Studying Torres Guitars Part II: Acoustics on the path to the modern Guitar / Estudiando las guitarras Torres - Parte II: acústica en el camino a la guitarra moderna

Abstract

Antonio de Torres is celebrated to have introduced the shape and definition of the modern guitar that we find today. Andalusian and other guitar makers still continue to manufacture Torres models besides their own models of classical Spanish guitars and flamenco guitars. This paper seeks to document and explore some of the basic tuning concepts behind the investigated examples of Torres guitars, in the context of other epochs of guitar making, including modern guitars. For this purpose some 23 excellent master pieces from six different collections have been measured acoustically. The development of the guitars’ sizes and shapes and their relation to basic acoustical properties is outlined, and further acoustical properties such as bass support, sound pressure, and timbre are investigated for the five Torres guitars under observation. The feature maps of these acoustical properties clearly support classification of different epochs of guitar making, one of which is the work of Torres.