Main Forums => Larrivée Guitars => Topic started by: CycleBob on March 13, 2020, 03:45:33 PM

Title: Exotic Tone woods
Post by: CycleBob on March 13, 2020, 03:45:33 PM
Wasn't quite sure where to post this so I'll try here:

Other then your Standard woods ( Top: Spruce, Mahogany Cedar B&S Mahogany , Rosewood, Maple  What experiences have you had with different Tone woods??
I may soon be looking for either a Dread , L or OM and I am curious as to you impressions and experiences. If this makes a difference I'm a Strummer /Finger picker and a little Flat picking.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Exotic Tone woods
Post by: B0WIE on March 13, 2020, 04:14:40 PM
Species and individual samples of all woods vary a lot, and the way they are thinned has a huge impact so just take these as my personal experiences with a variety of guitars;

I think walnut is amazing and shamefully overlooked. Clarity often associated with mahogany, without the muddy low notes. Midrange is dry without a lot of overtones, but you get a lot of higher overtones that create a "sparkle" in the top end. Low end is defined and tight. Response is very fast and crisp. Probably on the same level of Brazilian as far as attack goes.

Koa is unique and pleasant, though I think it may be a bit overpriced due to rarity. Has a lot of upper-midrange overtones that give it a certain excited vibe. Takes forever for the low end to open up.

Cherry, in my limited experience, has a more dry, maple-like vibe in that it doesn't add much. Lets the strings speak and keeps the low end dry, which gives an old-school vibe good for folk, jazz, blues.

As far as spruce varieties go;
Adirondack (red) spruce gives a lot of "growl" and definition in the mids and lows due to heavy overtones there. It's pretty distinct and I hear this in my adi guitars and not others. You can tune adi-topped guitars very low and they still have defined bass.
Euro spruces don't have the same top end clarity as Sitka but they do have a greater sense of "warmth" because of heavier low and mid overtones.
Engleman seems to be between Sitka and European varieties. It's got good attack but has good low end fullness and sustain.
Title: Re: Exotic Tone woods
Post by: CycleBob on March 14, 2020, 04:44:05 AM
Thank you Bowie for the informed answer :thumbsup