Which grade is this spruce top?

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by DCCougar

A guy knowledgeable about Guild's production of the JF30-12s told me that Guild used AA tops for that model.... personally I think the top is a AAA too.

Everyone who owns a guitar that he or she likes believe that the top on that guitar is a AAAAAAA Super-Deluxe-Master grade top. That is, until he or she has decided that guitar is lacking in some way, in which case it immediately becomes an A-grade top, unless he or she wants to sell it, in which case it immediately goes back to an AAAAAAAA Super-Deluxe-Master grade top for selling purposes.

[coyote95667]

worrying about Grade is so fruitless. Many years ago I had a Martin D-42 that was a really neat guitar in every way. I got under there with a mirror one day and it has a S 6 grade top. The internet boards had told me it was supposed to be a 7. It made me unhappy that the pencil said 6, and I ended up having to get rid of it "to some poor unsuspecting rube without a mirror" lol. It was dumb - I wish I still had it.

It is dumb. the top in this thread is gorgeous and who cares what "grade" imo.

[jgottsman11]

This looks like an AA Authorized Standard Spec Swiss Alps Spruce top. These are usually worth north of $15,000 for the top. What a snag!

[redir]

Originally Posted by ozanbilgin

Sounds very good, crisp and much louder than a small body guitar should. Interestingly, it sounds like a rosewood b&s guitar even though it's solid mahogany b&s.

Which brings up another point along these lines. Studies have very clearly shown that no one can tell what wood an instrument is made from in blind tests and that ranges from the very traditional guitar making woods like BRW and H. Mahogany to non traditional ones like walnut and cherry.

Back and side sets are also graded and again it has absolutely nothing to do what so ever with the quality in the tone of the guitar.

[jschmitz54]

Maybe you’re confusing bear claw with silking. My understanding is bear claw was not viewed favorably in the past.

[mcduffnw]

It's a really great looking top, and all that silking has never ever at any time in the past been considered a flaw.

But really...if you like the guitar, how it looks, feels, plays, and sounds, then WHO CARES what anybody else thinks. Worrying about what others think about your guitar is a road you really don't want to start down...it's a road to nowhere anything good comes of...

Remember what Sheryl Crow sang:

"It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got..."



duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by coyote95667

I got under there with a mirror one day and it has a S 6 grade top. The internet boards had told me it was supposed to be a 7. It made me unhappy that the pencil said 6, and I ended up having to get rid of it "to some poor unsuspecting rube without a mirror" lol.

All you needed to fix it was a pencil and an eraser. Change the "6" to a "7" and your problem would be solved.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Tops are graded arbitrarily depending on the manufacturer's whim. One man's AAA might be another's AAAA. Martin grade theirs on cosmetic appearance only.

Exactly.

Worrying about the grade of the top is like worrying about how attractive your underwear is - when it's under your clothing!


whm

[Br1ck]

Silking is one of the most desirable traits in top wood. To me it is indicative of a good sounding guitar. But grading is cosmetic. I personally like grain variation, coloration in red spruce and bearclaw. Some want tight grain perfection. I do know that in 1970, the Guild guys threw my top into the cheaper model pile, as the marketplace would not have tolerated grain variation and bearclaw. My Guild D 35 got what I consider a very good top. Plenty of these were stained.

[Pura Vida]

Originally Posted by coyote95667

worrying about Grade is so fruitless. Many years ago I had a Martin D-42 that was a really neat guitar in every way. I got under there with a mirror one day and it has a S 6 grade top. The internet boards had told me it was supposed to be a 7. It made me unhappy that the pencil said 6, and I ended up having to get rid of it "to some poor unsuspecting rube without a mirror" lol. It was dumb - I wish I still had it.

It is dumb. the top in this thread is gorgeous and who cares what "grade" imo.

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

All you needed to fix it was a pencil and an eraser. Change the "6" to a "7" and your problem would be solved.

Maybe it was really a "9" and you were reading it upside-down. Bet you regret selling that guitar now!

[woodbox]

Pura Vida made me laugh right out loud with ^^^^ !!

Good one!

[martingitdave]

That's a very nice quality spruce top. Lovely silking and tight grain. I'm sure it sounds lovely if the guitar is made well.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Exactly.

Worrying about the grade of the top is like worrying about how attractive your underwear is - when it's under your clothing!


whm

What? Yer mom never gave you The Warning Talk about wearing good underwear in case you get hit by a car and taken to the hospital?

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by ozanbilgin

I'm a little confused about my guitar's top. It has extremely dense strips, but also has silking all over the top. It looks nice to me, but I know 30 years ago that was considered a flaw. What do the professional luthiers and players think?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zYX4LzgN8jQ3nEW57

The top looks fine. Far better than some of my guitars in fact. However, I buy guitars for their tone, not there looks. So the important question is: How does it sound?

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

What? Yer mom never gave you The Warning Talk about wearing good underwear in case you get hit by a car and taken to the hospital?

"But doctor, did he have on clean underwear?!" - Every mother