An acoustic guitar has a complex physical vibratory system, and the quality of the sound is related to the wood that it is made from. The work of a good luthier (the person who makes a stringed instrument) and the right wood will result in a quality acoustic guitar.
Depending on its wood, a guitar will have a specific tone, sound characteristics, and durability. In addition, depending on the wood, guitars differ in their price, which can vary wildly. That’s why here we wanted to take a closer look at what whoo acoustic guitars are made from.
What Wood Are Acoustic Guitars Made From?
Knowing the material of the best acoustic guitars will allow you to make the right choice. These are the woods commonly used to manufacture guitars and their characteristics:
Alder
Alder is a durable wood capable of resisting humidity. It is common in mid-high range guitars because it has a clean tone with good highs and good bass. It is the wood used by the famous Fender brand.
Maple
This wood is characterized by its high resistance and density. It is ideal for the construction of necks. A maple guitar generates a brilliant sound. Its strong point is the production of medium-high and high tones, but it sacrifices low frequencies.
Mahogany
Mahogany produces a warm and even sweet sound. The equalization of a guitar made of this wood favors the low frequencies of the guitar, so it adds body to the sounds produced.
Ebony
Ebony is a wood used in fretboards. It has a bright touch and outstanding durability. Usually, these guitars sacrifice the low frequencies.
Ash
The sound of ash is bright. It is a resistant but porous wood. Ash requires the use of sealants. As for its equalization, it gives an optimal response in any frequency range.
Koa
Koa comes from Hawaii and is a dense wood with an opaque sound. The constitution of this woodcut the high notes, and its expressiveness is relatively low. A detail of Koa wood is its high cost due to its specific origin and scarcity.
Walnut
Walnut is a dense wood that produces a warm sound, although exceedingly bright. It is heavy wood, so it is not usually used to build the whole body of the guitar but parts of it. Its strong point is the low frequencies.
Pine
In the market, you can find acoustic guitars made of pine because it is an easily workable wood. This wood is used in low-range guitars. It is less resistant to humidity and requires special care.
Acoustic Guitar Wood Quality
A guitar with tuning problems and poor sonority is generally made of poor quality or improperly treated wood. Consider that an excellent classical or acoustic guitar always has a solid wood top. A good guitar is not made of plywood. Plywood is very resistant to vibration, so it produces less volume.
A simple check of the quality of the instrument is to tap it gently on the back. Check if the sound is stable. If you hear hollow parts or a very different sound in some places, it may be that this guitar has patches or is plywood.