Design-Ergonomics -Playability
Are JOI Guitars comfortable to play?
JOI Guitars reconsiders traditional acoustic guitar geometry to create a more natural relationship between player and instrument.
The asymmetrical body shape shifts the guitar's waist and lower bout to change how the instrument rests against the player's body, while bringing the soundhole and fingerboard closer to the picking hand. The integrated leg wedge, developed in 2021 in collaboration with international fingerstyle champion Matt Thomas, further refines the instrument's relationship with the player's leg and playing position.
Together with features such as arm bevels and cutaways, these design elements reflect a central principle of JOI Guitars: every contour should have a purpose, balancing acoustic performance, comfort and freedom of expression.
Designed Around the Player:
Combined with individual acoustic voicing and attention to neck geometry and setup, they reflect a central JOI Guitars philosophy: the instrument should be designed around the needs of the musician, without compromising its acoustic purpose or artistic integrity.
What is Ellipse Bracing?
The JOI ellipse bracing system reflects my ongoing exploration of how a guitar’s internal structure influences its acoustic response. Developed through years of experimentation and conversations with fingerstyle guitarist Matt Thomas, whose playing and perspective helped open new ways of thinking about bracing geometry. Rather than treating bracing simply as reinforcement, I consider it part of the instrument’s acoustic architecture, shaping each guitar’s character through its relationship with the wood, body geometry, and individual voicing. The aim is not innovation for its own sake, but a deeper understanding of how construction choices can serve the voice of the instrument.
What is Asymmetrical body?
What is A Leg Wedge?
The JOI Guitars asymmetrical body reconsiders the traditional guitar outline to create a more natural relationship between the instrument and the player.
Viewed face-on, with the neck pointing upward, the waist on the player’s right-hand side is positioned 1¼ inches higher than the opposite waist. This deliberate shift changes the lower-bout geometry, moving the widest part of the body away from the torso and allowing the guitar to sit more naturally against the player.
The revised geometry also brings the soundhole and fingerboard closer to the picking hand. This can improve right-hand access, particularly for fingerstyle players reaching farther up the neck or incorporating percussive techniques.
The asymmetrical body reflects a central principle of my design philosophy: traditional forms are a foundation, not a boundary. Every change in geometry should have a purpose, bringing the instrument’s structure, playing position, and musical possibilities into closer alignment.
The JOI Leg Wedge is an ergonomic contour integrated into the guitar’s body, developed in 2021 in collaboration with international fingerstyle champion Matt Thomas.
Designed to work in conjunction with the cutaway, the wedge refines how the guitar rests on the player’s leg while allowing the body to sit naturally against the torso. Its geometry is intended to provide a stable, balanced playing position and support a more relaxed relationship between player and instrument.
Rather than treating ergonomics as an addition to the design, the leg wedge is incorporated into the instrument’s overall architecture. Its form reflects my belief that every contour should serve a purpose, bringing together playing comfort, accessibility, and the integrity of the guitar’s design.
What is the Pin-less bridge ?
he JOI pinless bridge is designed as an extension of the guitar’s body, integrating its visual form with the structural demands of the instrument.
Its distinctive geometry uses two differently positioned extensions to address the tension of the bass and treble strings. The lower-right extension distributes the tension of the low E, A, and D strings to the soundboard, while the higher-left extension positions the high E, B, and G strings closer to the guitar’s front edge.
This arrangement is intended to influence the soundboard’s response across the strings, with the treble-side geometry designed to encourage a tighter, brighter character from the higher strings.
The bridge reflects my broader approach to guitar design: questioning conventional forms and exploring how geometry, structure, and materials can work together in the service of sound. Rather than treating the bridge as an isolated component, I consider it an integral part of the instrument’s acoustic architecture.
What is the Side system Design ?
The JOI side system is a structural design developed to strengthen the guitar’s body while supporting the integrity of its overall acoustic architecture.
The construction combines three laminated layers with a carbon-fibre mesh core and cold-cure epoxy. Together, these materials form a rigid, impact-resistant structure designed to help the body maintain its shape and stability.
The sides are more than the boundary between the soundboard and back. They form an integral part of the instrument’s structure, working alongside the top, back, and bracing system. Their rigidity is an important consideration in how the body supports the instrument’s overall acoustic response.
My approach combines traditional lutherie with carefully considered composite materials, using each for a specific purpose. The objective is not complexity for its own sake, but a thoughtfully engineered instrument in which structural integrity, acoustic performance, and craftsmanship work together.