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Chemical treatment of wood for musical instruments. Part I: acoustically important properties of wood for the Ranad (Thai traditional xylophone)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the important acoustic properties of wood for making Ranad bars and the resonator box. The woods used in this study were separated into two groups. The first group is the type of wood that has been used to make Ranad for centuries: Ching-Chan (Dalbergia oliveri Gamble) and Ma-Had (Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.) for making the bars, and Ka-Nun (Artocarpus neterophylla Lamk.) out of which the resonator box is made. The second group comprises woods that are abundant in Thailand and are genetically related to the first group. The physical and mechanical properties of the woods in both groups were measured including the specific dynamic Young’s modulus (E/ρ), density (ρ), hardness (H), acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE), and sound refraction coefficients (|Γ|). The results revealed that high and consistent |Γ| were crucial factors of the Ranad bar properties in addition to E/ρ, ρ, and H. The results from measurements made on the resonator box wood revealed that high E/ρ, ACE, and high and consistent |Γ| were its crucial properties.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge Mr. Sonthiphan Tongsawang, the manager of The Forest Industry Organization (Rajadamnern-nok), for assistance in providing a variety of wood of the best quality, which was essential to this research. The authors also thank Mr. Prachya Athikumporn, the manager of The Forest Industry Organization (Bangsue), Teak Sawmill & Wood Products Factory for recommending the sources of wood for this research. In addition, the authors would like to thank The Research Office of The Forest Economics & Forest Products of the Royal Forest Department for lending different types of wood for the studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Institute of Science and Technology for Research and Development, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Chaloampol Rujinirun & Pranee Phinyocheep

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Wudhibhan Prachyabrued

  3. Department of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Nikhom Laemsak

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  1. Chaloampol Rujinirun
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  2. Pranee Phinyocheep
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  3. Wudhibhan Prachyabrued
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  4. Nikhom Laemsak
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Correspondence to Pranee Phinyocheep.

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Rujinirun, C., Phinyocheep, P., Prachyabrued, W. et al. Chemical treatment of wood for musical instruments. Part I: acoustically important properties of wood for the Ranad (Thai traditional xylophone). Wood Sci Technol 39, 77–85 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-004-0275-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-004-0275-z

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