Education & Culture
instruments are in tune. Models were developed to correlate the physical
properties of the instruments with acoustic qualities. Understanding these
correlations will then help in developing prototype designs of musical
instruments.
Currently, the researchers are collaborating with the DOST’s Forest Products
Research and Development Institute to develop both bamboo species that are
more resistant to pests, and manufacturing processes that can improve the
durability of the product and make production more efficient. The researchers are
also working with the UP Center for Ethnomusicology to ensure that production
of the bamboo instruments align with the history and traditions of the indigenous
groups that first invented them.
The prospective results of this ongoing project will help manufacturers scale up
their production and improve the quality of their instruments in order to cope
with the growing demand from educational and cultural institutions.
Funded by: DOST
Gitara ni Juan: Using Philippine Woods to Make Quality
Guitars for Every Juan
Nathan Neil Manimtim 1 | Crisron Rudolf G. Lucas 2 | Jon Dewitt Dalisay 3
1 Strings Department, College of Music
2 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering
E-mail: [email protected]
Filipinos are known for their skill and nimbleness of hand, yet local entry-level
classical guitar brands can hardly compete with imported brands in terms of
sound quality, playability, and manufacturing consistency over price. As a result,
most Filipino players turn to purchasing imported entry-level classical guitars. In
view of the lack of affordable, high quality, locally made guitars, the Gitara ni Juan
project aims to build quality classical guitars using inexpensive, indigenous, and
sustainable raw materials.
The researchers studied locally available wood to look for substitutes for the
traditional imported woods used by master luthiers. Twelve prototypes were
constructed from five different tree species. These were compared to each other,
along with one control prototype using the traditional spruce and rosewood wood
UP Diliman SALIKSIKHAY | 11