Acoustic guitar Repair
Best Acoustic Guitar Woods
Have you ever wondered exactly what the best woods to have an acoustic guitar might be? I'm not a luthier, but I recently did a little shopping around of my own which can help to shed some light about them.
I discovered that the dynamic response of an acoustic guitar, and the sound it makes, are determined by the density of woods used as well as the overall construction of the instrument itself.
Makes sense, right? But did you know that sound travels faster through some woods and slower through others? This little phenomenon effects the entire tone, or "color" of the particular acoustic guitar.
Perhaps you've noticed this yourself if you have ever compared the sound of one guitar with another. For instance, one guitar sounds bright and clear, the other warm and mellow.
Many guitarists realize that Sitka Spruce is the most common of the woods used for building the face area (top) of an electric guitar. This wood's high velocity generates a bright, clear tone that has a broad dynamic response.
Red Spruce alternatively, is heavier. It's grain is the stiffest of all the top woods useful for building acoustic guitars. This particular characteristic produces the greatest volume with more intricate overtones. That's probably why it is a favorite choice for steel-string electric guitar players. All you Bluegrass guitarists out there know you can really get down and rip up!
Brazillian Rosewood has often been considered ideal for the sides and back of an acoustic guitar. Not only does it produce rich tones, natural reverb qualities and wonderful clarity, in addition, it has a beautiful appearance. However, as a result of high demand for this product the Brazillian Rosewood tree has developed into a threatened species and is now being protected. This obviously makes the wood more scarce and harder to come by.
But difficult circumstances could possibly be the mother of invention- leading me to one of the coolest things I learned while doing my research about guitar woods...
The Martin Guitar Company is promoting a new guitar model that's specifically designed to help protect the environment. It's the Martin DCE Dreadnaught Cutaway Acoustic-Electric. Needless to say, it is not cheap, but it is innovative and admirable on the part for taking this kind of initiative in the first place. Read their own words...
"The real star with this guitar is the quality that sustainable wood provides to the guitar. Sustainable wood is planted and harvested by ethical means as not to promote erosion and sustain the ecosystem since it is in it's environment. It's no surprise one of the original proponents and users of the DCE is Trey Anastasio of Phish along with other environmentally conscious musicians."
All I can say is two thumbs up for your Martin Company!
Other woods which are also used for the rear and sides are Mahogany, Maple and sometimes Cherry.
Mahogany is denser than those previously mentioned. It has lower sound velocity but generates a solid tone.
Maple also has lower sound velocity and may be somewhat dull when used as a top for an electric guitar. On the other hand, the grain is especially attractive when useful for the back. Be aware that beauty and adornment are added features which will drive the price higher. Maple responds well when amplified and so it's a popular choice for solid-bodied electric guitars.
I didn't investigate specs on Cherry wood, but as it's not as common, I reckon that it would be more expensive.
The bridge is an additional important factor to consider when choosing an acoustic guitar. Some would even say it is the most important because the vibrations made out of strumming the strings are transmitted with the bridge into the sound chamber. After that it bounces around inside the guitar and comes out the sound hole.
A great bridge will be made of hard woods including Ebony, Rosewood, or Ash.
Especially, try to stay away from laminated wood guitars while they will crack and separate under certain conditions. To produce your choice simpler, I suggest sticking with reputable businesses that you know and trust including Martin, Yamaha, Gibson, Takamine, and Taylor, etc. If you do decide to go with a custom built guitar, make sure you know very well what you're paying for. Look for sound quality and playability first; beauty last. Like that you will have years of enjoyment playing an instrument you truly love.
Just thought you may well be interested in reading this guide: best acoustic guitar and acoustic guitar reviews.
1930s Maccaferri acoustic guitar repaired by Doug Wilkes of Wilkes Guitars
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