Favorite tonewood for back and sides

[lizzard]

Originally Posted by Italian Spruce

Great to know my guitars are dull sounding, thanks for informing me of that fact how insightful and informative.

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.

It FIRST depends on the builder (then the top).

[Zegie]

It might be valid to point out that under some classifications, and to some luthiers and theorists, many so called 'tonewoods' are not considered to be bona fide tonewoods at all including, interestingly, mahogany.

A fascinating post and subject. But what the hell, I'm voting for Mahogany anyway!

Ref. Ervin Somogyi. www.esomogyi.com/top_thickness.pdf

[jaymarsch]

I voted cocobolo because my favorite mid-sized guitar that I play is German spruce/cocobolo, but I also love East Indian Rosewood, African Blackwood, and Honduran Mahogany. So much of it depends on the builder.

Best,
Jayne

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by lizzard

Interesting, I've never heard it. I have some "old guy" recollection that they make great bows out of it? Is that correct?

Would you be willing to share a sound clip of yours? (assuming it has progressed from your photo)

Yes, thats right, they make bows from it...

Here's the completed guitar...


Here is a poorly recorded (iPad) and unfortunately poorly played clip (by me ), but it will give you some sense.

[lizzard]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Yes, thats right, they make bows from it...

Here's the completed guitar...


Here is a poorly recorded (iPad) and unfortunately poorly played clip (by me ), but it will give you some sense.

Very Nice! thank you for sharing. I think it gives a woody-yet-clear substance to the tone. I like it particularly for the way you play it.

[GibbyPrague]

Mahogany by a pretty long way.

[lizzard]

to the OP: you have a lot of response bias built in to your survey. So many more folks have tried Mahogany and Rosewood as opposed to Cherry or African Black wood that you will get responses weighted that way due to exposure.

I bet most of the people in the majority response selections, have not tired the minority response options. Therefore, your results are skewed to the available rather than filtered as you (presumably) would like.

popularity in not preference.

Chris

[flaggerphil]

Originally Posted by lizzard

to the OP: you have a lot of response bias built in to your survey. So many more folks have tried Mahogany and Rosewood as opposed to Cherry or African Black wood that you will get responses weighted that way due to exposure.

I bet most of the people in the majority response selections, have not tired the minority response options. Therefore, your results are skewed to the available rather than filtered as you (presumably) would like.

popularity in not preference.

Chris

Wow.

Well, I've tried every wood listed on the poll, and own(ed) guitars with those woods, and for me it's mahogany all they way. For top wood, too.

That IS my preference.

[lizzard]

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

Wow.

Well, I've tried every wood listed on the poll, and own(ed) guitars with those woods, and for me it's mahogany all they way. For top wood, too.

That IS my preference.

Okay, great. I'm happy for you. But you are clearly the exception that makes my point.

[flaggerphil]

Originally Posted by lizzard

Okay, great. I'm happy for you. But you are clearly the exception that makes my point.

To you, perhaps.

[Sixfir]

Originally Posted by lizzard

to the OP: you have a lot of response bias built in to your survey. So many more folks have tried Mahogany and Rosewood as opposed to Cherry or African Black wood that you will get responses weighted that way due to exposure.

I bet most of the people in the majority response selections, have not tired the minority response options. Therefore, your results are skewed to the available rather than filtered as you (presumably) would like.

popularity in not preference.

Chris

I agree 100%, and am totally aware of this, people 's opinion won't alter my personnal preference for maple when well built and mahogany, I don't care about popularity it's just interesting to get other's opinions, I don't like rosewood through it's popular

[ajay]

I have been playing my Advanced a Jumbo for 13 years, and it is an awesome guitar. I am definitely a fan of East Indian Rosewood.

However, I recently bought an ALVAREZ with laminated mahogany, and I am just FLOORED by the tone on this OM sized guitar with a Grade A Red Cedar Top. I am in love with my $400 Alvarez, and it will be the guitar that is still in my house when I die.

[ChuckS]

I didn't vote; I don't know that I have a favorite. At any point in time, it's more what I'm into playing and what I'm wanting to hear. At this time, I've got a Cuban Mahogany guitar and a Pernambuco guitar. These guitars were built for a particular tone and style; intended to differ from each other; both extremely good at what they were intended to do. No way to compare them.

Over the years I've kept a mental list of my favorites guitars that I've played. Back/side woods have included Honduran mahogany, Cuban mahogany, Brazilian rosewood, Pernambuco, Madagascar rosewood, and Honduran rosewood. There are probably lots of others I will discover in the future as well.

My last three guitars were made from Brazilian rosewood, Cuban mahogany, and Pernambuco. They all had orange hues in their coloration, so I guess my favorite back/side wood is not a species but of a color. The most recent, the Pernambuco, is definitely the most orange:

[Sixfir]

Cherry doesn't seem so popular here...

[werkout52]

I already have mahogany, rosewood, and maple covered. I would love a high end Cocobolo to complete. (at least for now)