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Two Identical Guitars other than B/S, what do you hear?
Two identical guitars from same luthier, 000 size, 12 fret short scale.
Both have Adirondack tops. One has mahogany back and sides. One has rosewood back and sides. How would you best describe the primary sonic difference(s) you will hear between the two. Thanks for looking and your response.
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Doerr Trinity 12 Fret 00 (Lutz/Maple) Edwinson Zephyr 13 Fret 00 (Adi/Coco) Froggy Bottom H-12 (Adi/EIR) Kostal 12 Fret OMC (German Spruce/Koa) Rainsong APSE 12 Fret (Carbon Fiber) Taylor 812ce-N 12 fret (Sitka/EIR Nylon) |
#2
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#3
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You just can't isolate any single variable and say with any certainty how it affects tone or to what degree. There's no such thing as "two identical guitars."
But to play the game, I'll say that rosewood tends to be more overtone-rich, while mahogany tends to more strongly emphasize the fundamental note. Rosewood also tends to be (or seem) louder, with more "scooped" mids, while mahogany is often more midrange-forward. But there will be many exceptions to these tendencies, depending on myriad other factors, including the individual pieces of wood you're listening to. Last edited by Guest 728; 05-13-2018 at 09:21 PM. |
#4
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Unfortunately there is no such thing as 2 identical guitars. Even 2 guitars built from woods cut from the sane trees will sound different frlm each other.
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In the end it is about who you love above yourself and what you have stood for and lived for that make the difference... |
#5
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Willie is...IMO...right on in his tonal descriptions of the possible differences you MIGHT hear between Rosewood and Mahogany guitars of the same body style and top wood. I might add that too me, Rosewood tends to have a more reverby...wetter...sound, and Mahogany a clearer...dryer...sound. BUT, I have heard both of these tonewood combos have the exact opposite sound of what I just described as "typical" BUT...as he points out...the differences are ONLY potential differences, and you may hear them...or not...depending on how each guitars soundbox...the top/back/sides and all the bracing...links up and works together as a unit. Try to avoid going to listen to these guitars with any...or too many...pre-conceived notions about what you are going to hear. Just hear what you will, and go off of that. duff Be A Player...Not A Polisher |
#6
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Different sound... They both sounded like guitars and in fact sounded like guitars that were in the same 'family'. In this case an 000 family of guitars. But, they clearly had different tones. Was one better then the other? Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. |
#7
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Generally - mahogany will be a little more fundamental and a little more midrange bump, rosewood will be more richer in overtones with a more midrange scoop. But so much of that depends on the particular wood, and how its all built and braced.
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More than a few Santa Cruz’s, a few Sexauers, a Patterson, a Larrivee, a Cumpiano, and a Klepper!! |
#8
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Short but precise, nice one tadol.
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Brucebubs 1972 - Takamine D-70 2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone 2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo 2012 - Dan Dubowski#61 2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo 2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200 2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird |
#9
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Thanks - I got lucky that maple wasn’t included as an option -
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More than a few Santa Cruz’s, a few Sexauers, a Patterson, a Larrivee, a Cumpiano, and a Klepper!! |
#10
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Just so happens I also have a guitar with maple back and sides and if rosewood has a 'dished' tone then mahogany must be 'domed' and maple is pretty much a flat straight line.
BTW .. they're all good.
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Brucebubs 1972 - Takamine D-70 2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone 2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo 2012 - Dan Dubowski#61 2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo 2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200 2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird |
#11
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Just to add to what's already been posted, rosewood will typically give you more bass response, as well.
For me this is a benefit in Triple O, Double O and other smallbody guitars, more of a hassle and more of a problem with dreadnought guitars and larger. In those sizes, the size of the body cavity alone gives you a lot of bass already, and so having rosewood back and sides boosting the bass response even further can create EQ problems onstage. Naturally, there are all sorts of workarounds available, and it's simply a matter of personal preference for me. But it's no accident that I own a mahogany Martin D-18 and not a rosewood HD-28. Hope that makes sense. Wade Hampton Miller |
#12
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Back in 2013, I made the following comparison between two Collings guitars , one with EIR and the other with Mahogany.
There are some other comparisons of similr guitars with slight wood dffernces on my channel.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#13
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Thanks to all for the responses so far. The question is hypothetical in that it’s hypothetical to build two identical guitars that other than the top woods, all else is exactly the same. It makes a lot of sense that if building a smaller body guitar, the bass response of the rosewood guitar would be a plus. I’m a big fan of adirondack tops as I really like the harmonic high overtones for solo fingerstyle playing and I wondered if mahogany or rosewood would interact differently with that top versus a sitka top. Perhaps not. To turn the conversation a bit, how do you think a ziricote B/S would sound in the same comparison? I’ve been listening to a lot of videos of ziricote B/S guitars and like what I hear. I’m doing research for a commissioning of a custom guitar, thus the questions and again very appreciated.
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Doerr Trinity 12 Fret 00 (Lutz/Maple) Edwinson Zephyr 13 Fret 00 (Adi/Coco) Froggy Bottom H-12 (Adi/EIR) Kostal 12 Fret OMC (German Spruce/Koa) Rainsong APSE 12 Fret (Carbon Fiber) Taylor 812ce-N 12 fret (Sitka/EIR Nylon) |
#14
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I agree with the universal agreement on the generally found differences between the two woods.
Certainly part of your choice has to be based on the kind of music you like to play. As a mostly fingerstyle player who lives for sustain, for me the rosewood would be an easy choice.
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#15
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I’ll have to agree that no two guitars are the same.
I have two Alvarez cutaway dreads. Both have solid Spruce tops and Rosewood back and sides. One is all solid, one is laminate b/s. They are both warm and extremely responsive. But the laminate backed guitar is “Jane Mansfield” bold, beautiful, and downright “voluptuous” tone. The all solid guitar is “Mariska Hargitay”. Same boldness, same beauty due to shared DNA, not quite as voluptuous in tone. Not at all hard on the ears. My Sapele backed guitar, also a Dread, is more responsive in some ways. I believe it is the better guitar for plugged in work, as it doesn’t do the crazy overtones that the others do. But if the Rosewood guitars are Jayne and Mariska, this one is “Heather Thomas”. Bolder, brasher, and a little more “in your face” tonewise. But it’s also a different maker and that will account for a lot of the difference.
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A bunch of guitars I really enjoy. A head full of lyrics, A house full of people that “get” me. Alvarez 5013 Alvarez MD70CE Alvarez PD85S Alvarez AJ60SC Alvarez ABT610e Alvarez-Yairi GY1 Takamine P3DC Takamine GJ72CE-12-NAT Godin Multiac Steel. Journey Instruments OF660 Gibson G45 |