Spruce & mahog tops

[leerichards]

Guys, I wonder if anyone can give first hand description of the different sound characteristics between a spruce top and a mahogany top on the same body style eg OM etc. There have probably been other threads on this but I have missed them. And to pre-empt a response similar to an earlier one - while still a newbie, I asked for a comparison between the L body sound and the 000 body sound and was advised by another member that "you'll just have to try them both". So any advice a little...no... a lot more helpful than that would be appreciated. I have never heard a mahogany top and wonder how it differs tonally from spruce all (or most) other things being equal. Many thanks, Lee.

 

[petesmithguitarist]

Hmmm...good question...and impossible to answer...but if my life depended on giving one it would  conatin the word "woodier"...not much help I know, sorry. Pete

[obe-wan]

Gday Lee,

Its a difficult one but the best way I can describe it is the Spruce is brighter and a bit more refined in sound, and the Mahogany being slightly darker, woodier and bluesier.

Hope this was of some help.


Cheers, Scott.

[Blue in VT]

Yeah...a frequent question...do a search and you will find many threads...

My take on it follows many of the others above...a spruce topped guitar will be louder, brighter, and have a bit more sustain...also maybe a bit more punchy.  the hog top is more...subtle, woodier, midrange focused, quiter with faster tone decay...the bass is less crisp but has more soul... .... IMO....what it boils down to is....you need both...

here is the link to my soundclick page...all songs recorded on a OM-05MT to give you some idea of the tone.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=940646

Cheers,

Blue

[jeremy3220]

Here's another clip of a MT being played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkiNBy4AK_k

[SMixon]

I agree with Blue VT. I had a Hog top and now have a spruce top.  The sustain is a bit longer on the spruce and brighter and punchier, but the hog top also has to me a great Bluesy tone and is midrange focused.  Both have great characteristics and yes you should get both!
I like sustain and my hog top just wasn't giving me the sustain I wanted for my personal preference.  Having said that it was an amazing guitar and had a unique sound all it's own.  two completely different sounds.  Good Luck!

[BenF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n8IqtKX6HA

This cover inspired me to learn and record some Nick Drake tunes, and gave me GAS for a small bodied hog top guitar.  I love the way it sounds for this type of music.

I like the idea of an all hog Larrivee parlour, or a small Guild like this one.

[BluesMan1]

   Lee, to try to answer your question between the L's & OOO bodies. The L is Jean's brainchild design, really making people take notice of this style. Close to a slope-shouldered dread, but not quite the same. The closest thing to it is the Taylor GS series, which they basically stole from Larrivee. Differers maybe about an 1/8" in all dimensions. Can be flat picked, finger picked, both with great results. The OOO is closer to an OM, but not the same. CAN be played both ways, but really excels when finger picked. Here are the specs for both so you can see the difference in size, which should also let you imagine the difference in sound. The L is a much more versatile guitar, one for all styles & types of music. Everone should own an L body. Just a fantastic body style. Would love to own a OOO myself, being a great little blues size. Have wanted a Martin OOO-15s for a while, wanting an all HOG OOO, esp. 12 to the body/slot-head. Have decided to go another route in my final guitar.
   Here are the specs:
     "L": Upper-11.625",Waist-10.375",Lower-16",Depth-4.75",Length-40.75",Nut-1&3/4"
     "OOO":Upper-11.124",Waist-9.375",Lower-15.375",Depth-4.5",Length-40.0",Nut-1&13/16"
   If you notice visually, the L has an exaggerated widening with the lower bout, giving it its big sound. The bracing might be slightly different, as the OOO is only available in the "Traditional Series" & have a slot-head & 12 frets to the body. Gives them a bigger sound than you'd expect, but the L is a BIG sound. You really have to compare them by playing, also seeing which fits your style best, & your lap. Wouldn't give up my L-10 for any guitar. None. But it's like trying to compare apple to oranges. Just have to try them! Hope this helps.
     Jeff   

[ffinke]

I was on the Collings Forum last night and saw something of great value when talking about tone woods and this is from one of the foremost authorities on the subject: http://www.pantheonguitars.com/tonewoods.htm.

f

[teh]

In November 2005, I special ordered a Mahogany Top LV-03 12 string in part as a leap of faith and with some helpful guidance from Jim Holler. Prior to placing my order, I played a lots of spruce topped 12 strings including several Larrivee 03 and 05 models as well as an 09. I find that my MT has a more subdued, clearer (articulate) sound. I think it's easy to overpower and overplay a 12 string and I wanted all 12 strings to be heard. I also tune down a whole step to D to take some of the stress off the neck long term and to give me more bottom end. So far it's working.

On a related note, a few weeks ago I heard C.F. Martin IV speak at a Martin Clinic and he said that the major difference between Rosewood and Mahogany back and sides is that Mahogany is less forgiving. In other words, if you hit the wrong note with mahogany, you hear it. I thought that was a pretty fair description. That's why mahogany is so well loved by many because the flip side is better articulation.

P.S. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the forum membership.

[flathead]

Right above where you posted this, is the Larrivee sound clips there are D and L sound clips with spruce and Hog tops. They are not the best comparrision clips but they should give you a start,  or some small idea of the difference. Flathead

[leerichards]

Those are great answers, team. . It's hard to describe sound with words, but I really get a feel for what you are telling me. Actually I'm not in the market for a mahogany top, I have owned my beloved L03R for about sixteen months now but with so many members extolling the virtues of mahogany tops, I just wondered what gives. Now I know. But it also raises the question as to how many other suitable tonewoods there are out there for tops. Tradition rules with spruce, cedar and mahogany predominating. I have a luthier friend here in Dunedin, NZ who is currently constructing a guitar using exclusively NZ woods. For the top he is using NZ kauri, a golden, very straight and long grained timber, much used in furniture and boatbuilding (and unfortunately until we knew better, house framing). It works like butter and steambends (if required) like all get out. And for the b&s he is using puriri, an olive coloured hardwood, very dense and often with a specific gravity of over 1.0 ie doesn't float. I might humbly add that I supplied Steve with this puriri having discovered a single board of it in my stack which happened to be quarter sawn. If we could keep this thread running and collect reports of unorthodox top timbers, it would be most informative. Oh yes... Bluesman, thanks for the L & 000 comparison. I'm settled with my L now in terms of steelstring but I have just purchased a second hand LS03R classical from Jim. It's on it's way from Jamestown to NZ at the moment. So you'll understand if I admit to having those familiar labour pains while awaiting her arrival. With thanks again, Lee.