Thermally Modified Wood for Use in Musical Instruments

The unique mechanical and acoustical properties of wood and its aesthetic appeal still make it the material of choice for musical instruments. Here tropical hardwoods are typically used in musical instruments. This paper gives an overview of how the use of thermally modified wood can contribute to the use of raw materials for musical instruments. It is shown that a mild thermal treatment leads to clear changes of the measurable acoustic characteristics, such as Young’s modulus, damping and sound velocity. In conclusion, thermally modified wood (mild treatment) is a material with favorable characteristics for making musical instruments.