Guide to the various kinds of Guitar tops and tonewood, and how they impact the overall sound of the guitar. Though most musical instruments are made of wood, they all are not necessarily made of the same stuff. I’m sure you realize that wood is getting expensive, and the ones that are used on the most expensive ones are definitely different from the ones that are used in the budget guitars. Here’s a complete guide on Guitar Tops and Tonewood.
Importance
The guitar top is the part that everyone sees, so it has to be attractive. But the more important thing is that it determines the resonant qualities of the guitar and the tone it produces.
Besides, it is something that is a permanent fixture on your guitar, unlike other parts such as strings, nuts and saddles, which have to be replaced over time.
So, it is good to know about the various kinds available, though for a particular budget you’ll most likely get a similar kind of top, across brands.
Various Guitar Tops
There are two main types of acoustic guitars — ‘arch-top’ and ‘flat-top’. Though most of the following information provided here applies to both, we are primarily concerned with the flat-top, which is more popular among guitar players.
Here are some of the common materials used for tops, and also a comparison of laminate (budget) to solid wood tops (premium).
- Laminate Top
- Solid Spruce
- Solid Mahogany
- Solid Cedar
Solid Spruce
Adirondack, Engelmann, & Sitka are the most commonly used species to make a solid spruce guitar top.
Its important to remember that the finer the grain, the higher is the overall quality. Tight grain wood means it’s stronger and resonates better than pieces with wider grain, usually comes from old growth forests.
- Solid spruce guitar tops provide clear, bright tones and chiming harmonics.
- Bluegrass pickers, country artists, Folk musicians usually prefer spruce tops, because of the bell-like tone and because the notes are bright & can easily be heard
- When chords are strummed, solid spruce tops provide a full, rich sound.
Solid Mahogany
Solid mahogany top guitars (affectionately known as ‘Hog-tops’) are more used by seasoned player, than beginners, because the ‘ageing’ process is much slower. A well-seasoned Solid Mahogany Top will make itself heard in almost any venue. after the initial tinniness wears off (when its new).
Mahogany is a tropical hardwood, which has a gorgeous color, and makes for a really eye-catching guitar top. For a hardwood, it’s quite light in weight, and its inherent stiffness makes for a very responsive sounding board.
- The tones typically produced by a Solid Mahogany Top are usually brighter than what a cedar top produces, but mellower than you’d expect from a spruce top.
- A hog can fit into almost any musical genre that requires an acoustic guitar.
- A Solid Mahogany Top may cost a little more than some other types, but the extra cost and extended break-in period are a small price to pay for the versatility it offers!
- Like all solid tops, its needs more care than a laminate. A hardshell case is a must, and depending on where you’re located, you may also need a guitar humidifier, to ensure proper care and to maintains the guitar’s structural integrity.
Solid Cedar
Cedar is a beautiful aromatic softwood (reddish-brown colour), well-known for lightness of weight, high strength and rigidity, and its ability to produce sweet tones. Port Orford Cedar is a long-time favorite of discerning luthiers.
With its fine grain, usually finer than spruce, and light molecular structure, this wood doesn’t just vibrate, it SINGS. Even a steel-string guitar sounds gentle with a cedar-top. But with nylon strings, THAT’S where a cedar guitar top shines.
- Classical guitars and Flamenco guitars often have solid cedar tops, because of its weet tone; the tone is gentle, yet strong.
- Many folk artists use cedar tops because its tonal qualities is suited for vocal accompaniment, strong but not overbearing.
- They’re comparatively more affordable
- Solid Cedar tops, like any other solid-tops, need special care.
Cedar is strong but scratches easily. Some musicians are okay with it as they think of the scars as “adding character” to the instrument, but I’m sure you don’t want to completely deface your guitar unnecessarily. Buy a hard-shell case and keep your guitar there when not in use; a stand is okay for short breaks but you may not want to keep your guitar there for extended periods. Also, consider buying a guitar humidifier, depending on your ambient relative humidity, to keep your guitar from drying out and coming apart.
Solid vs. Laminate Top
As a beginner, you are most likely to start playing on a laminated top, as they are inexpensive. Most brands have a wide-range of budget guitars that use this material as they are affordable and also have a glossy finish (look better).
But a “Solid Wood” top is what an experienced/pro guitar player would use; they definitely have a much better sound & overall tonal quality. However, as with most expensive stuff (and especially with wood), you need to take care of it.
Humidity does affect most “Solid wood” (in the long run) and the wood can dry out and shrink; so if you live in a very humid area, you should consider getting a humidifier.
Find great deals on guitar humidifiers here…
It’s also important to buy a hard shell case; its more of an insurance for your solid spruce/cedar guitar, especially when you are spending in excess of $700-$800.
Quick Recap
Here are some of the important takeaways related to guitar tops:
- Solid tops ‘age’, the longer and more they’re played, the better they sound. Cedar ages quickly (usually within 2 years whereas Mahogany takes longer)
- Spruce and cedar are in great demand for tops because they resonate well, are light-weight and strong.
- Spruce & cedar both are excellent tonewoods with cedar usually providing a mellower tone and spruce a brighter one.
- Even two ‘identical’ guitars, with consecutive serial numbers, may have slight differences in the sound (go for the one that sings to you)
- Cedar makes a nice ‘flamenco’ guitar, whereas spruce makes a better bluegrass.
- Solid wood makes for better instruments but require more care (affected by humidity).
- Cedar scars easily, so ideally NOT recommended for kids or if you intend yo use it as a campfire guitar.
- Generally, older the wood, the better is the tonal quality
Ebony Wood Supply
Most leading manufacturers offer custom-made guitars, which require constant supply of high-quality wood. With the supply of ebony dwindling around the world, its time that these companies get their act together and employ a process for sustainable sourcing.
With the worlds natural resources depleting at an alarming pace, people have begun to realize that unless they take some concrete action, its not going to last much longer. Besides, Mother Nature in her own cruel and indifferent way, will continue to play havoc with our lives.
Some of the biggest names in the musical instruments world have taken note of this serious problem and have started working on various frameworks to ensure their is a constant supply of high-quality wood, such as Ebony, which is an important ingredient of a guitar.
Checkout this video where Bob Taylor (co-founder of Taylor Guitars) talks about how they plan to tackle this problem.
In 2011, they co-purchased Crelicam, an ebony mill in Cameroon, and that was when these guys decided to have a workable solution to this problem, something that involves socially responsible forestry with job training that will help Cameroonian communities support themselves and also improve their living standards.
Some of the points that Bob Taylor has highlighted in this video not only needs to be recognized, it also needs to be complied with. And he’s definitely not being selfish here and talking only for his brand, but for everybody’s benefit.
It’s really encouraging to see a company with an ecological conscience!
Most serious guitar players, who have spent a few years playing the instrument, prefer to have a guitar made of Natural wood with all its natural imperfections, something that has all those dramatic texture/striping.
They want their guitars to look like it came from a tree, and not one that uses a plastic flooring. In the video, Mr Taylor talks about catering to the needs of such people, but in a more socially responsible fashion.
So please watch the video, and share it on Facebook, twitter, etc., and spread the good word to your musician friends.
Rosewood Supply
Rosewood is a type of wood that is used to make several kinds of musical instruments, including guitars, cellos and clarinets.
The industry is facing a shortage of rosewood as most of the rosewood going is going to China, to satisfy Chinese consumers’ growing demand for rosewood or “hongmu” furniture. Considering China’s big appetite, loggers, traffickers and even politicians around the world have been cashing in, depleting rosewood stocks and fighting over the spoils of the timber rush.
That is when members of a worldwide treaty called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) passed sweeping new international trade regulations, which have impacted several musical instrument makers.
Regulations on the international trade of rosewood have negatively affected C.F. Martin & Co., a family-owned business that has been making guitars in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley since the 1830s.
Martin and Taylor (top U.S. maker of acoustic guitars) say the regulations are misguided. They say they primarily use wood from India, which is strictly controlled and not part of the Chinese furniture problem that led to the crackdown. And compared to the millions of cubic meters of rosewood flowing to China, the Martin company will use less than 50 cubic meters of the wood this year.
CITES representatives are considering new guidelines that could ease permit requirements for traveling orchestras and musicians. Read Full Story.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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