Acoustics of the banjo: measurements and sound synthesis by Woodhouse Jim, Politzer David, Mansour Hossein

“…Measurements of vibrational response of an American 5-string banjo and of the sounds of played notes on the instrument are presented, and contrasted with corresponding results for a steel-string guitar. A synthesis model, fine-tuned using information from the measurements, has been used to investigate what acoustical features are necessary to produce recognisable banjo-like sound, and to explore the perceptual salience of a wide range of design modifications. …”
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The Viennese guitar and its influence in North America : form, use, stringing, and social associations by Pyall, Nicholas

“…It maps and characterises Georg Staufer’s achievement in Vienna, and traces the progress of his innovations through the work of his immediate successors and of those European guitar makers who migrated to North America, whose designs heralded the emergence of the steel-string guitar. It assesses Staufer’s developments, in patents, catalogues and other primary documents, and compares those of his extant guitars, including examples with extra bass strings, which are accessible in museum and private collections. …”
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Guitar stringing in late nineteenth-century North America: the emergence of steel by Pyall, Nicholas

“…The circumstances are many and entwined that lead to the evolution of the steel string guitar in the late nineteenth century and its popular acceptance in the early twentieth century by amateur and professional players and their audiences. …”
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