What wood is used for guitar body?

Some popular types of guitar woods are Alder, basswood, mahogany, swamp ash, walnut, koa, maple, rosewood, ebony, and wenge. Each of the wood types has its distinct features, including looks and tonal properties. Yes, there are other guitar wood types, but these are the most popular.

What wood is best for a guitar body?

Mahogany, mainly used in the acoustic world, for back and sides. It is the most commonly used hardwood because it's relatively economical, durable, attractive, easy to work with and resonant. Mahogany became popular in guitars because it is attractive and cheaper to get than rosewood.

What kind of wood is used to make guitars?

The majority of material comprising a modern guitar is wood. Typical woods used for the body and neck of a guitar today are Mahogany, Ash, Maple, Basswood, Agathis, Alder, Poplar, Walnut, Spruce, and holly. Woods from around the world are also incorporated into modern acoustic and electric guitars.

What kind of wood is best for electric guitar body?

Is alder better than basswood?

Top 3 - Popular Alder Guitars

Tonally, alder is similar to basswood, but brighter and with slightly less sustain. The mids of alder aren't as pronounced as basswood, but there is more emphasis on the highs and a bit more breathing room for the lows.

How To | Types of Wood for Guitar Necks

Is basswood better than mahogany?

Plus, mahogany is usually more valuable than basswood. Thus, you'll more likely find basswood on cheaper guitars. This is because mahogany is harder, more stable, and more durable. As far as necks go, there is little debate that mahogany is better.

Can you use oak for a guitar?

Wanabeeshedder- You can used oak for a guitar, it will be fine. You may need to chamber it as oak is a heavy wood. Quite a few guitars have been made of oak.

Is walnut good for guitars?

Walnut is remarkably easy to bend and work into guitar backs and sides. It's a great choice for acoustic and classical guitars and is an option available with several big-name manufacturers/brands. Walnut back and sides will yield a strong low-end and midrange response while maintaining the clarity it's known for.

Is Pine a good wood for guitars?

Pine is a good yet rare tonewood for solid electric guitar bodies and acoustic guitar tops. However, it's largely too soft and weak for use in necks (unless laminated with other wood), back and sides, or fretboards. It's lightweight and offers a warm tone with clear highs and decent projection.

What material are guitar bodies made of?

The majority of material comprising a modern guitar is wood. Typical woods used for the body and neck of a guitar today are Mahogany, Ash, Maple, Basswood, Agathis, Alder, Poplar, Walnut, Spruce, and holly.

Is maple good for guitar bodies?

Maple is an excellent tonewood for acoustic and classical guitars and is the only commercially-viable tonewood to be used in guitar bodies (tops, backs and sides), necks and fretboards. It's a beautiful-sounding tonewood with a bright tone, and the figured pieces look stunning as well.

Does guitar body wood matter?

The wood a guitar is made from affects the tone of acoustic and electric guitars, but has more impact on acoustic guitars. Denser woods create more sustain and a sharper tone. The body wood type affects the tone more compared to the neck and fretboard wood type.

Is Poplar good for guitar bodies?

Poplar is a superb solidbody wood, even though there's nothing particularly impressive about its tone. Tonewoods matter much less in electric guitars, which rely on the pickups, string, and gain stages for the overall tone. However, the balanced sound of poplar can make a decent-sounding body.

Is basswood a good guitar body?

But basswood is a good tonewood by any standards, and it has been used by many high-end makers with excellent results. It is a very light and fairly soft wood, and it's light in color, too, with minimal grain. Solid basswood bodies have a fat, but well-balanced tonality.

Which is heavier ash or alder?

Ash wood is slightly heavier than the Alder, weighing at around 3 – 3.6kg. But it must be kept in mind that the guitar's weight depends on how it's made. If the manufacturers want to keep the guitar-heavy, either one can be heavier or lighter.

Is Cedar good for guitars?

Cedar is the most popular top tonewood for classical guitars and is an excellent choice for steel-string acoustics as well. A variety of cedars can be seen in acoustic guitar tops and necks, though it's uncommon to see it used as a back and sides material and certainly as a fretboard material.

Is walnut better than mahogany?

Mahogany has a more 'classic' and antique look while walnut is more modern and understated. This means that some home aesthetics may suit one more than the other, but solid wood generally can work well in most settings, whether it's rustic or more contemporary in style.

Is mahogany good for guitars?

Mahogany produces a strong, earthy midrange tonality with subtle overtones, making for a sound that is often described as “non-abrasive.” Mahogany top guitars are great for playing blues and are also an excellent choice in situations where you are playing with other instruments, since they cut through so well.

Is cherry wood good for guitars?

Cherry is a rarely-used, medium-weight wood with a clean, balanced, articulate tone, making it a good choice for guitar bodies. Its stiffness and projection make it a decent top wood, while its bendability and strength make it a good back/side wood. Cherry is never used in fretboards.

Is Ash good guitar wood?

Ash is a very strong and dense hardwood that typically features straight grain and light colour. Sonically is produces more treble and good sustain which results in a brighter and more pronounced tone than some other tone woods.

What is the lightest tone wood?

Basswood is a lightweight tonewood that is relatively soft compared to other woods listed in this article, but it's abundant and therefore relatively cheap. Because of its soft and lightweight nature, it's never used as a laminate material, or on necks or fretboards.

Which is heavier basswood or mahogany?

Mahogany tends to be a darker and more resonant wood with punchy bass and mids but a bit subtle in the highs Goes great with maple to accentuate highs that the mahogany lacks. Basswood is a light weight wood that is very soft and has quite dominating midrange but not much sustain and small envelope.

What is basswood similar to?

Basswood is similar to the maples and ash in that it is the light-colored sapwood, which is usually preferred. The color of the sapwood can vary from a very white color to a very light brown or flesh color.