When used for back and sides on a guitar, mahogany has relatively high velocity of sound, which contributes much overtone coloration. Mahogany guitars sound more wood-like. The harder, denser examples of these woods can take also on the characteristics of the rosewoods. Mahogany back and sides tends to emphasize the bass and the treble. Mahogany necks help to create a warmer, more “woody” tonal range. The same holds true when mahogany is used as bridge material.
One of the most common materials, its high stiffness combined with the lightweight characteristics of most softwoods, makes it a natural for high velocity of sound. A strong fundamental-to-overtone ratio gives Sitka spruce a powerful direct tone capable of retaining its clarity when played forcefully. This makes Sitka an excellent choice for top wood for players whose style demands a wide dynamic response and a robust, meaty tone.
North American solid Engelmann Spruce is a beautiful rich, creamy soundboard wood. Spruce enhances volume and has clear high-end articulation. Engelmann adds a brilliant complex overtone structure. Widely regarded as the best top a guitar can get and used on our award winning 400 Series.
Cedar has a darker colouration to spruce and can have a reddish tint. This wood is highly responsive to light playing and finger styles, responding with volume to a softer attack, for this reason it is most commonly found in guitars with smaller bodies, classical guitars and folk guitars. Cedar is most notable for its response to open and lowered tunings.
Maple, as a result of its greater weight and lower sound velocity, can be downright flat sounding, a blessing in disguise when a guitar is amplified at high sound pressure levels. This is why maple is the wood of choice for electric guitar tops. Maple necks can impart a bright ‘poppy’ tone that can do much to reinforce the top end of a large-bodied guitar
Indian Rosewood can be found on our 400 & 500 Series Back and Sides. It is known for high sound velocity and broad range of overtones, strength and complexity in the bottom end and an overall darkness of tone in the rest of the range. Strong mids and highs also contribute a richness of tone to the upper registers. Indian rosewood has a thicker, more midrange overall coloration.
Ebony, the material found on the fingerboards and bridges of our highly acclaimed 500 Series, has the lowest velocity of sound of all the woods commonly used and has definite damping characteristics. While not a problem for large-bodied guitars made of red spruce or Brazilian rosewood, it may be something to consider when designing smaller guitars, particularly those using less resonant tonewoods for tops and backs.