Abstract: By using full waveform acoustic emission instrument, the waveform data of the acoustic waves produced by a signal generator and through different material waveguide rods in water have been detected and analyzed, and then the propagation characteristics of the acoustic waves have been systemetically studied. The research results show that the change regulation of the acoustic emission amplitude counting, ring down counting and energy counting are stable and it is easy to find the corresponding change rule. The acoustic waves through the different material waveguide rods in water always show the attenuation characteristics, but the time domain waveform and the amplitude spectrum show the obvious frequency dispersion phenomena. The propagation characteristic of the acoustic wave through the metal waveguide rod is much better than that of the plastic one. Therefore, the experimental results are very important for earthquake monitoring by means of the propagation characteristics of the acoustic waves through the appropriate material waveguide rod in a deep well.