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Old 02-07-2022, 09:28 PM
PeteyPower16 PeteyPower16 is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 196
Default Four-piece tops, stiffness, and tone

Here is another video where I see a book-matched four piece wedge top on a plus model compared to a two piece top on a standard Koa model. I hear less difference here, but that could be due to the playing style being much heavier.
https://youtu.be/Mbd3xYKN7X8

It could be my ear, but again I hear warmth and bass from the four piece, but more brightness and glassy high end resonance from the two piece. It sounds like the four piece can be driven just a little harder. Both top constructions sound fairly similar with a classic koa tone though.

Maybe I am biased because I’m a strummer and because I have a four piece, but I prefer the four over the two in both of these videos (Casino and Alamo) and also when I have A/B’d these in person.

In terms of construction-only tone impacts (not considering string type, gauge, or playing style), the top piece count (two vs. four) might be third or fourth behind top wood, guitar size, and possibly bracing, so not a primary but definitely a secondary consideration if one had a choice.
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PeteyPower16

Ibanez PF-15CE-MS 2003
Taylor 410-CE-L2 2003
Taylor 322e 12-Fret 2015
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa 2015
Taylor GS Mini-e Ltd Ovangkol 2019
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus 2020
Taylor 414ce 2020
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Blue Sunburst - 2005

Previous Guitars:
Epiphone DR-100 2006 (est.)
Squier Bullet Blue 2006 (est.)
Taylor 414ce 2008 - RIP 2020
Fender CD-60CE SB-DS-V2 2013

Last edited by PeteyPower16; 02-07-2022 at 09:36 PM.
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