What is your favorite tone wood (body / sides) *poll*

[Jeff Scott]

cocobolo/paulownia;fantastic combination.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

I've never had walnut or coco ...except in a dessert of course.

You've had walnut and cocobolo in what kind of dessert?

[Robin, Wales]

I expect that I will be the only person expressing this preference but I like something like Finnish birch ply or Godin's wild cherry ply for back and sides and spruce or cedar for the top.

I flat pick old time, bluegrass, America to sing across and that really dry tone of birch or cherry ply just really works for me.

[Goat Mick]

I'm predominately a Mahogany guy, but I really like Walnut too. Just not that many using.

[varmonter]

I have an adi over madi custom shop taylor
That is my favorite. I've also tried lutz spruce
Over ier in a GC sized 12 fret and it will be
My next guitar no doubt 712ce.
I'm partial to red spruce and lutz has alot of those characteristics I like.

[J.DrewPetersen]

20 years ago I would have said cedar top, mahogany back, but I was playing a smaller body guitar and liked the way the cedar mellowed the snap of the mahogany. These days, with a cutaway dreadnought, an englemann spruce top highlights the detail of the finger style stuff I play that is outside the usual dread strengths, and although rosewood would be just fine on back it seems like walnut gives the same depth & color with a touch more clarity than my old sitka/rosewood Mossman did. I kinda think that mahogany wouldn't be as warm on the heavier attack stuff, but then didn't Leo Kottke say the most important thing about a guitar is that it be made from mahogany? I just know that my other guitar is a GA size sitka/mahogany and it doesn't sound as good when you "dig in" or play hard.

[iim7V7IM7]

I am fortunate to have a large and diverse array of guitars made from different top woods, backs and sides and sizes to base my observations on (see below).

What I can tell you is that I do not have a “favorite” back and side wood. Despite significant property differences in hardwoods, many can be crafted to produce a truly superlative guitar. That said, what I have noticed, as a guitar body size increases, I tend to prefer back and side woods with higher damping. For smaller instruments, I tend to prefer lower damping back and side woods.

[emtsteve]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

I expect that I will be the only person expressing this preference but I like something like Finnish birch ply or Godin's wild cherry ply for back and sides and spruce or cedar for the top.

I flat pick old time, bluegrass, America to sing across and that really dry tone of birch or cherry ply just really works for me.

I am really liking the cherry ply back and sides and cedar top of my Seagulls too!

[llew]

Tomorrow will be Sitka/Birds Eye Maple from Steve & Ryan @ Kinnaird Guitars!

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by AH Acoustic

Thank you for this commentary, and in retrospect, I think that Koa was certainly a prime candidate to have been included. This was certainly not a perfect poll question.

Your expanded insights are much appreciated.

Hey, it's my pleasure.


whm

[llew]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

I expect that I will be the only person expressing this preference but I like something like Finnish birch ply or Godin's wild cherry ply for back and sides and spruce or cedar for the top.

I flat pick old time, bluegrass, America to sing across and that really dry tone of birch or cherry ply just really works for me.

Robin...have you checked out the new Beard guitars with laminate Birch back & sides. Seriously dry and woody.

[musicman1951]

I voted rosewood because that would be my first/safest choice if I had to select guitars by B&S wood, but I think that's the wrong way to pick an instrument.

My Lowden is African Blackwood and it's spectacular. Is every African Blackwood guitar spectacular? I doubt it, but if I got to play them all maybe I would change my mind.

I've played hogs with such little sustain I had to check for pillows stuffed inside, and I've played hogs with magnificent ringing tone.

Many people believe that the builder is the most important factor, as do I. But I find the only reasonable way to select a guitar is to play it.

[GibbyPrague]

Wow ... the tide has turned.

Ive seen many of those polls, but in the past it was always rosewood that won. I come back after many yeas and now mahogany is on top ....which was also my choice.

[mcduffnw]

I voted for all of them...even other.

I have played, heard, and owned, and still own, absolutely outstanding sounding guitars from almost all of the woods on your list.

To me, the tone and dynamic response of a guitar is much less about wood types and combinations, but is really all about the entire combination of the sound box...the body size, shape, and geometry, and the bracing patterns of the top and back and how all of those pieces works together as a cohesive unit...and how the maker works to create a soundbox from all of those pieces.

Wood combo's do matter some, but they are WAY down the list of important factors.


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[gfspencer]

Amazon Rosewood