What’s Your Preferred Acoustic Guitar Wood?

[Richard G]

This YouTube clip from Anderton’s TV explores the sounds produced by three acoustic guitars built with differing wood combinations. To keep all other things as consistent as possible during the experiment, the guitars were all from the same manufacturer, ie, Martin and all were of the Dreadnought shape.

I certainly had a preferred wood combination, what do you think?

Richard

[Gordon T]

I prefer Mahogany but it is a very subjective choice much like which strings you prefer.

[Martin W]

Hi Richard, interesting comparison, they all sound great , the D18 sounds more punchy , D28 has more projection and overall brightness and the D15 sounds a lot more mellow , and not as bright , I think if I had to choose it would be between the first two probably the D28 but would definitely have to play them first .
As a side note I have two acoustics one spruce / rosewood and the other cedar / mahogany they both have there characteristics and I like them equally, I had a all mahogany guitar and sold it just didn’t project enough , I guess because of the density of the wood .

Martin

[charjo]

Hi Richard,
I do like the warmth of the D18. I would probably prefer that if I was playing solo. I think the D28 would cut through a mix a little better. I believe you can hear the difference with eyes on but, having said that, I mucked up the blinded challenge in the end.
John

[Richard G]

Same here John, on the blindfold challenge I should have looked away when the first guitar was passed to Ben.

Richard

[Ralph P.]

I’ve always been a Rosewood Acoustic Guy Richard. One of the best sounding and playing acoustics I ever played was a Gibson SJ-200 with Maple back and sides. Amazing sound, but the thing was huge and not very comfortable to play.

(And I did pass the blindfold test).

Rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, “Martin” on the headstock. Does it for me.

Ralph

Ralph P.

[GnLguy]

Richard
A few years ago, I would have told you that my preference was spruce top guitar with solid rosewood back & sides

That was before I came across my Breedlove guitar that is made with solid Myrtlewood top, back & sides.

To my ear, it is the best sounding acoustic that I’ve played/owned. I’m sure that there are better if I wanted to spend a lot more money

Breedlove tap tunes their tops to have a very balanced tone – I’ve likened it to an electric guitar that had a compressor on it. The volume of the strings from the 1st to the 6th is pretty much equal. Should my guitar be stolen or destroyed, I could have one built that the tone would be very close because Breedlove records all of their USA model guitar tone as they tap tune it. They have a video of the process on their website

Some have likened the tone of Myrtlewood to mahogany on steroid. Its loud, its very clear with no muddy bass tones. It is “my guitar” and I don’t have any desire to look at anything else

Keith
aka GnLguy

[Gordon T]

It would be a better comparison if all the guitars were the same model

[Jean-Michel G]

In a way they are, since they are all Dreadnoughts. I suppose all Dreadnought Martin guitars are built the same (other than the woo, of course)?

The D-18 sounded best to my ears, but while the D-15 definitely sounds different and is easily recognizable, it is much harder to tell the D-18 and D28 apart in a blind test.

[Author]

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