A mechanical engineering student at Binghamton University has built a fully playable acoustic guitar, not from wood, but from 3D-printed thermoplastic filament, tells Tech Xplore.
The guitar was conceived by junior student Timothy Tran, who found his father’s broken instrument in the attic and decided to recreate it using modern fabrication tools. After carefully measuring the vintage guitar’s dimensions over several weeks, he modeled all components using CAD software (Fusion 360) and printed them on a desktop printer (Prusa MK4). Because the printer’s build volume was limited, the body was divided into smaller sections, that is, the fretboard, body panels, and neck, and later assembled via press-fit connections and glue.
Once assembled with conventional strings and tuning hardware, the guitar proved playable. Tran has tested it with classical pieces, scales, and even rock riffs. But the prototype isn’t perfect yet; the string action sits a bit too high, and tuning stability remains a challenge. Tran and his advisor are already working on a second iteration to improve playability and comfort.
The cost to print the guitar, including filament, strings, and tuning pegs, is estimated at merely US $25–30, making it far cheaper than most commercial instruments. Tran and his advisor envision releasing the CAD files publicly, allowing anyone with a basic 3D printer to build their own instrument.
This project illustrates what additive manufacturing can unlock: affordable, customizable instruments and a path toward “open-source luthiery.” It challenges traditional assumptions in instrument making and could broaden access to music for people who can’t afford expensive gear, all thanks to engineering creativity and accessible tech.