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View Poll Results: Which is your favorite top wood? (multiple answers allowed)
Sitka Spruce 55 44.35%
Adirondack Spruce 30 24.19%
White/Englemann/"European" Spruce 29 23.39%
Lutz Spruce 9 7.26%
Cedar 19 15.32%
Redwood 9 7.26%
Mahogany 9 7.26%
Koa 5 4.03%
Other - please specify in forum below 7 5.65%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 124. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 09-10-2020, 06:34 AM
PeteyPower16 PeteyPower16 is offline
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Question What is your favorite wood for a soundboard/guitar top?

Hi all, I'm curious to hear people's preferences for top woods between those listed below (survey included):

Sitka Spruce
Adirondack Spruce
White/Englemann Spruce
European Spruce
Lutz Spruce
Cedar
Redwood
Mahogany
Koa
Other - please specify

In the forum, if would be great if you were interested to compare and rate the different tops with respect to (1) tone (warmth vs. brightness) (2) headroom, (4) sustain, (5) EQ range, and (6) fundamentals vs. overtones. What style of playing/music favors certain tops?

I find it interesting that different tops can result in such nuanced sound within the same general "idea" of an acoustic guitar.

Of course, the back and sides also contribute to tone (though much less than the top, right?), but my question is related specifically to top woods, all other variables the same.
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Last edited by PeteyPower16; 09-10-2020 at 06:52 AM.
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Old 09-10-2020, 07:03 AM
Bill R Bill R is offline
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I own or have owned guitars with sitka, European "moon", and Lutz spruces and one with redwood over the years. It's a challenge to compare the various species in terms of tone, etc., because they were all on different instruments built by different builders (i.e. Martin, Taylor, R Taylor, and Greven) with different back and side woods (mahogany, maple, cocobolo, Indian and Brazilian rosewood. Each of those guitars had its own personality so-to-speak due in part to the combination of woods and in large part to the skill of the builders and how they used those materials.

I can say that my 2013 Greven OOO with a Lutz top (Brazilian back and sides) is the finest guitar I've ever owned or played at least to my ears. It's worth noting that John strives for a tone that is the best mix of 1930's vintage Martin and more modern. I realize that's not everyone's cup of tea tone wise. He prefers to use Lutz because it has been his experience as a builder that Lutz is the only top wood that approximates the tone of the Adirondack used in pre-war Martins. He believes it has the power of Adirondack with more subtlety and nuance. It works for me.

I will be curious to read other's comments on this thread.

Bill
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Old 09-10-2020, 07:24 AM
mercy mercy is offline
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Why is Euro and Engelman together. They sound nothing alike. My fav is Euro my least fav is Engelman. Some will say all wood sounds the same, pooy.
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Old 09-10-2020, 07:36 AM
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Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
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To my ear sitka sounds like broken in adirondack and doesn't feel as stiff when playing the guitar.
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Old 09-10-2020, 07:40 AM
PeteyPower16 PeteyPower16 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mercy View Post
Why is Euro and Engelman together. They sound nothing alike. My fav is Euro my least fav is Engelman. Some will say all wood sounds the same, pooy.
Yep, that's an error on my part! I tried to update the survey, but I guess it is "set in stone." Apologies!

Here's some more info on that comparison:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=437098
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Taylor 414ce 2020
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Blue Sunburst - 2005

Previous Guitars:
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Squier Bullet Blue 2006 (est.)
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Old 09-10-2020, 09:05 AM
LeDave LeDave is offline
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I've only ever used Sitka spruce so that's my vote.
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Old 09-10-2020, 09:58 AM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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My two favorite guitars have German Spruce tops. The European spruces are my favorites depending on the luthier, of course. I owned and played a Kenny Hill crossover with an Engelmann top that was sublime. And my Martin M-38 that I played for 12 years also had a Engelmann top. Great guitar that responded well to my lighter touch however, Rory Block's signature Martin also has an Engelmann top and she is a dynamic player who can really dig in. Go figure.

The other spruce topped guitar that I own is a red spruce - it is well broken in and has all of the wonderful qualities people rave about with Adirondack but it is not too brittle or harsh as some report red spruce to have.

I am happy to own a cedar topped guitar but I find spruce the most versatile. Of course, all of this is based on the 5 guitars that I own and play regularly. While I have played a lot of guitars at festivals and guitar shops over the years, it is generally true that German Spruce is my favorite and most Sitka topped guitars that I have played generally leave me wanting something else.

Best,
Jayne

Last edited by jaymarsch; 09-10-2020 at 10:02 AM. Reason: Typo
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Old 09-10-2020, 10:03 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mercy View Post
Why is Euro and Engelman together. They sound nothing alike. My fav is Euro my least fav is Engelman. Some will say all wood sounds the same, pooy.
Yup. As a European with a Picea Abies carved top mandolin, I'm miffed.
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Old 09-10-2020, 12:06 PM
mawmow mawmow is offline
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I have sitka, Engelman, Adirondack, Red Cedar as well as Mahogany tops and love them all !
Body model, bracing and string type count even more than top wood.
All things equal, I would favor less expensive Sitka.
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Old 09-10-2020, 12:43 PM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
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I like all of them.
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Old 09-10-2020, 02:56 PM
DukeX DukeX is offline
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I like both cedar and mahogany.
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Old 09-10-2020, 03:21 PM
fartamis fartamis is offline
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Spruce and mahogany side and back for me ... I've always found this to be the best balanced sound.
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Old 09-11-2020, 03:15 AM
douglasfan1 douglasfan1 is offline
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Englemann Spruce speaks to me, sparkle with fingerstyle and light to medium strumming. Lucky that I'm not a heavy strummer
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Old 09-11-2020, 03:28 AM
pegleghowell pegleghowell is offline
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Sitka and Adi..I have both,I like both.Personally I don`t find Sitka inferior to Adi. in any way,shape or form.
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Old 09-11-2020, 05:26 AM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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OK, I voted "other". I am a fan of Port Orford Cedar, but that's not why. I like others as much. I owned a cedar-topped Martin back in the beginning and sold it in the '70's and need to play others to make a decision based upon the knowledge I now have. Never played redwood or some of the lesser-known spruces. The fact of the matter is that I cannot tell any differences that cannot be as easily attributed to the maker rather than the wood.
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cedar, koa, mahogany, spruce, top wood

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