Birch vs Pine - Maple vs Mahogany... Why woods matter.

[Securb]

Re: Birch vs Pine - Maple vs Mahogany... Why woods matter.

There's really no way that it's not going to affect the tone of the speaker.

Agreed. The question then is how noticeable is the difference in tone? Is the difference something we naturally dial out with EQ? Is the difference in any way affecting the tone in a negative way? The reason I ask the last question is there are so many internet posts about MDF being a subpar material that only cheap or bad cabinets are built from. Is the tonal difference in pine, birch and MDF so drastic that a great speaker in a pine cabinet will suddenly sound horrible in an MDF cab? If you look at internet posts about MDF cabs including on this forum, you would think if you find out a cab is made from MDF you should run away screaming like your hair is on fire.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Birch vs Pine - Maple vs Mahogany... Why woods matter.

Agreed. The question then is how noticeable is the difference in tone? Is the difference something we naturally dial out with EQ? Is the difference in any way affecting the tone in a negative way? The reason I ask the last question is there are so many internet posts about MDF being a subpar material that only cheap or bad cabinets are built from. Is the tonal difference in pine, birch and MDF so drastic that a great speaker in a pine cabinet will suddenly sound horrible in an MDF cab? If you look at internet posts about MDF cabs including on this forum, you would think if you find out a cab is made from MDF you should run away screaming like your hair is on fire.

Indeed. MDF would be my choice for FRFR due to less coloration. There's no saying it wouldn't work just as well for traditional guitar cab.

It's just a matter of how everything works together.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Birch vs Pine - Maple vs Mahogany... Why woods matter.

Indeed. MDF would be my choice for FRFR due to less coloration. There's no saying it wouldn't work just as well for traditional guitar cab.

It's just a matter of how everything works together.

Lots of PA cabs are made of either MDF or plastic for that reason. It sounds great for guitar cabs in theory, but that's about as far as it gets unfortunately. If you're OK with an unconventional result, then MDF cabs may work for you. I've played MDF cabs (with typical guitar speakers) and they don't sound the way you'd expect because part of the sound of typical guitar cabs is due to the coloration from materials used. Likewise you can't discount thickness / rigidity of the material, internal volume of the cab, or speaker placement either.

 

[Securb]

Re: Birch vs Pine - Maple vs Mahogany... Why woods matter.

Here is my spin on the subject. We all agree that MDF is a less expensive material. For that reason, it is more often used in cabinets that have budget hardware, subpar baffle bracing and less expensive speakers. I think it is the sum of the lousy construction and subpar materials that make these cabs sound pedestrian and this is where most of the bad rap about MDF comes from. That being said there are plenty of companies that are making great MDF cabs with serviceable or great speakers. You can get a sub $300 cab that will sound great and blow your hair back.