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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
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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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----- PeteyPower16 Ibanez PF-15CE-MS 2003 Taylor 410-CE-L2 2003 Taylor 322e 12-Fret 2015 Taylor GS Mini-e Koa 2015 Taylor GS Mini-e Ltd Ovangkol 2019 Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus 2020 Taylor 414ce 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Blue Sunburst - 2005 Previous Guitars: Epiphone DR-100 2006 (est.) Squier Bullet Blue 2006 (est.) Taylor 414ce 2008 - RIP 2020 Fender CD-60CE SB-DS-V2 2013 Last edited by PeteyPower16; 09-10-2020 at 06:52 AM. |
#2
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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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Music is vibration and vibration is the basis of all creation. 2002 Taylor GA 12-string custom: sitka/mahogany 2013 Greven OOO: Lutz/Brazilian 2021 Greven OO-12 fret: Lutz/Brazilian 2017 Rainsong Al Petteway Ltd. OOO: carbon fiber 2017 Birdsong Especial II Bass: Cypress/Rosewood |
#3
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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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#4
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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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Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini Follow The Yellow Brick Road |
#5
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Quote:
Here's some more info on that comparison: https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=437098
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----- PeteyPower16 Ibanez PF-15CE-MS 2003 Taylor 410-CE-L2 2003 Taylor 322e 12-Fret 2015 Taylor GS Mini-e Koa 2015 Taylor GS Mini-e Ltd Ovangkol 2019 Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus 2020 Taylor 414ce 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Blue Sunburst - 2005 Previous Guitars: Epiphone DR-100 2006 (est.) Squier Bullet Blue 2006 (est.) Taylor 414ce 2008 - RIP 2020 Fender CD-60CE SB-DS-V2 2013 |
#6
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I've only ever used Sitka spruce so that's my vote.
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Martin D-13E (2021 MiM) |
#7
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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 |
#8
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Yup. As a European with a Picea Abies carved top mandolin, I'm miffed.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#9
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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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Needed some nylons, a wide range of acoustics and some weirdos to be happy... |
#10
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I like all of them.
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#11
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I like both cedar and mahogany.
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#12
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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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#13
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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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Leviora A1 Fan Fret Martin OMC28BLJ ArchAngels Wings (Dreadnought) Grace Felix L.R.Baggs Mixpro Zoom A3 Trace Elliot TA40CR Henriksen the Bud ten |
#14
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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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#15
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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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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments. |
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Tags |
cedar, koa, mahogany, spruce, top wood |
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