East Indian rosewood Tonewoods
The most important part of your guitar is the wood, especially if you consider tone. This is because the vibrations of the strings resonate in the body, which produces the typical acoustic sound. The sound can differ based on what type of wood the body is made of. Some guitarists have a preference for how the wood feels as well. The thickness and the density of the wood are also important, because some woods are quite hard and sturdy, which usually produces a bright sound and makes for a sturdy guitar, whereas other woods may produce a fuller and warmer sound. Additionally, the appearance of the guitar can also depend on what type of wood is used. Different woods have different colours, grains, and patterns. However, this can be changed with lacquer or wood stain. Lacquer can also change the sound of the guitar, though. Wood is porous, and when it’s finished with lacquer the pores are closed. This could make the sound of the guitar a little more muted. Fortunately, some companies have already developed a specific lacquer for guitars that prevents this phenomenon.
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Nevertheless, not only the wood and the finish are important to the sound. The shape of the body also has an important role. This is because wood has a different role for acoustic guitars, hollow-body guitars, semi-hollow body guitars, and solid body electric guitars and basses. An acoustic guitar is hollow and the vibrations of the strings go through the soundhole into the body where they resonate. A hollow-body guitar, on the other hand, doesn’t have a soundhole right underneath the strings, but often has F-holes next to the strings.
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A semi-hollow body guitar has hollow compartments in the body and the resonance takes place on top of the hollow body, and a solid body guitar doesn’t have internal resonance at all. This article mostly focuses on how tonewoods work on acoustic guitars, although the multiple uses will also be discussed. The shape of the guitar is also important; the resonance can differ based on how the vibrations travel through the shape of the body. A more elaborate explanation of the different guitar shapes can be found here. Woods can also have different functions: it can be used as the top of a body, the back and sides, the neck, or the fretboard.
These functions also have different effects; the top, back, and sides have a bigger effect on the sound than the fretboard or the neck. Although the neck and the fretboard are more important for the experience because it’s what determines the comfort during playing. The explanations will thus contain a description of what the wood can be used for. The sustainability of the different woods will be analysed as well. Many musicians find it important to be a sustainable consumer, which might be why environmentally friendly woods are often preferred.
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This is also why certain woods that were popularised around the 1970s have become sparse and expensive. These woods have become endangered due to exploitation and logging. Consequently, organisations and/or governments have implemented protections on these woods. Luthiers across the entire world have tried many other kinds of wood to find amazing alternatives. As a result, there are nowadays many different options when it comes to tonewood. These are all the things to keep in mind when you’re looking to buy a new guitar and want to know what these woods may entail.
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Construction
The construction of the guitar is also important. There are three different types: completely solid, solid top, and laminated. These indicate how the wood was used on the guitar. Solid wood means the layer was cut from one slab of wood, whereas laminated wood is made from multiple layers of wood. The difference is pretty much only present in the sound. Solid wood resonates better an usually improves over the years.
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Laminated wood has a more muted resonance and is stagnant. Because it is treated, laminated wood cannot improve or deteriorate over the years. This also means that maintenance isn’t important. Solid wood can improve over the year, but when improperly maintained, it can also deteriorate. Wood responds to moisture and temperature, but when it’s laminated the pores are blocked. This means that laminated woods are less inclined to respond to humidity and climate changes. Solid wood is more susceptible to change, but this also means it can change for the better. A solid wood acoustic guitar that is used regularly and decently maintained is likely to sound and feel better over time. A more in-depth explanation of guitar maintenance can be found here. However, laminated wood isn’t permanently stagnant. Over a long period of time, usually multiple decades, it is possible for laminated wood to deteriorate.
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Another aspect to keep in mind is your budget. Laminated wood is usually a bit more affordable than solid wood. This is because solid wood is harder to work with and laminated wood can be made from recycled wood, which is simply cheaper. To be completely forthright, most guitars are a combination of both. Although there are many guitars on the market that are either completely made of solid wood or laminated wood, most guitars have laminated back and sides and a solid wood top. This means most guitars are a compromise between the two, and thus a compromise between the sound and price as well.
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Spruce
Spruce is one of the most popular tonewoods. It is predominantly used for the tops of acoustic guitars. There are two different types of spruce: Engelmann spruce and sitka spruce. Sitka spruce is the most common type and it produces a clear and warm sound. Engelmann spruce comes from North America and is thus more expensive. Engelmann sounds similar, but sounds a little warmer than sitka spruce. Spruce, in general, has a great projection and a decent sustain. Spruce is so popular because it’s really versatile and can be combined with many other kinds of wood. Consequently, there are many guitars with a spruce top and many different backs and sides. This means you can combine the beautiful sound of spruce with your favourite other tonewoods. For example, you can combine it with nato, like the Yamaha CPX700II, or with mahogany, like with the Eastman E6D, as well as many more combinations. Furthermore, spruce is quite sustainable. The trees grow quite fast which makes production quite sustainable and affordable. Spruce also has a recognisable appearance. It has a light colour and a hidden grain, which gives the guitar a neutral and professional appearance.
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Mahogany
Mahogany is a versatile tonewood that can be used for the top, the back and sides, and the neck of a guitar. Mahogany is mostly used as back and sides because it has a low density and produces a warm and powerful sound. Mahogany also emphasises the mid-tones, which balances the sound out nicely. Mahogany is also known for a ‘woody’ type of sound. This does not mean that the sound is static, but that it has an authentic and typically acoustic sound. Mahogany back and sides are often combined with a spruce top, because the full and authentic sound of the mahogany complements the warmth and sustain of the spruce really well. This is also the case with the Fender CD-60SCE. Some guitars are fully made of mahogany, which means that both the back and sides and the top are mahogany, like the Tanglewood Winterleaf EBK. A guitar completely made of mahogany produces a beautiful and full sound, but is quite rare. Because of the emphasised mid-tones, mahogany is great for guitarists who like fingerpicking. Mahogany is also often used for guitar necks, as is also the case with the Martin D-10E. The wood is soft enough to have great comfortability during playing while creating a stable basis for the neck. Unfortunately, mahogany isn’t very sustainable. Over the last few decades, mahogany has been sourced a lot, for the guitar industry but also for many other industries. Consequently, mahogany has become quite rare. Most of the mahogany trees grow in South America, which makes it very prone to exploitation from the Western market. Recently, mahogany has become a protected wood, to prevent deforestation. Mahogany is still sourced, but it is limited. As a result, mahogany becomes increasingly rarer and more expensive on the market. Certain countries have even implemented restrictions on mahogany. Although mahogany is thus hard to find, there are great alternatives. Real mahogany is often described as ‘Genuine Mahogany’, whereas alternatives are often called ‘True Mahogany’, which can refer to similar woods like khaya or Indian mahogany.
edar
Cedar is mostly used as a top for acoustic guitars. It looks similar to spruce, although cedar is slightly darker and has a bit of a reddish tint. However, the sound is completely different. Cedar is softer and warmer than spruce and focuses on the high tones instead of the bass tones. Consequently, cedar is ideal for fingerpicking. Cedar is often used for classical guitars because the nylon strings complement the warm sound beautifully. This is for example the case with the Alhambra 4p. Nevertheless, cedar is also used on western guitars. Cedar sounds a little brighter when combined with steel strings as opposed to nylon strings. A high-quality western guitar with a cedar top is the Art & Lutherie Americana, which has a North-American cedar top and a beautiful and unique look. Although it’s quite rare, cedar is also sometimes used for solid-body electric guitars. This is for example the case with the Michael Kelly Enlightened 55 Dark Tiger’s Eye. Furthermore, cedar is relatively sustainable. Cedar mostly grows in North America and grows quite fast. Additionally, cedar doesn’t waste a lot of water and it’s easy to recycle. This makes cedar a great choice for someone who wants to be a conscious consumer!
Sapele
This type of wood is known by multiple names but is mostly called sapele in the guitar industry. Sapele is sourced in Central- and West Africa and has similar characteristics as mahogany. This makes sapele a popular alternative for mahogany. It also sounds quite similar, although sapele sounds a little sharper and brighter than mahogany. It is predominantly used for the back and sides of hollow-body guitars and can be combined with many different tops. For example, it is popular to combine sapele back and sides with a spruce top, like with the Lâg T70DCE. It is also possible to use sapele for the top, but in that case, the back and sides are also made of sapele. This means there are bodies completely made of sapele, which is also the case with the Martin Streetmaster. Complete sapele bodies thus have a clear and balanced sound, although some guitarists find it lacks warmth. Sapele is also more sustainable than mahogany. However, when people figured out it worked as a great alternative for mahogany, sapele also became exploited. This is especially the case in West Africa, where in certain countries the damage hasn’t even yet been restored. This means entire forests were destroyed and the natural ecosystems haven’t recovered either. Nevertheless, certain restrictions and rules have been implemented which means there are specific plantations for the production of sapele, which means sapele can be sourced ethically. Most of it is sourced in Congo, where they have been able to regulate it quite well. Consequently, sapele can be a great and sustainable tonewood and is also a good alternative for mahogany!
Rosewood
Rosewood is a versatile and beautiful tonewood. It has a dark brown colour with a clear and dark grain. Rosewood is mostly used for the back and sides and fretboard of guitars. Rosewood is quite popular for both. As back and sides, rosewood has good resonance and produces a balanced and warm sound, like is also the case with the Eastman E40OM. Rosewood also works great as a fretboard, because it makes the sound slightly warmer and is very comfortable to play. Consequently, there are many guitars with a rosewood fretboard, like the Lâg A200-BRS and the Heritage H-150. There are two types of rosewood: Brazilian rosewood and Indian rosewood. Brazilian rosewood is usually preferred because it produces a bright sound. However, Brazilian Rosewood isn’t really used in the guitar industry anymore. This is because rosewood is over-exploited, just like any other South-American kinds of wood. As a result, Brazil has implemented an export ban, which is why Indian rosewood is predominantly used nowadays. However, Indian rosewood is also quite exploited, unfortunately. Indian rosewood has a dark purple hue and feels rougher than Brazilian rosewood, but both have similar tone qualities. Rosewood is considered a very authentic tonewood, but due to deforestation, it is unfortunately not sustainable. Rosewood is still used sometimes, but the lumber industry doesn’t prioritise the guitar industry. Most of the rosewood that is available, is bought by the larger guitar companies, which is why rosewood is often only used by certain brands on more expensive guitars. This also means that rosewood isn’t really an option for guitarists with a lower budget, as it is quite expensive. However, there are great alternatives, like pau ferro or ovangkol. A more extensive summary of alternatives can be found at the end of the article!
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Sycamore
Sycamore is a North American tonewood that is predominantly used for solid body guitars, although it can also be used for hollow-body guitars, like with the Yamaha SA2200. Sycamore is often compared to maple as they produce a similar sound and appearance. Both have a beautiful light brown colour with a darker grain. Nevertheless, the structure resembles mahogany a bit more. Sycamore thus sounds like a great balance between maple and mahogany, as it has the same bright sound as maple and a similar projection as mahogany. Sycamore is quite soft, like basswood, which means it’s not ideal for guitarists who treat their instrument quite carelessly. Nevertheless, sycamore is stable enough for most guitarists as it still has to be hit quite hard for it to dent. Furthermore, it’s relatively sustainable as the trees grow quite fast and tall. Hence it’s not listed on the CITES list of threatened species or the IUCN Red List.
Jatoba
Jatoba is sourced from Middle and South America. It has a beautiful warm colour, usually medium brown with a red undertone. It’s will become a little darker through the years, which means it ages quite authentically. Jatoba is mostly used for fretboards, as it’s quite rigid and produces a warm sound. This also makes it a popular alternative for rosewood. Ibanez is one of the first larger companies to implement jatoba in their production process. They also mostly use it for fretboards, like with the Ibanez SR300EB, the Ibanez GSR200-BK, and the Ibanez GIO GRX40-BKN. Whether jatoba is sustainable, is hard to determine. The IUCN has classified it as ‘vulnerable’, but it’s not on the CITES list of threatened species. The general consensus is that jatoba isn’t very sustainable, although most of the lumber is cultivated under FSC guidelines which means jatoba guitars likely aren’t made with exploited materials
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