Construction of
a high quality guitar is not only accurate work according drawings by a experienced
carpenter. The guitarmaker should also be aware how the guitar works, that material and
structure of the guitar can be tuned to its best end result.
The builder's
own guitarplaying skill and years of collaboration with musicians as well as knowledge
of traditional models and working methods create a good base to develop the
sound of different guitars models.
LRS
The LRS soundboard is stiffened with a wooden cross-brace grid in the middle of
the lower part of the soundboard. A thin plate of wood is glued over the grid. The
cross-section of the whole construction is a lens shape and the soundboard
around the bridge area is much stiffer and better controlled than in
traditional soundboards.
The sound of a LRS guitar is very sensitive and responsive with an exceptional
good sustain, because the vibration energy produced by the strings is evenly
shared to the soundboard via the stiff middle area. The resonance- curves of
LRS-tops are more even than in traditional built guitars. There are no
high-gained amplitude-peaks which yield to an anharmonic sound and often
wolf-notes in the descant frequency range.
The Lens Resonance System(R) allows a much better balance between the mass and
the stiffness of the guitar soundboard without using artificial or synthetic
materials such as carbon fibre composites.
The modes of vibration of the guitar soundboard are nearly the same in every
guitar construction. The player obtains much better control with this new
system, with the effect that the guitar sound is much cleaner without so many
overtones that usually cloud the guitar note. The edge of the top is thinner
than in traditional Spanish guitars. The middle under the bridge is stiffer, so
that at the first mode of vibration around 190Ha (the whole top) can vibrate
exceptionally well. The very high modes of vibration over 1200 Hz are much
better controlled - the stiffness in the middle of the soundboard tends to
enhance its smaller areas that are breaking up. In this way the player achieves
a very well balanced sound.
There are a lot of other developments connected to the new soundboard
construction: the bridge is smaller and lighter than usual, the nut and the
saddle are both compensated to accomplish the intonation required. Together
with the LRS they enhance not only the clarity and balance, but also the
overall volume, dynamic, sustain, playability and the beauty and quality of the
guitar sound itself, which is very much like the traditional Spanish guitar
sound.
Double Top + LensResonanceSystem
Combining our LRS and Nomex Double
Top honeycomb structure we achieved our current top guitarmodel. Guitars have
been very well received by players all over the world. Besides Finland, they have been sold to about 20 different
countries.
Humidity
Workshop
humidity control is very important for building the guitars as it effects the instruments
sound and resistance to
various environments in later use. Liikanen guitars are build at a
workshop humidity of 41%-45% RH. Before assembling, all parts of our guitars are
stored in a cabinet, which is precisly tuned to 43% RH.
Tools
We produce
guitars using traditional tools as well as new jigs and measuring devices.
   Handtools Jig for gluing back braces Clamps
Side bending machine Vacuum press Assembly mold
Resonance measurement
Resonance frequencies measurement is
an important stage in the development of new guitar models. The frequencies of our finished
guitars are measured and tuned if necessary.
206,4 Hz 245,1 Hz
230,6 Hz 278,8 Hz
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Guitar making 
