Measuring the quality of guitar tone

A method far determining the tone quality of a classical guitar is describe d. The method is applied to several high- and low-quality classical guitars . In comparison to bad tones, the timbre of good tones consists of stronger consonant (pleasant) and weaker dissonant (unpleasant) intervals. This emp irical criterion of tone quality is called the rule of consonance-dissonanc e (RC-D). The RC-D is defined mathematically and interpreted in physical an d musical terms. The RC-D allows a luthier to pursue systematically the ton e quality during guitar production and to improve the instrument's tone aft er its assembly.