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#1
03-16-2008, 06:21 PM
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Does a guitar really sound better with age?
Just curious if a guitar really sound better with age? Of course it would have to be real wood and not laminated. My Ami is a solid top Cedar and according to Art&Lutherie Cedar ages faster. I am just wondering how long this process takes and what difference I can expect if any. Richer? More Sustain?
Thanks for the info.
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Steve's Songs A&L Cedar Burst AMI Parlor Ibanez ATK 300 Epiphone ej200 sce J Navarro nc-61 Yamaha fg-730 
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#2
03-16-2008, 06:27 PM
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I think the general consensus is that as guitars age they do mellow and sound better. That's just a general idea and perhaps NOT a rule. I've played old vintage Martins that didn't sound as good as a brand new D35. I think it depends on the guitar. If it's a great sounding guitar now chances are it will only get better. My humble opinion for what it's worth. I'm sure some of the guys with more experience in this area will chime in. Interesting thread.
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Rick Steel and Wood, "Listen closely and she'll tell you her secrets" RG
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#3
03-16-2008, 06:36 PM
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Sometimes yes.
Sometimes no. Don't plan on it when buying.
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"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke "It is in the world of slow time that truth and art are found as one" Norman Maclean,
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#4
03-16-2008, 06:40 PM
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It's pretty much accepted that all wood, stringed instruments sound better the more they are played. Therefore, the older they get. The better they sound.
What that means is any individual instrument, often played will improve over time. What it DOESN’T mean is that a crappy guitar will sound better than a great guitar over time. Both will sound better than they originally did, but only that much better than it’s own craftsmanship and quality will allow.
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#5
03-16-2008, 06:43 PM
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Quote:
With all solid guitars I hear it if they are kept long enough and played often enough. I don't recall ever thinking any of my laminates (even with solid tops) aged with time. With manufactured and overbuilt instruments it takes longer - as in years. Better tone with age, a loosening of the top, more resonance and I feel a change in the tension of the strings when I pluck three and four note clusters - but I've never heard an increase in sustain. Especially with Dreadnaughts and with Rosewood ones in particular an increase in bass response which is not connected to boominess. With OMs I hear an increase in the amount of bass in relationship to the other ranges of tone as they age. Also, I find the trebles tame down and become more full. With lightly built handbuilts I hear a difference right off the bench for the first 3-6 months, and then after a couple years, and I'm not sure if they ever really stop changing slightly. My Olson Dread after 15 years is continuing to open up.
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Baby #1.1 Baby #1.2 Baby #02 Baby #03 Baby #04 Baby #05 Larry's songs... …Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
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#6
03-16-2008, 06:52 PM
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Like Jeff said, "don't plan on it" when buying a new guitar. When guitars do open up it is mostly on the bass side. Weak treble power will always be weak. Looking for a new guitar I used to be swayed too much by the bass. Now I am most critical about how the treble and midrange sound.
Rick
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above
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#7
03-16-2008, 07:12 PM
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There are just too many factors that contribute to sound......from saddles to setup to strings. Pretty tough to categorically proclaim one "group" as better than the other. Nevertheless, all things being equal (and they never are) I would wager a properly set up aged axe will sound better. Then again if my playing is on an "off" day no guitar sounds good to me.
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#8
03-16-2008, 09:53 PM
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Some woods more so than others. Koa for example is a very hard wood that typically has to "open up" over time, which usually means that it sounds warmer and less rigid the longer it's played (not just the older it gets). In general though, get something that sounds good in the first place, and play it until both you and the guitar sound better.
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Blessings, Andrew _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2009 Cornerstone SJ BCS/Ziricote 2009 Woody SG-style Maple top 2008 Takamine OM-VSB 2009 Telecaster Purple Heart
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#9
03-16-2008, 10:03 PM
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How about Cedar? I've heard that cedar has a very short shelf life, or even no shelf life at all.
My solid cedar-top, lam. B/S definitely seems to be aging well. I'd even say she's opened up. It took 20 years but she sounds better today than when I first got her.
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Tim Soli Deo Gloria! *** Tak Jumbo N20C "Judy"
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#10
03-16-2008, 10:26 PM
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My Dreadnaught - Rosewood/Cedar - began opening noticeably and significantly around 5 years of playing, and it has not stopped improving in tone for the past 10 years. I have played new models of Dreadnaughts and SJs by the same builder in Rosewood/Cedar, and a 20 year old example of the SJ Rosewood/Cedar, and there is no doubt they are opening up significantly with time.
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Baby #1.1 Baby #1.2 Baby #02 Baby #03 Baby #04 Baby #05 Larry's songs... …Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
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#11
03-16-2008, 11:05 PM
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Does a guitar really sound better with age?
Yep.. the older I get, the better it sounds!
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J.P.
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#13
03-16-2008, 11:10 PM
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Haven't met a builder or player yet who has experienced this. The story (as I heard it) was started by jealous classical guitar builders back when Ramirez started to use cedar for tops in his designs.
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"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke "It is in the world of slow time that truth and art are found as one" Norman Maclean,
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#14
03-17-2008, 02:36 AM
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+1....... 
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........Alan........ (Surreal McCoy)
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#15
03-17-2008, 02:57 AM
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Unfortunately, there's someone that frequents Harmony Central that claims he's a luthier and insists this myth is fact........sad thing is.....it appears that folks over there seem to respect him as he's been known to contribute positive advice in other areas. Half truths can gain trust enough to obtain respect in certain cases, a potential hazard when not truly knowing an internet source. 
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........Alan........ (Surreal McCoy)
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