does rosewood have too many overtones for anyone else?

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by ii Cybershot ii

I find that many rosewood guitars simply have too many overtones going on for my ears. The only way I can describe it is like an un-easiness in listening. It's just a little too overwhelming at times.

Anyone else have this experience?

Mahogany sounds like rosewood minus the moaning.

[muscmp]

no, not at all. i have a variety of guitars with different body styles, top and, back and side woods. they all sound great and i don't notice that with any of them.

i'd suggest changing your strings. or, if you just changed them, let them settle.

as with everything on the agf, it is all subjective.

play music!

[woodbox]

I just did an accounting of the "nice" guitars in the closet.
(excluding the travel and campfire guitars in the other room)
The clear majority are Mahogany.

Yes, there is a very special Martin M36, a Taylor 714, both made of East Indian Rosewood,
and an absolutely delightful Martin Madagascar OM.

But the Gibson J45 is Mahogany, the Pono D20 is too, and dont get me started on all the Martin 18's in there,
my "Number One" being a 000-18 GE.

Yes, generally speaking, Mahogany is my clear choice,
as Rosewood has more going on than I prefer.

[247hoopsfan]

The best sounding guitars to my ears have always been rosewood. I bought and still own all 4 of them and would not trade for anything. I find the lush, rich tone and overtones much to my liking, particularly well suited to finger style.
I do have a Larrivee OM05MT which is an all-mahogany guitar that also has a sweet tone that favors the fundamental.
Like ice cream, variety is the spice of life.

[rokdog49]

I find Rosewood doesn't cut well in a mix with other instruments, especially when plugged in. That being said, Rosewood can be very lush and if used in the ideal situations it's gorgeous. I prefer Mahogany. I also agree it can depend a lot on the player, song and style.
My Pono D30 SP slope-shoulder with Mahogany and Sitka really barks, especially with Monels or these new-fangled Martin Titanium strings I'm beta testing, which I'm sad to say, I like a lot.
Sad because they are expensive

[PiousDevil]

Rosewood overtones can definitely be overwhelming, to the point that I often have a more difficult time getting rosewood guitars properly tuned, as opposed to mahogany guitars which I dial in in a snap. But the boom and the chimes are worth it. Different tools for different jobs.

[Earl49]

I have not thought about it in those terms. Anything regarding guitar tone has to be judged on an individual guitar example, since there are too many variables, and tone is a subjective thing anyway. Thinking further I do not own a rosewood bodied guitar at the moment. Koa, maple, ovangkol, cherry, mahogany, maccasar ebony, and carbon fiber. But no rosewood since the last Martin sold......

[JonHBone]

Rosewood is the steak dinner while mahogany is the taco bell.





I'm kidding.

[ii Cybershot ii]

Originally Posted by PiousDevil

Rosewood overtones can definitely be overwhelming, to the point that I often have a more difficult time getting rosewood guitars properly tuned, as opposed to mahogany guitars which I dial in in a snap. But the boom and the chimes are worth it. Different tools for different jobs.

Very well said!

[oxygenman]

I love both rosewood and mahogany. I'm not crazy about maple, but maybe I've never gotten to play the right one.

[ManyMartinMan]

Not for me. I would say that from the number Rosewood guitars produced, the answer from most would be no as well. When Mr. Clapton, and others, have an issue with Rosewood mixing with other instruments in a band setting, I'll look into it more.

[perttime]

Remembering a blind test between guitar pairs again... tropical vs. non-tropical. After the scoring papers were collected, the player compared a pair in plain view: rosewood and curly birch in the same overall design. The rosewood was a Marshall stack in overdrive. The birch was a clean Fender Twin Reverb.

[flaggerphil]

The one rosewood guitar I own, a Taylor 710e SS, overwhelms me with its overtones. I much prefer mahogany.

[FormerFoodie]

Originally Posted by talkgtr

But a well built rosewood guitar has just the right amount of overtones.

This. There's a Goldilocks zone that I look for in overtones. The best ones have it. Too many overtones, then it becomes too muddy, too lush. Too little, then I feel like I'm missing something.

That being said, I've noticed that I vacillate between a desire for (the right amount of) overtones, or a drier/woodier sound.

[GaryH]

I prefer a good D18 over a good D28 when I play. In the hands of an accomplished guitarist, they both sound good, and in a blind test I'm not sure I could tell the difference.