I don't know if this is really the right place, but it is probably the least hostile place to ask about this. Have there ever been empirical studies done of how (or if) various factors (materials, construction, et cetera) affect the output of the signal that is sent through the magnetic pickup?
One electric guitar doesn't sound exactly like another (when you play them unplugged that is). When you plug them in different pickups don't sound the same depending on configuration and construction (single-coil, P-90, humbucker, et cetera). Even when comparing "like-with-like" two humbuckers don't sound the same because they can use different types of magnets and because of variations in the windings (which impact FR, output, and presumably a bunch of electrical properties).
However, do the materials of an electric guitar or its construction actually make any sort of difference (when you amplify it). I think I once saw something that looked a "paper" on the subject, but I can't find it. The argument that wood does make a difference would I guess stem from the fact that the materials are going to dampen some frequencies/harmonics and resonate with others. The whole system forms a loop which affects the way the strings vibrate.
I mean you could probably test this fairly easily. I've just never seen anyone do it. All you'd have to do is have a bolt-on neck guitar. You put the guts in a body made of one type of wood plug it into something and measure the output. You then take all the parts (electronics, hardware, pickups et cetera) and put on an identical body that is made of different wood. Plug it in (make sure you kept all the amp settings the same, and set the pickups to the same height, et cetera); record the results and compare.
I don't think it would be too difficult (at least not compared to the stuff that is commonly done around here), but it would be expensive and time consuming. You'd have be very careful about making sure the setup and adjustments are the same in both test cases. I feel like guitarists are particularly sensitive when it comes to this sort of thing. Of course I have my own opinions and observations. However, I am pretty sure they don't have a great deal validity.
One electric guitar doesn't sound exactly like another (when you play them unplugged that is). When you plug them in different pickups don't sound the same depending on configuration and construction (single-coil, P-90, humbucker, et cetera). Even when comparing "like-with-like" two humbuckers don't sound the same because they can use different types of magnets and because of variations in the windings (which impact FR, output, and presumably a bunch of electrical properties).
However, do the materials of an electric guitar or its construction actually make any sort of difference (when you amplify it). I think I once saw something that looked a "paper" on the subject, but I can't find it. The argument that wood does make a difference would I guess stem from the fact that the materials are going to dampen some frequencies/harmonics and resonate with others. The whole system forms a loop which affects the way the strings vibrate.
I mean you could probably test this fairly easily. I've just never seen anyone do it. All you'd have to do is have a bolt-on neck guitar. You put the guts in a body made of one type of wood plug it into something and measure the output. You then take all the parts (electronics, hardware, pickups et cetera) and put on an identical body that is made of different wood. Plug it in (make sure you kept all the amp settings the same, and set the pickups to the same height, et cetera); record the results and compare.
I don't think it would be too difficult (at least not compared to the stuff that is commonly done around here), but it would be expensive and time consuming. You'd have be very careful about making sure the setup and adjustments are the same in both test cases. I feel like guitarists are particularly sensitive when it comes to this sort of thing. Of course I have my own opinions and observations. However, I am pretty sure they don't have a great deal validity.