Comparing tonewoods - wouldn't this be great?

RC2 · #1 01-16-2004, 05:11 PM

All the discussion on "which wood do YOU prefer?" got me thinking... I've heard lots of tonewoods, often side-by-side, but rarely have I heard more than two side-by-side in the same model/manufacturer of guitar with equally fresh strings, etc.

I think I know what I like and dislike, but blindfolded I really don't think I could name more than two or three woods based just on sound. Sure maple would stand out, maybe rosewood or koa...

Wouldn't it be great if Taylor created a CD for customers with side-by-side open E's recorded on the same model (i.e. x14) with the same strings for all the different tonewoods? And then, perhaps, had a topwood side-by-side (i.e. a 714 with engelman & sitka spruce, cedar, and maybe a solid Koa, etc)? Oh, and then, all woods/etc being equal, 712 vs. 714 vs. 710 vs. 715 and so on?

Don't get me wrong: I definitely think purchasing a guitar should be a personal experience - own what 'speaks' to you. But then again, this would be interesting..... or is it just me?

Jeff M · #2 01-16-2004, 05:22 PM

There is so much variation even between guitars with "identical specs" that you'd still be hard pressed to say all guitars made with XYZ wood will sound a certain way. It would be interesting, but I wouldn't put to much weight on the results.

I read that several years ago George Lowden (of Lowden Guitars) got his crew of builders together to see if they could tell what tone woods were used on a various guitars by listening to them "blindfolded". The outcome was basically that they could not reliably tell what species of wood specific guitars were made of-and these were the folks that built them!!

Bob Datomato · #3 01-16-2004, 07:37 PM

Well, I agree with both of you. Since I will soon be in the market, and have not had the pleasure of a lot of experience trying out the various woods, it would surely be nice to get a headstart on the process by listening to such a CD.

At the same time, I too have heard two identical guitars with such tone difference that it was startling.

Bob

Taylorplayer · #4 01-16-2004, 09:24 PM

Quote:

At the same time, I too have heard two identical guitars with such tone difference that it was startling.

Guitars are really a unique combination of many different materials - not too mention all the variables of when it was made, what the weather conditions were, how seasoned was the wood, what kind of glue was used - as such no two guitars (identical or otherwise) are ever really "alike"....