The Making of An Acoustic Guitar - Tone Woods

The Making of An Acoustic Guitar - Tone Woods

  

When you are looking for an acoustic guitar to purchase, you will find that there are a number of different types of woods or tonewoods used in the construction.  Different types of woods and different species of these woods are used in various parts of the instruument.  It is beneficial to the acoustic guitar consumer to understand that woods sound and perform differently and it is even more important to know the basic tonal qualities of these woods.  This article will help you better understand the making of an acoustic guitar and to help you make a wiser decision in purchsing your next acoustic guitar.

The Tonewoods

Mahogany >>  In the world of acoustic guitars, mahogany is most often utilized in the construction of backs, sides, necks, headstocks and can be found used as a top wood too.  Mahogany delivers a snappy tone with generous boosts in the mid-ranges.  As a top wood, mahogany tends to project the high range tones prominently.  When the wood is used in structural elements of the guitar like necks, bridges, and headstocks, mahogany proves to be strong and stable.

Spruce >>  Some of the finest acoustic guitars ever construced have spruce tops.  There are a number of different species of spruce that are used such as Sitka and Englemann.  In general, guitars on the higher end of the market will denote the species of spruce used in the top of the guitar.  Spruce is the titanium of the tonewoods being very lightweight but Spruce also proves to be a very strong wood.  Tonally, Spruce provides excellent clarity and sustain, but its most revered characteristic is resonant qualities of the wood.

Rosewood >>  Most acoustic guitar fretboards and bridges are constructed of Rosewood. Rosewood is also a common wood used in the back and sides of an acoustic guitar.  In years past, Brazillian rosewood was the common used wood, but due to diminishing supply and higher market costs, most Brazillian rosewood has been replaced with Indian Rosewood.  Brazillian rosewood is darker in appearance than Indian Rosewood.  Tonally, however, both woods act the same.  When rosewood is used for the back and sides of the guitar, rosewood will provide a warm low end, enchanced mid ranges, and resonance that seems to get more rich with age.  Rosewood can be ebonized to give the wood the slick feel of Ebony.

Cedar >>  Cedar is a beautiful tonewood.  It is a soft wood that delivers sparklling highs and tends to be the ideal top for lighter playing techniques like classical and latin traditional styles.  Many classical and fingerstyle acoustic guitars will feature cedar tops, backs and sides.

Ebony >>  Ebony is a very strong wood that feels smooth and slick.  This wood is revered by guitarists when used for fretboards because it is so smooth and hard.  Ebony is also well known for its use in the construction of pianos.  Many guitarists identify a guitar as high quality when Ebony is used for the fretboard.

Koa >>  Koa wood is a tonewood native to Hawaii.  This wood has a distinct golden color and beautiful grains.  Tonally, Koa performs much like mahogany by projecting a large mid-ranmge.  Koa is generally a very expensive wood because it is scarce.  Many top line ukuleles feature koa tops, backs and sides.  Acoustic guitars on the boutique end and high end professional acoustics will sometimes feature Koa tops, back and sides.

Maple >>  If you are looking for a guitar that has a dry tone that emphasizes the upper tonal ranges, an acoustic guitar with a Maple top may be the one you are looking for.  Maple can be flamed, tiger eyed, quilted, and figured in many ways making it a beautiful wood used in acoustic guitar tops, back, and sides.  When used as back and side wood, Maple allows the top to generate its natural tone without the added figured coloration from the rest of the acoustic guitar's body.

Ovangkol >>  Acoustic guitar makers have been incresing their use of the African tonewood, Ovangkol.  This wood is usually used in the construction of the back and sides of a guitar.  The natural tone of Ovangkol resembles the warm tones of rosewood with a ringing mid-range much of the effect delvierd by Koa or Mahogany.  Some of the finest acoustic guitars in the world are constructed with Ovangkol back and sides.

Sapele >>  Another African tonewood is Sapele and this wood too is gaining popularity by guitar luthiers.  Sapele can also be named African Mahogany, Sapele is comonnly used for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar.  Sapele acts much like Mahogany delivering a strong midrange and it supports the natural projection of the top wood of the acoustic guitar.

Walnut >>  Walnut can be used as an alternative to Mahogany in the guitar building process.  It has similar tonal properties as Mahogany and boosts the mid-range of tones.  When Wanlut is used in the back and sides, it enchances projection of the top wood's natural tone.

Searching for the right acoustic guitar is always fun and as musicians, we are always looking to improve our playing and sound. Try to be sure that the guitar you pick is the guitar you are comfortable with.  Sit down with your guitar and stand up and play it or play it anyway you commonly play the guitar.  A decision to buy an acoustic guitar is a personal decision. So, whether it is a $200 Washburn or a $1000 Boulder Creek Guitar, you are going to enjoy playing an acoustic guitar that produces the sound you want.

Ultratone Guitars is a perfect place to find the right acoustic guitar for you.  We have a 7-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and that means you can choose an instrument and take 7 days from the delivery date to try to develop a relationship with your instrument.  If its not the gutiar for you, ship it back to us for a refund, credit, or exchange for another guitar.