Laminated and solid wood acoustic guitars

[Wayne27]

Which style of playing do you notice the difference between solid and laminated wood more on a acoustic guitar, strumming or fingerstyle?

[JB_From_Hell]

I’ve owned a few different brands of each. My current dread is an mid-60’s Gibson SJ, which is solid spruce for the top and solid mahogany sides and back. After owning an Eastman with a solid top and laminate sides, I’m of the opinion that solid top matters, back and sides not so much.

I also have an all lam Alvarez. It doesn’t sound bad, but it’s nothing like the solid top guitars.

I hear the difference between a solid and lam top regardless of what I’m playing. The laminate has a boxier sound, not sure how else to describe it. Play both and you’ll hear what I mean. Or maybe you won’t, but solid top/lam side and back guitars are pretty inexpensive now.

[jeremy]

i agree the top matters much more than the back and sides but a well build acoustic is as much about the tuning and bracing as the woods. the labor cost is usually more than that of the wood by a fair amount unless you are using some crazy rare/expensive woods. a good set of solid wood for back and sides isnt all that expensive. if you are getting a good acoustic, id go all solid wood. and used and would never buy one without playing it first.

[Lewguitar]

Most plywood top guitars sound equally crappy played finger style or with a pick.

Just kidding. I've played some decent sounding plywood guitars, and not every solid wood topped acoustic guitar sounds great.

Like I said in another thread: the tone of acoustic guitars is much more variable than electric guitars, and it comes down to the individual guitar.

That's why you should try before you buy.

Played with a pick, a plywood guitar would sound louder, just like a solid wood guitar would sound louder played with a pick.

[ehdwuld]

Paul Plays a few different ones and
while they do sound different
Not particularly bad

[Lewguitar]

The best sounding new but "affordable" solid wood acoustics I've tried were made by Blueridge or Eastman.

I bought a Blueridge because it sounded better than any other guitar in the room.

Even sounded better than the Martins costing 3 - 4 times as much.

Didn't have that great "new Martin" smell though.

[JB_From_Hell]

^ Eastman makes some really nice instruments. In a bluegrass jam, my $400 solid top dread would hang with all the D-28s. Had one of their F mandolins, too, priced at $800 new. The $5000 Northfield I have now sounds and plays better, but not six times better.

[Mincer]

The Eastman acoustics are really great these days. A lot of guitar for not that much $$.