Tone wood
- Thread starter solspirit
- Start date
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Let me preface by saying that every piece of wood is different. Every guitar is different. Buying an acoustic without playing it first is therefore crazy. At best, we can make generalities about stuff - but the generalities will not always hold true. That said:
I like spruce top dreadnoughts with rosewood back/sides. Or at least after playing dozens of dozens of acoustic guitars played this is what seemed to keep popping up as my favorite sound. They're clear and bright and respond really well both finger and flatpicking. There were a few cedar top guitars that also sounded quite lovely fingerpicked, but I didn't like them as much for flatpicking. Mahogany back/sides with a spruce top doesn't sound as bright as I like. The deep, dry voice of mahogany top acoustics is great when someone else plays them, but they don't seem to work in my hands. Especially didn't like fingerpicking on them. My preference for that wood is always smaller body guitars and if you're going with mahogany, make the whole guitar out of it.
The bracing that a guitar uses has a pretty dramatic shift in the voice of a guitar too - probably as much or more than the wood used . . . I tried some Martins with forward shifted vs rear shifted bracing and consistently preferred the forward shifted - something in the low end sounded much nicer and the guitars felt more alive. I also tried a couple differently braced Taylor models that used the same woods and sounded quite different as well. It led me to believe that we should be arguing about guitar bracing at least as much as tone woods.
I like spruce top dreadnoughts with rosewood back/sides. Or at least after playing dozens of dozens of acoustic guitars played this is what seemed to keep popping up as my favorite sound. They're clear and bright and respond really well both finger and flatpicking. There were a few cedar top guitars that also sounded quite lovely fingerpicked, but I didn't like them as much for flatpicking. Mahogany back/sides with a spruce top doesn't sound as bright as I like. The deep, dry voice of mahogany top acoustics is great when someone else plays them, but they don't seem to work in my hands. Especially didn't like fingerpicking on them. My preference for that wood is always smaller body guitars and if you're going with mahogany, make the whole guitar out of it.
The bracing that a guitar uses has a pretty dramatic shift in the voice of a guitar too - probably as much or more than the wood used . . . I tried some Martins with forward shifted vs rear shifted bracing and consistently preferred the forward shifted - something in the low end sounded much nicer and the guitars felt more alive. I also tried a couple differently braced Taylor models that used the same woods and sounded quite different as well. It led me to believe that we should be arguing about guitar bracing at least as much as tone woods.
Last edited:
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides is the magic recipe for me.
The top is critical in an acoustic......in the wood and bracing. Its the only scenario where tap tone actually can be used to predict and also tune how the final instrument will perform.
The shape gives also makes for differences in eq balance.
And like with all instruments, the neck has important functions when it comes to sustain. It's a long unsupported thin section, and can easily dampen vibration if it's a poor selection of timber.
The shape gives also makes for differences in eq balance.
And like with all instruments, the neck has important functions when it comes to sustain. It's a long unsupported thin section, and can easily dampen vibration if it's a poor selection of timber.
ItsaBass
New member
It's just like electrics. You can go into a shop, pick up two guitars with identical specs on paper, and there will be differences in tone and response between them. And you also might pick up two guitars of very different woods/specs, and the two will sound more alike than not. Does it really come down to the "species" of the wood? Or does it come down to individual pieces of wood, which are only placed in to general ranges of characteristics by species...with some overlap between the species? Is it actually controllable? I dunno, and neither does anyone else, in the true meaning of the word "know."
The main difference is that with acoustic, you're stuck with it, while with electric, you can easily adjust and/or mod to compensate for it.
My favorite sounding guitar happens to be a D-35 style (i.e. 3-piece back) made in the '70s of Brazilian rosewood, with a spruce top and a mahogany neck. It also happens to have a Spanish neck joint. Ebony board.
My second favorite is an all maple (except the top) jumbo by Guild, a vintage 1968 model. Also an ebony board.
The two sound remarkably alike in terms of e.q. But the dreadnaught is louder and a little bit more even/balanced in tone. The jumbo has a slightly less "sparkly" high end, and not as much aggression in the midrange.
The main difference is that with acoustic, you're stuck with it, while with electric, you can easily adjust and/or mod to compensate for it.
My favorite sounding guitar happens to be a D-35 style (i.e. 3-piece back) made in the '70s of Brazilian rosewood, with a spruce top and a mahogany neck. It also happens to have a Spanish neck joint. Ebony board.
My second favorite is an all maple (except the top) jumbo by Guild, a vintage 1968 model. Also an ebony board.
The two sound remarkably alike in terms of e.q. But the dreadnaught is louder and a little bit more even/balanced in tone. The jumbo has a slightly less "sparkly" high end, and not as much aggression in the midrange.
Gig on Friday, then outta town to have a nice weekend in Mt Dora. Studio session on Wednesday. Happy the gigs are starting again.
PS412
Well-known member
Should be a good time. I know the local bands here are really chomping at the bit. My wife and I want to go for a good night out dancing as well.
Then you'd be wrong. I have built over 230 guitars so far and if there's one thing I am absolutely aware of, it's that wood species absolutely makes a difference. I have made several exactly identical guitars only different woods and the differences are stark.
Yeah, going out for fun isn't something I will do yet. Performing at a festival or something, though, the performers are pretty far away from the crowds if they want to be.
PS412
Well-known member
I hear you. Our little slice of the pie has been, well, uneventful. Have a good gig.
Sorry solspirit, back on topic.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Wood species . . . meh. I've played identical electric guitars made out of the same wood species and found stark differences.
Wood species . . . meh. I've played identical electric guitars made out of the same wood species and found stark differences.
This has been my experience. I suppose if there is a ton of preamp gain and compression, the differences are harder to hear.
Lewguitar
New member
When it comes to acoustic guitars wood definitely makes a difference.
I tend to like tops made from Sitka and Appalachian spruce but also appreciate Cedar.
I tend to dislike a top made from mahogany. Not as resonant or loud as I prefer.
I tend to not like mahogany for the back and sides and my Taylor 510 with a Sitka top and Honduras Mahogany back and sides is my least favorite acoustic.
But my Seagull with a Cedar top and Mahogany back and sides is one of my favorites. Go figure!
I think my Taylor 710B with Sitka top and Brazilian Rosewood is the best sounding acoustic I own but it's a dreadnaught and a little big for me.
I prefer OM size guitars and the one I play most often and like the tone of a lot is a Blueridge OM with Appalachian Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides.
As always, it depends on the actual piece of wood and how the guitar is put together.
I tend to like tops made from Sitka and Appalachian spruce but also appreciate Cedar.
I tend to dislike a top made from mahogany. Not as resonant or loud as I prefer.
I tend to not like mahogany for the back and sides and my Taylor 510 with a Sitka top and Honduras Mahogany back and sides is my least favorite acoustic.
But my Seagull with a Cedar top and Mahogany back and sides is one of my favorites. Go figure!
I think my Taylor 710B with Sitka top and Brazilian Rosewood is the best sounding acoustic I own but it's a dreadnaught and a little big for me.
I prefer OM size guitars and the one I play most often and like the tone of a lot is a Blueridge OM with Appalachian Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides.
As always, it depends on the actual piece of wood and how the guitar is put together.
