acoustic research

Patricia Bartolini and her husband William formed the Bartolini Pickup and Electronics Company in 1973 largely based on the acoustic research both had conducted over a range of several years. Their research led to developments in design of innovative pickups especially for the guitar and bass. Patricia has authored several studies in peer-reviewed journals on acoustic science and has given college lectures on the subject. Along with her husband, Patricia is often seen at music industry events such as the NAMM Show providing her thoughts on the recent research of acoustics, which she kindly offers to all those who seek her advice. 

William Bartolini and his wife, Patricia, are among the world’s foremost experts on the science of acoustics. Their early publications on the subject in the 1960s and 1970s have since become standard reference materials on the subject of waveforms and acoustic sound patterns. Their names are equally well known for their innovative line of guitar and bass pickups and electronics. The Bartolini Pickup and Electronics Company began in 1973 and has since developed products played by a host of endorsees including the Novax series played by John Mayer and the MTD bass played by Lou Reed. 

Dr. Leo Beranek is considered by many to be the father of concert hall acoustics. His amazing career has not only traced the growth of acoustic measurement but has documented it in a series of articles and books. His first book, Acoustics, was published in 1954 and is considered the bible for the field. Much of his later research was based on projects he led within the company he co-created: Bolt, Beranek and Newman. Among the most noted projects he was involved with for BBN was designing the general assembly room for the UN buildings in New York. Dr. Beranek was then interested in the acoustics for concert halls and opera houses, on which he focused for several years.

Sam Berkow has a deep rooted passion for acoustical design & sound measurement. Sam began his career in the era in which very little practical information was written on the subject of acoustical measurement. He applied his knowledge to both indoor music events as well as those set outside. Over the years he used his experience to design the SIA-SMAART software. Sam’s work within the software has become a standard tool for the industry and one he is proud of. In more recent years Sam has designed concert halls with acoustic design such as the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York as well as renovation work for the Hollywood Bowl and the Grand Ole Opry.

Lawrence Fishman had an idea to create an electronic pick up for the upright string bass. The task was not an easy one. In fact, others had tried and failed to produce the correct balance of electronic tones within the range of the strings. However, Fishman was able to do just that. The success of the pickups led to a host of other products based on his earlier ideas, and soon the Fishman Transducer Company was born.
 

Don Hogue worked with Dr. Kent in the C.G. Conn Research Department. The historic lab created or improved many mathematical and engineering theories that had been used in countless musical instrument designs. Don is particularly proud of the Stroboconn, as it served as the first tool to measure the frequency of an instrument. His NAMM Oral History interview was completed on July 23, 2005.
 

Walther Kruger was the chief scientist at the music instrument institute in Markneukirchen Germany before his retirement in the 1980s. His specialty was research on the acoustic of instruments to improve their design and production through mathematical measurements and consistency. His research has been published in a series of books (including Das Gorgonenhaupt published in 1972), volumes dedicated to the acoustics of instruments and several hundred articles published in engineering and scientific journals.  

Jacob Malta was an innovator in designing handbells and hand chimes. His approach to product development and engineering led to several important advancements in the tonal quality and manufacturing of handbells. His company, MalMark, has been a leader in the industry for over 50 years. Throughout his career, Jacob was a devoted pioneer in percussion and has written several articles on his research in acoustic science.

Norman Pickering has had a storied career. He has worked as instrument designer for the legendary C.G. Conn Company in Elkhart. He has also played a large role in the audio engineering field with his company, Pickering Audio, which produced record pick-ups for radio stations around the world and designed the modern phonograph cartridge. As an engineer, he has also worked on airplanes and even medical ultrasound techniques, yet he is never too far from the field of musical engineering.