What is the most malinged tone wood?

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

...
Sitka spruce--in top woods-- also carries a needless stigma.

It does? I think Sitka is (by far) the most popular top wood in the world. Not sure I would call that "maligned".

[Steve Kinnaird]

What I meant is that it is viewed as the red-headed stepchild by far too many upper-end guitar buyers. Since--as the thinking goes--it IS used by so many factories (and we all know how factory guitars sound), ergo it can't be regarded as an upper tier tone wood. It has gotten the same mistreatment maple has.
That's all I meant.

Steve

[TuckerRE]

Perhaps it is not so much maligned as it is 'disregarded' - that most people, when they go to order a custom instrument, think of everything BUT sitka. I know my very first one, I went w/ Engelmann, not because i was so well informed, but at the advice of someone I trusted.

But sitka and particularly bearclaw has been a favorite of Steve's and mine have served me well. So, while it isn't the most expensive top wood around, it still might be hard to beat.

[Oops, sorry, sorta walked over Steve there...too slow, I guess!]

[Beer1996]

Originally Posted by TuckerRE

I really want a parquet guitar in knotty pine, but having a hard time finding a builder. Talk about maligned!?!

Witin the right hand, African paduak is a nice tonewood. I've just played an OM Sitka/Paduak made by Hiroshi Ogino (ex-Somogyi apprentice). In my opinion, it sounds fantastic, doesn't sound like Sitka and Paduak at all. It likes playing a very nice German/rosewood guitar. It has got big bass, prominent mid-range and fat treble with very long sustain.

[Trevor M]

Hi Beer, was that the Ogino at TAMCO? I agree with your thoughts.

Ray Kraut's thoughts on sitka can be seen here.



As was mentioned, it is favoured by Ervin and many of his apprentices, both guitars I've had from him (and the next two I have on order) were/will be sitka.

I also agree on maple and mahogany, both often wrongly considered not to be suitable for luthier built guitars.

[Portland Bill]

Cypress is a wood I don't think I have ever seen on a Steel String, pretty much standard on Flamenco and becoming popular on Classical

[Aubade Acoustics]

Portland Bill, now you can say you have seen one. You can actually say you owned one also, it's available and sounds great, Sinker Cypress with Sitka top.

[Beer1996]

@ Trevor TAMCO
Exactly!

Initially I didn't expect anything much from Sitka/Paduak guitar. I have heard that he used to be Erwin's apprentice. That's why I give it a try. It sounds magnificant from the first string I touch, not gonna lie. Its sounds still stuck in my head. Recommended everyone to give a try.

This guitar makes me know that every kind of wood has a opportunity to stand out. It depends on the builder, whether he can bring out that ability or not.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

...snip...
- Laminated back as opposed to a full solid like in those entry level guitars
...snip...

That's the answer right there. All laminated woods.

Truth be told, I've played some guitars made with laminated wood (even tops) that sounded pretty good.

It would be very cool to have a master builder make the best all-laminated wood guitar he or she could.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by Aubade Acoustics

Sinker Cypress with Sitka top.

Mike, that's beautiful! Really need to get over to your shop...

Steve

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by HHP

Think Birch is most associated with cheap guitars.

FWIW, my current mandolin is a modest circa 1965 Harmony Monterey H410 with solid Birch soundboard, back and sides. I've owned some really nice mandolins, and though the Harmony "is what it is" and it can't stand toe to toe with those mandolins, I find it's voice to be perfectly acceptable for my simple, "folkie", Americana applications. (disclaimer: I purchased this mandolin off of a luthier who had custom made and fit a maple bridge for it. I am sure that makes a huge difference in its performance.)

[iim7V7IM7]

Softwood Species Prejudice:
- Sitka Spruce < [insert spruce species here]
- Engelmann Spruce has no headroom
- German Spruce > [all other picea abies from other regions]

Softwood Aesthetic Prejudice:
- wide grain counts
- uneven grain spacing
- pronounced latewood
- small indications of visual runout

Hardwood Species Prejudice:
- East Indian Rosewood > [insert species name here]
- Bigleaf Maple
- Black Cherry
- Magnolia
- Catalpa

Hardwood Aesthetic Prejudice:
- Figured sets sound better than plain looking sets
- Darker wood species sound better than lighter wood species
- Brazilian Rosewood < [insert species name here]

[lizzard]

That is a really nice piece of luthierie. Aren't you the same builder who posted in my Yellow Pine thread with a very similar picture. Good to see that folks are still exploring!

Chris

Originally Posted by Aubade Acoustics

Portland Bill, now you can say you have seen one. You can actually say you owned one also, it's available and sounds great, Sinker Cypress with Sitka top.

[lizzard]

Laminates are often held in low regard. But recently double sides, tops, and backs have all become popular with some very well respected luthiers.

ARE THEY NOT LAMINATES?

And I still suspect the most stable necks are laminate...

Hmn...

[Portland Bill]

Originally Posted by Aubade Acoustics

Portland Bill, now you can say you have seen one. You can actually say you owned one also, it's available and sounds great, Sinker Cypress with Sitka top.

That is just my aesthetic Michael, be nice to see a pic of the front, how would you describe the effect on the tone ?