In order to demonstrate that both sustain and volume are increased, one would have to simultaneously measure amplitude and characteristic decay times. Additionally, those characteristic times are strongly frequency dependent. In order to talk about "sustain, one needs to be clear about "sustain for which note(s)?" I described the characteristic time measurements to Mr. Masterson, but saw nothing to indicate that he has done them, properly or otherwise. One also needs to specify exactly where on the string the pluck is made, what the force of the pluck is, and several other factors. I'm still waiting for all of that. As to my lack of openness, I was not the one withholding any information for proprietary reasons.
For the benefit of those who are not sure about this, the problem with simultaneously increasing both sustain and acoustic volume is that it violates one of the most basic of physical laws, namely, conservation of energy. Conservation laws are about as basic and fundamental as you can get. When a string is plucked, it is given potential energy by virtue of its' displacement from its' equilibrium position. When it is released, or the pick passes over it, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy associated with its' vibrational motion. Since a string moves very little air by itself, the way to get acoustic volume in a guitar or mandolin is for the string to give up some of its' energy to the body of the instrument, which in turn gives up some of that energy to the vibration of air mases in the body cavity and in the region of the soundhole(s). And, if the string loses some of its' energy to another such vibrating system, it
has to have less energy than it did (remember conservation of energy?). Consequently, its' amplitude will decrease, which means that the characteristic time, and consequently sustain, will also decrease. And, in order to get
more acoustic volume, one has to have a
greater loss in sustain.
Conservation of energy is not just something in the abstract. You can't just handwave it away by dismissing the existing laws and/or formalism as incomplete. Mr. Masterson will have to come up with a satisfactory explanation of how he can simultaneously increase both acoustic volume and sustain.
http://www.Cohenmando.com
Bookmarks