Question about tops

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Merry Xmas to all of you:


What do you think about Bubinga as a top tonewood?

[charles Tauber]

About one step up from cement. You asked....

[Dru Edwards]

I don't think I've ever seen a Bubinga topped guitar before. I've played a Larrivee with Bubinga back/sides a few times and it was a great guitar.

Have you seen a guitar with Bubinga top or are you just inquiring?

[darrwhit]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

Merry Xmas to all of you:


What do you think about Bubinga as a top tonewood?

I think it sounds great when paired with a spruce back and an emaciated player.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I don't think I've ever seen a Bubinga topped guitar before. I've played a Larrivee with Bubinga back/sides a few times and it was a great guitar.

Have you seen a guitar with Bubinga top or are you just inquiring?

I own one. An Ovation S868 Elite Special. Apparently, a very special edition, I might add. I find it delivers a very unique tone and a great projection for a super shallow guitar

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

About one step up from cement. You asked....

Explain. User? Listener? Owner?

[Guitarplayer_PR]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/arielc...57632618528094

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

https://www.flickr.com/photos/arielc...57632618528094

Here's your guitar. What a great color.

[printer2]

Looks like it might have a lot of headroom.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

About one step up from cement. You asked....

Bubinga has an density of 890 kg/m3 and a stiffness of 18.41 GPa. In comparison, Norway Spruce has a density of 405 kg/m3 and a stiffness of 9.70 GPa. So you have a wood that is twice a dense and stiff as spruce, you would need to take it to wafer thin thickness to get it to move efficiently given the energy available in the strings (much thinner than it is taken for a back or side).

On second thought, Charles said it best...

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

you would need to take it to wafer thin thickness to get it to move efficiently given the energy available in the strings (much thinner than it is taken for a back or side).

On second thought, Charles said it best...

Except, the clip posted above your post shows this theory to be wrong.

[darrwhit]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Except, the clip posted above your post shows this theory to be wrong.

I think the key word was "efficiently"...

It does make me wonder though about Mahogany which is a much more commonly used tonewood for acoustic guitar tops.

iim7V7IM7, how does the specs for mahogany match up to the efficiency of spruce? Would it also have to be wafer thin (in theory)?

[printer2]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Except, the clip posted above your post shows this theory to be wrong.

Not really. Just because a top is heavy does not mean it will not produce sound. It just needs to be driven harder. One of the selling features of the guitar is that it can be used in a live context with less concern about feedback where a responsive guitar may cause some issues. Different tools for different jobs. Is the audio coming from a mic or from the onboard electronics? Doesn't say in the video. Sounds to me like it is from the guitar pickup. But then again I am not familiar with the sound of Ovations.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by darrwhit

I think the key word was "efficiently"...

It does make me wonder though about Mahogany which is a much more commonly used tonewood for acoustic guitar tops.

iim7V7IM7, how does the specs for mahogany match up to the efficiency of spruce? Would it also have to be wafer thin (in theory)?

Honduran Mahogany has an average density of 590 kg/m3 (no where near the density of Bubinga, but denser than spruce) and has a stiffness of 10.06 GPa (similar to spruce).

[tysam]

Surprisingly, mahogany , as far as stiffness goes when compared to spruce, has a lower stiffness coefficient. A mahogany top is usually thinned to equal if not greater thickness than a comparable sitka top.