solid back or laminate

[macoshark]

Been on the hunt for a used acoustic. I was wondering if anyone here noticed a big difference between a solid top, solid back opposed to ST/ laminate back. What Lam S/B with STs I've played just sound tinty. I did like the Eastman E6 and should have got it. Any feed back much appreciated.

[ChalkLitIScream]

All solid guitars give you a more full and resonant sound. However if the top isn’t particularly voiced for its specific properties, then you don’t see as drastic of a difference. It’s all a mix and by chance you can find a ST that outshines all solid instruments at the time

[Mike Sylvia]

As far as tone goes, you're the only one that can choose what sounds best to your ears.

[L20A]

There are some makers that produce laminated B and S guitars that rival their all solid wood guitars.
Yamaha, Washburn and Blueridge are good examples of this.

I hear a larger difference between solid and laminated in brands like Martin and Taylor.
These makers have great sounding laminated B and S guitars but their all solid wood guitars are noticeably better sounding to me.

[Brucebubs]

Not all laminated backs are created equal.

The Guild maple jumbo's have an unbraced arch back ... laminated ... and they sound excellent.

This demo clip for the new F-55 Maple was filmed in front of the actual press that makes the backs.

I prefer solid back and sides, but honestly, I've heard many great laminates, like the Guild archbacks mentioned above. I'm convinced that the top is where 90% of the tone comes from. Solid back & sides will enhance a good top, but laminates won't detract from it.

[Steel and wood]

I've played a heap of great guitars with laminate back and sides. (Every bit as good as their all solid wood counterparts including my Martin DM Mahogany Dreadnought).

When you think about the back of the guitar sitting against your belly when playing then I'd suggest any difference is nullified anyway.

My opinion of course.

[TokyoNeko]

For me, solid backs definitely make a difference (especially unplugged). In general, they help provide a "lush" sound with more overtones, whereas I tend to hear more fundamental tones with laminate backs. In other words, solid backs provide EQ effects, and laminate backs let the tops provide the tone.

JMHO

[Ed66]

Both Seagull and Alvarez produce some excellent laminate/layered back and sides guitars. While these are generally on the lower end of the price spectrum there are also some higher end builders that do fantastic work with layered backs and sides. Guitars with layered b/s generally handle humidity/temperature changes a little better.

[Dreadfulnaught]

Originally Posted by macoshark

Been on the hunt for a used acoustic. I was wondering if anyone here noticed a big difference between a solid top, solid back opposed to ST/ laminate back. What Lam S/B with STs I've played just sound tinty. I did like the Eastman E6 and should have got it. Any feed back much appreciated.

Doesn’t necessarily matter. My Harptone Jumbo has a domed unbraced laminated back and sounds great. Some Guilds are somewhat similar. A laminate guitar will probably have less collector value.

[jklotz]

It's my understanding solid wood guitars improve with age, whereas laminate guitars don't change much.

[perttime]

Looks like there's two reasons for laminate back and sides:
- you can make a laminate at lower cost.
- you get the sound that you want by using multiple layers of wood.

The lower cost reasoning has predominated in recent decades.
Some designers feel that using multiple layers is superior for the sounds that they want to accomplish. A recent article on Takamine guitars comes to mind.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by macoshark

... What Lam S/B with STs I've played just sound tinty. I did like the Eastman E6 and should have got it. Any feed back much appreciated.

It depends on the caliber of guitar you are playing not the back construction per se. if the guitar’s you are playing sound boxy, play better guitars.

[Sonics]

Depends if the back is designed to reflect the sound back into the top which increases perceived volume, or let some sound out the back which 'colors' the tone hopefully in a pleasing way. This is called single and double diaphragm design respectively. Plywood coloration in double diaphragm guitars can sound 'boxy'. However if its a single diaphragm design, then the back material doesn't matter as long as it's stiff.

You can tell the guitar design by comparing the note produced by tapping the back of the guitar with the note produced by tapping the top of the guitar. If it's more or less the same note, then it's double diaphragm, however if the note produced by the back is significantly higher, then it's single design and plywood's good to go.

Guitars with bowled, curved, arched and other shaped backs designed to 'reflect' are also single diaphragm. E.g Baby/Mini Taylors, Ovations, Guilds, et al.

Paul Reed Smith explains why he utilizes single diaphragm design with his acoustics...

[ManyMartinMan]

Too much hoo-ha. Just buy a guitar you like already.