FRETS
LEARN
TONEWOOD INTELLIGENCE
A GU I DE TO T HE SOU N DS OF TH E MOST PO PU LA R
WOODS US ED I N ACOUST IC GU ITA R M AK IN G
T HE TO NE WO O DS USE D in the
creation of an acoustic guitar are critical
to how it sounds, as the instrument’s
top, back and sides have the greatest
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soundboard that pumps air into a
resonance chamber formed by the back
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the weight-to-strength ratio, as well as
the shape, are important regarding the
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Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard
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where he was down to play a game: I
named popular tonewoods from the list
of available options, and he provided the
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TOPS
• Sitka spruce A warm tone, forgiving
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popular choice in acoustic guitars for
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• Adirondack spruce Brighter, clearer,
K ER R I L ES L I E
Richard Hoover discusses the properties of tonewoods
at the Santa Cruz Guitar Company
86 FEBRUARY 2019
B Y J I M M Y L E S L I E
and more articulate, with a faster
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• European spruce 7KHVDPHSURSHUWLHV
as Adirondack, controlled via density
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European spruce belongs to the species
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• Moon spruce 7KHVDPHVSHFLHVDV
European spruce, moon spruce is
harvested at night according to the
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the clearest, most articulate and quickest
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• Cedar:DUPHULQWRQHEXWIDVWHULQ
response than all other tonewoods, cedar
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who plays in open tunings because it
responds to a light attack quickly and
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loss of energy that comes from playing
without a pick on strings that are tuned
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• Redwood Redwood and cedar are
interchangeable if the right pieces of
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headroom and
doesn’t lose its
integrity when
overdriven, making
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• Mahogany If cut
to the proper
density, it can be
clearer and more
articulate than
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wrong, it is just
kind of funky and
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• Koa 6DPHDV
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• Figured mahogany6DPHDVPDKRJDQ\
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wood’s appearance and isn’t an indicator
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BAC K A ND S I D ES
• Brazilian Rosewood Good old-growth
Brazilian rosewood is dense and hard
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• Mahogany On the spectrum of bright
to dark, mahogany is toward the center,
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warmth, so it’s pleasant but has more
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• Koa ([WUHPHO\YDULDEOHLQGHQVLW\LW·VD
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• Maple %ULJKWZKLFKLVZK\\RXÀQGLW
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• Blackwood Bright, dense and hard like
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• Cocobolo Bright, clear and articulate
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• Walnut:KLOHLWOHDQVWRZDUGWKH
warmer end of the spectrum, walnut has
to be selected and cut to achieve those
qualities because, like koa, its density
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• Sycamore7KRXJKLWYDULHVDOORYHUWKH
place, it’s very much like mahogany
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• Indian rosewood Moving much more
toward the warmer end of the sonic
spectrum, with a darker tone, Indian
rosewood is also quite variable, so it
must be chosen and cut to achieve the
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In our next issue, we’ll wrap up our series by
learning how these woods can be manipulated
to achieve a desired balance of bass and treble
G U I T A R P L A Y E R . C O M