Wood preference as we age?

[L20A]

My preference for Rosewood has only gotten bigger over the years.

[DanR]

I've been into acoustic guitars for over 50 years. I prefer rosewood for flat pick strumming. I prefer mahogany for finger picking.

[sdelsolray]

I enjoy both rosewood and mahogany, so I have guitars with each.

[gmel555]

After 50+ years of playing (age 68) I still typically prefer rosewood (as in my early years) BUT I've certainly played -and own- mahogany guitars that were/are "keepers".

[rounder]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

I enjoy both rosewood and mahogany, so I have guitars with each.

Same here. My only acoustic guitars are an HD-28 and D-18. I love them both. My other guitar is a Telecaster, but I do not count it because I do not play it much.

[Silly Moustache]

I'm 76 years and 10 days, wearing hearing aids almost continuously, and I don't really have a preference.

I voted for rosewood as the wood and the "28" trim is usually prettier, but I don't have a significant tonal preference.

[Annie B]

Well, I don't know anything about things like losing high-frequency tones as we age. But the tone of mahogany is drier, i.e., fewer overtones, so it might make sense that older players can't hear the complex overtones of rosewood as well. Just an unscientific thought..

[000Guy]

I preferred guitars with Rosewood back and sides for the first 25 years I played acoustics, but for the past 5 years or so, my mahogany 000-18 Authentic and J-45 have been what my ears want to hear. I was searching for a different sound and mahogany does it for me.

[HFox]

With all the wonderous tone woods being available , Why would you limited your choice to two ?
I'm 77. I have gathered for many years my "Preferences" based on ,my only, audio/visual/playable emotions. :
Braz/Adi
Maple/German
IR/Sitka
The Tree Mahogany/Itaiian
All Koa
Madi/ italian
Grannidillo/Redwood
African Blackwood/Moon Spruce
Y'All may Find Different...

[ALBD]

I’m a finger picker. When I mix in strumming I use my index finger or thumb. After many guitars with all grades of different woods I’ve found that Mahogany guitars seem to work best for this to my ears. Not sure if it related to my age though.

[roscoe2311]

I'm 27, unsure if my preferences will change when I get older, but at the moment I tend to prefer drier sounding guitars. Mahogany or walnut for example. I like rosewood as well but I find that it's harder to find a rosewood guitar that really ticks all my boxes.

The old Martin rosewood guitars really develop a drier sound to the mids which I enjoy a lot. Best of both worlds imo.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Same as fifty years ago: whichever I'm playing at the time.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by Annie B

Well, I don't know anything about things like losing high-frequency tones as we age.

Losing? Heh heh. How I wish. With tinnitis, I hear more highs than anything else. Hissing crickets day and night. An equal-opportunity annoyer.

Originally Posted by Annie B

But the tone of mahogany is dryer, i.e., fewer overtones, so it might make sense that older players can't hear the complex overtones of rosewood as well. . . .

Love the sounds of rosewood and mahogany and have never given complex overtones a thought. I just play. If the guitar drowns out the crickets, Mission accomplished!

[colins]

As far as tonewoods go, I have a definite preference for… (walks into music room) …several rosewoods, bocote, ziricote, walnut, Australian blackwood and koa.

As far as age-related, high-frequency hearing loss goes, my preference is for a set of good hearing aids, with the audiologist tweaking the program I use when playing guitar. That way I can appreciate all those great tonewoods.

[PapaLobo]

I'm 69 , my last 2 acoustics are a pair of Private stock PRS Angelus models.

One in Cocobolo , one in flamed Mahogany . I love the clarity of the Coco , and the warmth of the Hog . I use the Hog for open tunings