The tone and playability of an acoustic guitar may be drastically improved by using a higher-quality wood. Cedar, spruce, Brazilian rosewood, laminated wood, and walnut are just a few of the most popular types of wood used today. The sound of your guitar will change depending on the type of wood you choose.
Cedar
Finding the right acoustic guitar top for your personal taste and playing preferences might be challenging. A cedar top is an excellent choice. Cedar is ideal for fingerstyle guitarists because of its warm, full tone. The tops of certain steel string acoustics are made of cedar as well.
The tone and color of the wood should be taken into account while deciding on the best acoustic guitar top. You may use this to gauge the likelihood of achieving an appealing tone. While more popular than other solid body materials, cedar is still quite uncommon. It might not be as durable as hardwood when finished.
Cedar shingles come in a rainbow of hues. Light, medium, and dark cedars are all available. The simpler the wood is to play and the lighter the tone, the better.
Spruce
It's not always easy to choose on a top wood for your guitar. One of the most popular woods for guitar tops is spruce. It's perfect for a wide variety of uses thanks to its smooth, uniform texture.
Due of its durability, it is frequently used for acoustic guitar tops. Additionally, it is the preferred wood for guitar sides and backs. On top of that, it is frequently used for electric guitars.
There are several species of spruce. Sitka spruce is often regarded as one of the best. Western North America is home to this softwood. When compared to other varieties of spruce, it is noticeably more rigid. It is also considered to be a highly adaptable tonewood.
The resonance-boosting properties of spruce wood are another selling point. This is extremely useful for making guitars. Furthermore, the 12th fret yields a richer tone. As you climb the fretboard, the sound becomes more edgy.
Wood Veneers
If you're looking for a more cost-effective and long-lasting solution for an acoustic guitar, laminated wood is a great choice. Laminate guitars, on the other hand, can't compete with the sound quality of their solid wood counterparts.
Thin pieces of wood are bonded together to form a laminate, which is then used to construct an acoustic guitar. These guitars may be stored safely in a protective case and in a temperature-controlled environment. They are preferable over solid wood mostly because they are less expensive and last longer. They're better for the environment since they use less wood.
Some other names for laminate are veneer and plywood. A soundhole in the top of a laminated guitar exposes the instrument's interior wood grain.
A Wood Native to Brazil
Brazilian rosewood is one of the greatest materials to use when crafting a guitar. It's tough to find anything that can compete with its wonderful tone, sturdy feel, and warm sound. It's also somewhat more difficult to get.
The most appealing quality of Brazilian rosewood is its attractive appearance. It comes in a wide spectrum of shades, from bright orange to rich brown. Brazilian rosewood is striking because to its striped texture.
It is considerably more costly than most other types of rosewood. It's not the easiest thing to mold and polish. Wood's natural oils and resins make it difficult to work with.
It's endangered status is a contributing factor to how rarely you'll see it. Initial decades of the twentieth century saw intensive logging in Brazil's coastal forests. Later, fewer rosewood trees were cut down for lumber.
Walnut
Walnut is one of the greatest woods to utilize for making guitars, whether they be acoustic or electric. Walnut is a beautiful wood with a deep tone. It's tough and simple to manipulate, too.
There are several varieties of walnut wood, and each has its own unique acoustic properties. Claro walnut, for instance, is highly audible in both the low and high frequencies. Meanwhile, the Peruvian walnut is often regarded as the cleanest and most open-sounding kind. Different parts of the tree produce walnuts with varying shades of yellow to dark brown.
Because of its high density, it may be fashioned into acoustic guitar bodies. It can withstand shocks, too. Walnut is prized for its visually appealing grain pattern.
