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

[TechStuf]

Interesting...So you're saying that some of the amplification from body of the guitar is refocused back to the sound board, increasing efficiency. Kewl to know!

Ok, how about taking an Alpenhorn, attaching some piezo assemblies to the output end, transducing the amplified vibrations at the rim to electricity, in order to power a small air compressor at the mouth?

No go?

Well....I tried.

[lltfdaniel1]

Interesting...So you're saying that some of the amplification from body of the guitar is refocused back to the sound board, increasing efficiency. Kewl to know!

Ok, how about taking an Alpenhorn, attaching some piezo assemblies to the output end, transducing the amplified vibrations at the rim to electricity, in order to power a small air compressor at the mouth?

No go?

Well....I tried.

Yes it is like that.

[utilitarian]

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

The sound is amplified, but the energy is not.  Without the soundbox of the acoustic guitar, the energy in the vibrating string would simply escape in another fashion.  With the soundbox, much more of the energy is converted to audible (and audibly pleasing) sound.  The soundbox does not magically amplify the energy, though; that would be impossible without some type of other input of energy, such as an electric amplifier.

[The Observer]

Iota,

I agree, that the sound waves (pressure variations of air)  resonate within the air chamber.

There are 2 things resonating.

1. The String.
2. The Air Chamber.

When you hear an Electric Guitar you hear

                    1. The String

When you hear an Acoustic Guitar you hear

                    1 The String
                            +
               2. The Air Chamber

This is why it is louder... anyone disagree?

                           ++
                            ll
                            ll
                            ll
                         (  0  )
                        (____)
                   The Observer

[TechStuf]

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon shots, I think we should send an accoustic and an electric guitar back up, and they should play them to prove these wild theories of yours.


IF no sound is heard,


Then I'll believe we actually went to the moon.