Hardwood tops

Subject: Hardwood tops
From: GUEST,Gordon
Date: 23 Jun 01 - 10:54 AM

Couldn't find that this is really addressed in the tonewood discussions. What would be the aim of building with a hardwood top, as in an all Mahogany guitar? What is the resultant difference in sound? I love Mahogany, and will someday buy it, but have never played an all Mahogany instrument.

A good week end to all, Gordon

Subject: RE: Hardwood tops
From: mooman
Date: 23 Jun 01 - 11:02 AM

Dear Gordon,

There are some very fine sounding guitars around from a variety of makers with mahogany tops and there is no reason at all why it should not be used as a tonewood.

There is a beautiful example at the following site:

http://www.mcelroyguitars.com/pagethree.html

All the best

mooman

Subject: RE: Hardwood tops
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Jun 01 - 11:09 PM

I have never been impressed with mahogany tops. Julie Henigan, from the Missouri Ozarks plays one, an old thirties Martin, but although she is a truly wonderful guitarist, she would sound much better with a spruce top, IMHO.

Murray

Subject: RE: Hardwood tops
From:
Date: 24 Jun 01 - 05:36 AM

I bought myself a Martin 000-15S last year. This is an all mahogony guitar modeled like an older Martin with the neck meeting the body at the 12th fret and a slotted head. The "15" means it is the simplest model--not much of a rose or binding.

I find it is very resonant and it is playing in beautifully. I got rid of the guitar I had before (a Maton with the highest class Sitka Spruce top) and use it as my only guitar. I shall not want another. My only (very minor) complaint is that it has a "D" type pickguard which doesn't go with the mahagony coloring. An all black one or none at all would have been better.

There is of course one advantage to a mahogony top. It is strong. It is less likely to crack and to get dented than spruce of cedar. (That sound is me knocking on wood.)

Murray

Subject: RE: Hardwood tops
From: Willie-O
Date: 24 Jun 01 - 08:58 AM

In a nutshell, mahogany tops have a very warm mellow "blended" sound, without as strong a treble or for that matter, as honkin' a bass as a softwood top provides. Makes a nice-sounding strumming guitar. For more intricate playing, I'd say they don't have the punch. (They're typically small-bodied guitars too.)

W-O