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#1
06-27-2007, 12:27 PM
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Sycamore as a back/side wood?
A local woodworking shop offers a series of "build a guitar" classes. They have two kits available, one with mahogany back/sides and one with sycamore back/sides.
I've never heard of an acoustic guitar utilizing sycamore as a tonewood. How is sycamore as a tonewood? What other tonewoods might it be comparable to in appearance, tone, etc.?
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Martin D-15 Seagull S6+ GT 
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#2
06-27-2007, 12:29 PM
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I saw some pics of a sycamore back and side set today that was just stunning. No clue about tone though.
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Jared (formerly Blindreality) Authorized Dealer of: Breedlove - Jackson - Fender - Martin - Schecter Guitar Research - Crossrock Cases
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#3
06-27-2007, 12:31 PM
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I've not had the chance to play a guitar made with sycamore, so I am curious about it's tonal color too.
Santa Cruz uses it on a select few of their 00-size deep body H13 models. I believe it is also used on classical guitars.
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#4
06-27-2007, 12:48 PM
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Sycamore is about the same density as big leaf or soft maple. It is a high dampening wood which tends to absorb sound. When tapping Sycamore it is akin to tapping a piece of damp cardboard (read ... thud...). You can build a decent guitar from it but if I were given a choice I would select the Mahogany. Having said that, accurately quartersawn Sycamore is gorgeous wood and is easy to work with. I use it quite often for bindings.
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#5
06-27-2007, 01:08 PM
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Isn't sycamore considered one of the more desirable back and side woods for Flamenco guitars ?
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A Strummer "Let's lute the city", said the minstrels. Oftentimes the only result I get from a thought experiment is a messed up lab.
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#6
06-27-2007, 01:15 PM
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As far as I know, but actually I don't know much or at all about Flamenco guitars even if I've seen one with sycamore s/b. I also have Yamaha FG750S that has solid spruce top with laminated sycamore S/B that sound very much like Tim explained. I can say it's best for strumming, and funny enough it has very distintive smell that I like too. 
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To the thinking man, this world is a comedy, and to the feeling man, it is a tragedy
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#7
06-27-2007, 01:44 PM
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yes, sycamore is a traditional wood used in flamenco guitars, but it's usually seen as a lower cost/quality material to the more desirable cypress. i think the selection of those woods is mainly due to regional availability. As flamenco has grown internationally, there have been more flamenco negra guitars built from rosewood.
As for whether the original poster should pick sycamore or mahogany, i think mahogany is a better choice, as it's more versatile for fingerstyle and strumming... particularly if the guitar being built is a steel string.
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1997 514c + e (b-band ast) 1970 Guild D35 + fishman rare earth single coil Carvin DC200 > (a bunch of effects) > epiphone valve jr head > homemade 2x10 cab Japanese Ephiphone Thunderbird > yorkville xm50
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#8
06-27-2007, 01:48 PM
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#9
06-27-2007, 02:08 PM
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My Wal bass (yes...I'm really a bassist masquarading as a guitarist) has sycamore facing on a mahogany core. The wood is quite soft and easily dented. The bass sounds wonderful but I can't vouch for it's acoustic quality on a guitar.
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#10
06-27-2007, 03:58 PM
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Yeah, if I were taking the class I would be picking the mahogany kit... alas, I'm not taking the class.
I was still curious about sycamore as a tonewood though.
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Martin D-15 Seagull S6+ GT
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#11
06-27-2007, 05:06 PM
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I have a Santa Cruz cedar/sycamore F that I really like. To my untrained ears, the sound is kind of a cross between mahogany and maple.
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#12
06-27-2007, 06:11 PM
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#13
06-27-2007, 06:51 PM
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NK Forster builds with sycamore...here's a link. http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/ check out the model A. There's sound clips too.
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#14
06-27-2007, 06:58 PM
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As Jayee states, Sycamore and Cypress are the most common woods used in Flamenco guitars, with Cypress usually being the higher priced option. I've had 4 Flamenco guitars, 2 sycamore and 2 cypress. The Cypress sems to provide more presence and volume.
A flamenco guitar is also a percussive instrument used to accompany spanish dancers. The whole idea is rapid fire notes with little or no sustain.I would not think that sycamore (or cypress) would make a good choice if you wanted a lot of sustain. Gary
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Taylor 612c (1994) Taylor Custom GC All Mahogany (2010) Eastman E10-OM Yamaha NTX700 Recording King ROS-06 Greg Bennett OM 8CE Yamaha CGX 171 SCF Flamenco Ibanez AG95 DBS
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#15
06-27-2007, 08:15 PM
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