You may have heard of players who swear by the tone of rosewood on acoustic guitars and wondered what the fuss is all about. The guitar community loves to talk about the tonal characteristics of various kinds of wood used in making the guitar, and while most of the discussion seems to be pointless, there are some facts that you should keep in mind. A beginner doesn’t necessarily need to know the ins and outs of his instrument but anybody who wants to understand their instrument more, or just know about these kinds of stuff will be very keen to know about tonewoods. In this short article, we take a look at the meaning and kinds of tonewood, along with the common ones and their characteristics. We will also be talking about the actual differences that could bump up the prices by a lot. So, let’s get started!
It’s hard to answer to what extent the significance lies, but it does have a considerable impact when it comes to the sound of an acoustic guitar. Electric guitars? Nope. You may already know that the body of an acoustic guitar works as a resonant chamber, and that is what provides the necessary punch. The string vibrations are amplified by the hollow chamber beneath the soundhole, and while the nut, bridge, and strings all play a role in the tone, the top plays the most important role. An acoustic guitar can have a solid wood body, or a solid top, or just a laminate top. I would say that solid wood is the ideal choice but getting a solid top with the tonewood of choice on the top and laminate back and sides is also not a bad idea. Laminate means that the wood fibers are glued together firmly. This is what cheaper guitars have, and luckily, laminate guitar tops are less susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. You may also hear about plywood top, and that also refers to the same thing. A solid top guitar will have a laminate back and sides but a single wooden top, or two pieces of wood glued together as the top. Most mid-range guitars belong to this category. Having a solid top will offer a resonance advantage over a laminate top. Lastly, a solid wood body means that the back, sides, and top are all made out of the same wood, usually mahogany or Alder. It’s very common to find solid wood in the upper echelon of acoustic guitars.
The wood itself is light and super comfortable on your hands, but the natural finish looks pretty bad. As we discussed earlier, the use of softwood such as basswood won’t lead to much durability, but for somebody just starting out, any instrument they can lay their hands on will be fine. As the wood isn’t too dense, basswood tends to be damaged pretty easily. That’s why it’s very easy to find dents on a beginner guitar. Despite that, basswood lends itself to use in the entire body of an electric guitar as a versatile tonewood. Would I recommend this? If you are just starting out on a low budget, go for it! For players just getting started, a focus on durable and affordable options can make for the best electric guitar for beginners.
Next, we have a softwood- Alder. While I call it a softwood, it’s actually harder than Basswood or Poplar, and so, can be a bit pricy. Alder is denser than basswood, so it has more sustain and holds up better. Some companies also use Pau Ferro wood on their frets, and personally, I find that Alder has similar characteristics as Pau Ferro. It’s common to find Alder on the body of mid-priced Fenders and Ibanez guitars. Many other mid-range electric guitar options also utilize tonewoods like Alder for their construction, offering a versatile sound for players. Mahogany is a fantastic tonewood for all kinds of instruments. It’s dense and dark, and the aesthetic factor is what makes it look so beautiful. Mahogany is also an appealing trait with a reddish tint on the finishes. The hardwood is an excellent choice for both neck and body, and if you are looking at a mahogany solid wood guitar, it will most likely cost you over a thousand dollars. For players considering high-quality instruments, exploring detailed electric guitar reviews for specific models like the Ibanez S521 can help in choosing a guitar with the right tonewood and features. Poplar is a softwood that’s less dense than Alder. It is not that hard to work with and is also more durable than Basswood. You would find Poplar in entry-level Squiers as well as Jackson guitars. Is poplar a bad tonewood? Nope. Players say the wood offers a bright mellow sound that would be good for rock and country. I don’t think the tone on an electric guitar has much to do with the wood choices on the instrument itself. Common in the South, the Ashwood grows in swamps and marshes below the water level. Ash is actually not that common in other parts of the world, and hence, can be pretty costly. Mid-range Fenders and Ibanez guitars tend to use Ash a lot. The wood looks elegant and beautiful with a natural finish, so using it is not a bad idea. It also has a creamy color with a refined grain that looks sweet. Woods like walnut are considered exotic as the woods offer a fantastic finish to the instrument. When shopping for a guitar for beautiful grain patterns, you may also want to look for sustainable alternatives. Some brands tend to go out of their way to source responsibly, and some of these do end up as popular choices among guitarists. In my personal experience, owning a guitar with exotic woods can be awesome but it does not necessarily make you a better player.
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What is Tonewood?
Well.. Tonewood is a term given to any kind of wood that’s used in the construction of instruments like guitars, violins, cello, ukulele, and so on. You can use a variety of woods to make an instrument. And turns out, there are several things that affect how the tone of the finished instrument will sound. Common woods used are Alder, Poplar, and Ash, and you will also find that, very often, manufacturers tend to use the woods that grow near the region. There’s a reason South America uses Ash a lot, and that’s because Swamp Ash grows there, and the sourcing costs would be minimal. Wood can also be categorized as being soft or hard. The density has a positive effect on the sustain and probably resonance. Softwoods, like Poplar and basswood, are super cheap, and also easier to work with. If you think of the tone these provide, it would be a bright one. Hardwoods, like mahogany, are harder to work with, and that shows in the cost of the finished product. Regardless of that, using mahogany makes the guitar very durable as well as resonant, so it’s a great idea.Does Tonewood Matter?
Now that we know a bit about tonewoods, it’s time to tackle the ultimate question about tonal qualities. Does tonewood actually matter when it comes to the sound?
It’s hard to answer to what extent the significance lies, but it does have a considerable impact when it comes to the sound of an acoustic guitar. Electric guitars? Nope. You may already know that the body of an acoustic guitar works as a resonant chamber, and that is what provides the necessary punch. The string vibrations are amplified by the hollow chamber beneath the soundhole, and while the nut, bridge, and strings all play a role in the tone, the top plays the most important role. An acoustic guitar can have a solid wood body, or a solid top, or just a laminate top. I would say that solid wood is the ideal choice but getting a solid top with the tonewood of choice on the top and laminate back and sides is also not a bad idea. Laminate means that the wood fibers are glued together firmly. This is what cheaper guitars have, and luckily, laminate guitar tops are less susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. You may also hear about plywood top, and that also refers to the same thing. A solid top guitar will have a laminate back and sides but a single wooden top, or two pieces of wood glued together as the top. Most mid-range guitars belong to this category. Having a solid top will offer a resonance advantage over a laminate top. Lastly, a solid wood body means that the back, sides, and top are all made out of the same wood, usually mahogany or Alder. It’s very common to find solid wood in the upper echelon of acoustic guitars.Tonewoods on an electric guitar
Since acoustic and electric guitars are made differently, the woods used tend to be very different. The following woods are used to make the neck/body of an electric guitar:Basswood
Basswood is probably the most common type of tonewood of all time. And for a good reason- it’s super cheap! The use of basswood isn’t just limited to guitars; it’s common to find basswood being used on all beginner instruments including cellos and violins.
The wood itself is light and super comfortable on your hands, but the natural finish looks pretty bad. As we discussed earlier, the use of softwood such as basswood won’t lead to much durability, but for somebody just starting out, any instrument they can lay their hands on will be fine. As the wood isn’t too dense, basswood tends to be damaged pretty easily. That’s why it’s very easy to find dents on a beginner guitar. Despite that, basswood lends itself to use in the entire body of an electric guitar as a versatile tonewood. Would I recommend this? If you are just starting out on a low budget, go for it! For players just getting started, a focus on durable and affordable options can make for the best electric guitar for beginners.Alder
Next, we have a softwood- Alder. While I call it a softwood, it’s actually harder than Basswood or Poplar, and so, can be a bit pricy. Alder is denser than basswood, so it has more sustain and holds up better. Some companies also use Pau Ferro wood on their frets, and personally, I find that Alder has similar characteristics as Pau Ferro. It’s common to find Alder on the body of mid-priced Fenders and Ibanez guitars. Many other mid-range electric guitar options also utilize tonewoods like Alder for their construction, offering a versatile sound for players.Mahogany
Mahogany is a fantastic tonewood for all kinds of instruments. It’s dense and dark, and the aesthetic factor is what makes it look so beautiful. Mahogany is also an appealing trait with a reddish tint on the finishes. The hardwood is an excellent choice for both neck and body, and if you are looking at a mahogany solid wood guitar, it will most likely cost you over a thousand dollars. For players considering high-quality instruments, exploring detailed electric guitar reviews for specific models like the Ibanez S521 can help in choosing a guitar with the right tonewood and features.Poplar
Poplar is a softwood that’s less dense than Alder. It is not that hard to work with and is also more durable than Basswood. You would find Poplar in entry-level Squiers as well as Jackson guitars. Is poplar a bad tonewood? Nope. Players say the wood offers a bright mellow sound that would be good for rock and country. I don’t think the tone on an electric guitar has much to do with the wood choices on the instrument itself.Ash
Common in the South, the Ashwood grows in swamps and marshes below the water level. Ash is actually not that common in other parts of the world, and hence, can be pretty costly. Mid-range Fenders and Ibanez guitars tend to use Ash a lot. The wood looks elegant and beautiful with a natural finish, so using it is not a bad idea. It also has a creamy color with a refined grain that looks sweet.Tonewoods on an Acoustic Guitar
An acoustic guitar often uses tonewoods very differently from an electric guitar. On high-end guitars, the top may be a solid piece or two parts cut out of a single piece of wood. Cheaper guitars tend to have bass bodies, and spruce, maple, and mahogany are the common tonewoods used in acoustic guitars. Following are the woods commonly used choice for acoustic necks and bodies that have a sparkly tone: Similarly, understanding the tonewoods used in an acoustic bass guitar can greatly influence its sound and playability.Spruce
Spruce is a super common choice on the acoustic guitar for making the body top with a well-balanced tone. Sitka spruce variety is widely used, and it’s the one we will talk about here. The wood is light and not too dense, and that makes it easier to work with. It imparts a bright tone that suits fingerstyle as well as a wide variety of musical styles. If you are unsure about what tonewood would be the most versatile, sticking with the Sitka Spruce top is a great idea.Mahogany
Mahogany is a fantastic tonewood, and as I’ve mentioned earlier, it’s a hardwood that is dense and imparts sustain. On an acoustic guitar, a mahogany top provides an enhanced bass response meaning that the low ends are a lot louder. It gives a solid fundamental tone, which could also be called a resonant tone. The darker tone from Mahogany is very desirable in genres like folk and country. Mahogany necks are usually priced above cheap entry-level guitar necks, and so, can cost a bit more but they are well worth the price.Rosewood
Rosewood is one of the best tonewoods for acoustic guitars. The wood has a brighter tone that’s very hard to replicate. However, the rapid use of rosewood for instrument-making has caused the decline of these vegetations and so, CITES has banned the use of rosewood to make guitars. As for the tonal characteristics of rosewood, the sound you get is a deep and dark one with robust low end and crisp high-end. Indian rosewood is frequently used to keep prices low and for a dynamic range of warm tones. Compared to its Brazilian counterpart, Indian rosewood is a bit thin-sounding. You can still find rosewood necks on guitars, and if you have the budget, it’s going to be well worth the price.Koa
Koa is a tonewood on the expensive side. It’s actually one of the priciest woods on this list, and that’s because of its exceptional performance while recording. The Koa hardwood is tonally bright and slightly mellow, and the natural finish looks great on this. If you have the money, you can definitely go for this one!Maple
If you’ve read some of my acoustic guitar reviews on this site, you already know that most guitars I review have a maple neck with a Spruce top. Maple is fairly common as a tonewood on guitars, and it imparts a bright tone. Unlike ebony that has a darker look, maple has a light-colored aesthetic.Exotic woods
Woods like walnut are considered exotic as the woods offer a fantastic finish to the instrument. When shopping for a guitar for beautiful grain patterns, you may also want to look for sustainable alternatives. Some brands tend to go out of their way to source responsibly, and some of these do end up as popular choices among guitarists. In my personal experience, owning a guitar with exotic woods can be awesome but it does not necessarily make you a better player.Bottom Line
How good a guitar sounds depends on a lot of factors like the quality of each individual piece of wood used, strings, intonation, and of course, the player! There are a lot of woods that you can choose from when it comes to the tonewood on your guitar. I would suggest sticking to the woods that you can afford in your price range as it doesn’t matter much on cheaper guitars or more expensive ones. If you are unsure of what to get, you can go for a Sitka spruce top with a maple neck and poplar on an electric. Often, guitars feature a combination of tonewoods- where one is paired with another for the desired effect. Once you have played many instruments, you will develop a preference and find something that you really love to play. For those looking to expand their sonic palette or seeking portable gear, exploring options like the best mini amp can significantly enhance practice and performance.FAQ
Does tonewood matter on an electric guitar?
There is a lot of consensuses that tonewoods do not affect the tone of electric guitar. Components like pickups, strings, bridge, and the neck-body joint type are more crucial to the tone characteristics.Are all guitars made from wood?
While most guitars are made out of wood, some companies do make guitars out of carbon fiber or Aluminium, or even glass. Substitute materials tend to last longer than wood due to being immune to humidity changes. As for the sound, these sound vastly different from the wooden or laminate top guitars. You will have to look for yourself to find what you like.Exploring Fretless Bass Guitars
Beyond the materials used in their construction, instruments also vary significantly in design, affecting playability and tone. While most guitars and bass guitars feature frets to guide note placement, a distinct type of instrument, the fretless bass guitar, offers a unique playing experience. These instruments omit frets, providing a smooth fretboard that allows for continuous pitch variation, similar to a cello or violin. This design choice opens up a distinct tonal palette, often characterized by a rich, 'mwah' sound and expressive glissandos, appealing to musicians seeking a different sonic texture and nuanced control over their notes. Understanding these design choices helps players appreciate the vast array of musical instruments available.