Acoustic tops

rocket955 · 12-21-2011, 02:41 PM

I only have a couple acoustics in my possetion A jumbo and a concert but I am wanting a dread.

What top wood do you like and why?

martinedwards · 12-23-2011, 01:39 AM

I've built with cedar, spruce and mahogany.

they're all different and I like em all!!

cedar is softer and more mellow, spruce is what you EXPECT from an acoustic and the mahogany top is brighter with less bottom end.

rocket955 · 12-23-2011, 08:28 AM

I find the cedar top I have has a pronounced treble attack and longer sustain than the spruce top. It might be from the different body sizes. The spruce top that I have is louder and smother but sacrifices string to string definition. I haven't paid much attention to dreadnaughts though. I'm looking for a different sound that will cut through a live mix. The 2 guitars I have don't have a problem with cut.

darfaz · 12-24-2011, 10:04 AM

I have 5 acoustic guitars with 4 different top woods (Englemann and sitka spruce, mahogany, and a laminate top). While I know what each top is "supposed" to sound like, I really have difficulty discerning the top sound independent of other factors. Very rarely do I have the opportunity to play guitars that are exactly the same with different top tonewoods.

rocket955 · 12-25-2011, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darfaz

I have 5 acoustic guitars with 4 different top woods (Englemann and sitka spruce, mahogany, and a laminate top). While I know what each top is "supposed" to sound like, I really have difficulty discerning the top sound independent of other factors. Very rarely do I have the opportunity to play guitars that are exactly the same with different top tonewoods.

Yes there are a lot of variables. Guitars sound differently in the store than in your living roon and vastly different live through an amp in a place full of people. I guess I'll stick to what I have because it works. I vwas hoping for a set pattern to follow and the differences are overwhelming by numbers.