluck them all  you are adding volume to the resonance cavity. Overtones from one string can set another string into vibrating its frequency. So I would say it is adding energy as far as acoustic resonance.

[lltfdaniel1]

Well once this book about keely has been turned into an ebook..you will have a much better idea of why...it is the wonder of more out than in.

Same with earths resonance etc, louder well it is obviously tapping into something, regarding rf and earths resonace lets say you have a radio transmitter and broadcast it..its radio reception is like what 50-100 miles...and then you use the earth and the range has been quadrupled...thus hence where and what it is tapping.

This vaccum/zpe where is basicly a medium as well as other mediums interlinked toeach other is where it recycles it's self endlessly..as it always moves as with everything..more like velocity and then as it recycles it's self..it is a wonder that only god in the deep blue only seems to know.

[Cloxxki]

Someone answered this question recently on this website or "the" other.
There's not so much "more" energy coming from the acoustic guitar, as there are more and longer AUDIBLE waves. In the electrical guitar, the strings energy to go other energy transitions and frequencies. It was a very plausible explanation when I read it. Written better than I just did, but that goes without saying.

[Bob Smith]

Well,
Here's my 2 cents' worth as an amateur guitar builder:
As IotaYodi pointed out, the acoustic has a resonance chamber. The string vibrations are transduced thru the saddle to the bridge (and bridge plate below the top) and from the bridge, to the top. The top then acts similar to the wafer of a speaker. As it vibrates with the frequencies of the strings, air is displaced both outside the resonance chamber and within, giving the amplifying effect.  In addition, the back and sides of better quality acoustic guitars are made of solid hardwood (traditionally called tone woods) - for example, maple, sycamore, rose wood, mahogany, koa to name a few.  When the sound transduced to the top hits the back and sides, it bounces back to the sound board (top).  This overall action of the top in tandem with the back and sides gives the amplifying effect of the acoustic guitar.  You will notice that lower end acoustic guitars have laminate (plywood) back and sides and often, laminate tops as well.  The multiple layers and glue within the laminate essentially mutes the sound transduction and reverberation off back and sides.  As a result, a laminate guitar is going to have much less projection than a solid wood model.  Mid range priced guitars (say, 200 to 500 dollars) will often have a solid spruce top and laminate back and sides), while guitars $500 and up will more frequently have solid wood back and sides.  The kind of bracing also has an effect. Light and strong wood such as sitka spruce is generally the number 1 choice for better acoustic guitars.  Solid wood and resonance chamber = better, louder sound.

FWIW
Hope it helps.
Bob Smith