My question has always been why, other than tradition and superstition, is it important if it sounds like an archtop. Gibson "Modern Archtop" -- when was this... Fingerstyle single note runs - classical vs other techniques on steel strings, The Trenier “ Georgian “ serial number 150. Be well! Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk. Higher-end solid top guitars usually cost $500 or more. I was thinking of it as a F Lydian Dom/B altered chord, which relates to the Op. Some of them have been prettier than others, wide grain, tight grain, it doesn't seem to matter. I will not bore you to tears with the physics involved, but my opinion and experience is that pretty much there is a smooth continuum from closer-to-the-bridge to up against the FB (which varies based on the number of frets). :listening_headphone, And Kevin Eubanks on acoustic steel string playing line 'thumb in' in alternate p-i-p-i technique Carved or not. That could be F lydian dominant. The top wood of an acoustic guitar isnât just the first bit that you notice; it plays a pivotal part in your instrumentâs sound. A solid body or a semi-hollow are much more convenient, so if there's no obvious tonal payoff from the archtop, why go that way? It's not just a choice between maple of spruce for the top of an acoustic archtop, but whether the top, regardless of material is laminated or carved. 1952 Gibson ES 350 versus 1998 Gibson Tal Farlow, Very special NGD: One of Tal's - Tal Farlow. A player with a good touch will get an incredible variety of tones and timbres from a spruce top guitar. What do you guys know about this SS Stewart Archtop? Also, if you dig the Gretsches why not look at one of the lower end models like a 5120 strictly set up for jazz? But, if it will mostly be played acoustically, it is an important factor. years ago Martin made some of the standard D- series guitars with maple tops. Context for the Englemann, Sitka Choice Whilst it is true that Englemann and Sitka have different sounds qualities, and one may be more suited than the other for a particular purpose, itâs also true that the points below will hold true to varying degrees. If you paired Walnut back and sides with a Cedar top and a smaller guitar this would be great for finger-style. For acoustic guitars, arch or flattop, maple is generally regarded as a great material for back and sides, but not for the top as it's a very hard, hardwood & simply can't move and resonate the way a softer conifer can. Spruce top guitars have a wonderful blooming tone, with bell-like trebles and basses that are low and full but tend more toward the mid range. Sides and back generally will be hard woods, for reflection. You could also replace the metal bridge saddle with a wood saddle. Maple, mahogany, and rosewood are three of our most popular acoustic guitar tonewoods, appearing all across the Taylor line. It's heavier, less vibration with faster decay. The top (also referred to as the soundboard) is one of the components that stands in between your strings and the bulk of the guitarâs body, so the wood used has to be carefully considered. Sometimes there is no simple answer to a simple question, and trying to make up one will be overly simplistic and will not cover the real life situation. but, spruce would by far be the choice for an acoustic archtop. Hard to describe verbally, bearclaw looks a bit like it sounds like a bear used the tree to sharpen its claws and left small waves in the grain which may or may not be symmetrical on both sides of the top. Maple necks can impart a bright, poppy tone that can do much to reinforce the top end of a large-bodied guitar, while mahogany necks help push the overall palette into a warmer, more woody tonal range. This thread seems to be going in circles. Can someone tell me why and what is the advantage of one over the other when it comes to acoustic versions of archtops, rather than electric? And a question for the OP, if you really think the construction of the body matters so little, why would you bother with an archtop? Recommended Posts. Yes, it will have an impact. For an amplified semi-hollow body, a laminated top with a maple top layer of the veneer is the usual route. Is it worth $575 Cdn ($450 US)? Though far less common as a tonewood, Maple nonetheless features on some of the most popular acoustic guitars ever made (the Gibson J-200, for example). Is that a vintage pickup? This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. And better yet, own it for a while - gig with it, noodle on it, play it acoustically and plugged in (if applicable) through various amps. The thing that I truly find unappealing in a guitar is grain runout on the top. Back to top Hawaiian Koa. You might have a nice one. Reaper JS Amp - YouTube, Yes .. That thread is what I instantly thought of when I your post. Its extraordinary tone, prized for its projection and tonal clarity, has created a resurgence of demand for âAdirondackâ spruce. I could also add that you could raise the action a bit to get that clean tone without metallic string slap. Solid tops demand more care since they're more fragile when dropped or knocked around. For the Tired Few - What keeps you trying to learn to play Jazz after years of trying. Generally with acoustic guitars with solid wood tops, a soft wood like spruce is used. Other than my perceived difference in quality of the top wood, the hardware and inlays are the only difference between the standard and custom. Striking (or tapping) and flexing a maple plate and a spruce plate of equal dimensions will tell the story there, maple sounds like wet cardboard, spruce sounds like a gong, maple will be much more pliable along the grain, but stiffer across. I find that spruce tops give a more hi-fi, more complex, and less ''fat'' tone than maple ply. A heavier, flat-sounding and often beautiful wood of which there are several species, maple is used in acoustic guitars because of its sonically âtransparentâ qualities, which let the tonal character of the top ring through without significant tone coloration from the back and sides. I don't know a thing about this particular model, but given the set-in Dearmond and the tune-o-matic type bridge (which seems to be screwed in place, though that is simple enough to address) it looks... We were discussing G7/B. >>> [acoustic guitars] make one with mahogany back and sides and one with rosewood back & sides (or one with a spruce top and one with a cedar top), and they WILL sound different, and those generalizations on tone WILL be valid. A carved maple top vs a laminated maple top(same goes for spruce)...Carved has a more rich a voice, if it's done right. If so I got it wrong. Archived. So if youâre debating between a guitar that has Sitka or Englemann Spruce as the top, read on to see which might suit your needs better. Maple . There is no discern-able sweet spot at the measured 24th fret location - unless you only play open strings. For nylon string acoustics, right? Between 1991 and 1992. Not sure I get where that come in but, sure why not? Basically, just wanted to know if a maple-topped (laminate) instrument, with the right pickups, can have the same plugged-in tone of a spruce-topped (laminate). There is a reason I donât usually make guitars with Sitka spruce soundboards: Iâve not liked the majority of guitars Iâve tried that had Sitka spruce soundboards. I think Simon Patrick also offers maple top guitars. I'd want to put some reverb on it but will leave that to you. All of these minutiae are fascinating and fun to talk about. 26th May 2017. And while itâs true that there are a lot of different factors that contribute to the sounds we hear emanating from an acoustic guitar and the terminology we use to describe it, including the size and shape of the body, the method of construction, the guitarists technique etc. Original bridge? You can hone in on electric tops, including the popular flamed Maple used on Les Paul and PRS brand instruments, and a wide variety of exotic wood guitar tops. Lovely to look at, but they sounded bright to the point of sounding thin. Carved top spruce guitars can't be beat for response, with a pressed spruce next best & laminate trails the field. I think cedar is more aimed at classical guitars, correct? Rather than shaping the sound resonating from the top of the guitar, maple amplifies it. ... Marcus Dominelli on whether spruce guitars project better: When comparing spruce and cedar guitars, ... My understanding of wood like maple is that it dampens the sound, thus its use in bowed instruments. In a good maple flat-top, the effect of maple can be like having an individual volume slider for the treble, middle, and bass register of the guitar. Happy Birthday Jim Hall - So What's Your Favorite JH Album? No absolutes. Anyone know the details on this guitar? It is a nice choice for inlay and electric guitar tops but is not a good choice for thin acoustic guitar plates. Red spruce was abundant in the 1930s and used on Martin guitars of that era. With electric archtops they come in both maple and spruce. Kevin Eubanks guitar solo "In A Few" - YouTube. Try different strings on it. I have had solid maple topped Heritage H-575 archtops (they look like Gibson ES-175 models, and have pickups. Maple is often used for "tops" layers of wood which may vary from a very thin 0.7mm veneer, to 6-7mm thick drop tops, to 10-18mm thick wonderful figured tops which are glued onto the guitar body and then carved to add brightness and a sharper attack to more neutral woods like ⦠Then between carved, pressed and laminated, in theory, carved is best followed by pressed then laminated, but in practice, it comes down to the builder and how they voice the guitar and what voice you want. The sapele version we bought unheard from an online picture but based on the evenness and ⦠I see most come with spruce rather than maple. A carved solid maple electric archtop might be fine ( I made one in 1976..it's acoustic properties were not useful for acoustic music.) Boutique builders will often utilize more exotic wood species, such as Brazilian rosewood, cocobolo, or koa, but the limited supply of these materials means that these options â though visually striking â are simply not available at the more modest price points. Cedar vs Spruce Tops: tonewoods for classical guitar. The neck pickup of the L-4CES is situated at the end of the fretboard whereas the one in the ES-175 is at the imaginary 24th fret. Whether that is good or bad depends on what you are looking for. Spruce vs. Cedar top lattice bracing classical guitar comparison. Presenting, Spruce top vs. Cedar top Sound Produced by Spruce. With fewer clashing overtones, itâs easier to lift up your melody over your accompaniment, emphasize some interesting middle movement, or break up your basso ostinato with a dramatic run. Why I donât make sitka spruce guitars, and why I do make torrefied sitka spruce guitars. No mushy chords with that one. I just did a sound example, this is just the plugin, no tweak to the EQ, no effects. I know very well what the difference is acoustically. I have a 1936 SS Stewart acoustic archtop and it's, well I forgot, have to check it out but it's the garage but I think it's spurce as well. Spruce has a much more complex high end. I seem to remember playing an Epiphone Olympia or Olympic archtop that had a maple top. Or not carved? I hear about the pluses and minues of both and the pluses and minuses of solid vs. laminate. One point beyond tonality is that spruce has a better stiffness to mass ratio so it makes lighter tops and that in most cases translates to louder. The spruce-topped guitars I've played have all been slightly louder acoustically than their maple-topped counterparts, with a warmer and richer tone. Used On: The 700 Series, 510ce, 516ce, DN7, Limited Editions, Custom Guitars Engelmann is also known as white, European or German spruce, although they are technically different species. I think Carvin might be doing carved hollow electrics...? For those who want the best possible projection, tone, and balance should consider owning a spruce guitar. Please help support the Gretsch Pages through Paypal. Thanks guys. It means nothing. Archtops don't vary quite as much I but they do vary and that's great. I thought your thread heading "Spruce vs. But, yes, that was pretty much my point in my earlier posts. H575 - spruce or maple top? If you paired it with a Spruce top and a larger guitar it would be bolder and more aggressive for strummers and flat-pickers. So will the neck wood type & profile, the neck block & tail block construction, the thickness of the top, thickness of the paint, how much glue is used in the laminates, how thick the veneers are, how many grain lines, the type of bridge, nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, pickups themselves, bracing, kerfing & on & on. Why I donât make sitka spruce guitars. Most archtop guitars have spruce tops, so letâs consider what a spruce-topped archtop can sound like when combined with maple or mahogany. However if you were in that studio standing next ti the guitar you would hear the difference. The Tal Farlow and ES-350 (full size version) are both laminated maple top equivalents of the L-5CES, which has a carved spruce top. Bearclaw : Also known as hazelfichte, is found in only in softwoods. And after owning nearly 100 guitars over 35 years, I am pretty good at it. Who has some great photos of old L5s or Super 400s. And so does the choice of pick and picking position. The coupling of a spruce top with rosewood or mahogany back and sides is a tough combination to beat, because the results consistently sound so good. Spruce has a very direct sound that it can be compared to a golden bell-like sound. Heritage Guitars ; H575 - spruce or maple top? But I have also been surprised and proven wrong by individual instruments more times than I can count. V7#11 to the tonic, any Great American Songbook tune really call for this? Sapele: Sapele is similar to Mahogany but there are some subtle differences. The flatwounds you mention means more. Maple is much heavier & more dense. Supplier of high quality tonewoods specializing in figured maple and exotic hardwoods. Lovely arrangement and playing! I didn't know how much of a role the top wood actually played when plugging a guitar in. I prefer spruce in acoustic arctops but I was asking because I have a cheapo Sam Ash Brownsville acoustic archtop that was about $129 about 2002 and sounds pretty good but you are right it's bright. With a B in the bass, if you want to think of it as B lyddom, you would have B D# F A. Koa is generally only to be found in special or limited edition guitars as it is a rare and costly material. For example: Yes, the complexity of real life can truly be confusing. Cannonball never forgot his Bop... Why would you think of it as B Lydian dominant? So after initially getting very excited about Steve's gorgeous guitar above I was brought crashing down to earth by the hefty import tax. Thanks for the clarification... because that is what my original post is specifically about, and why I asked in the first place. I saw another test were nearly everyone guessed the les paul. Conversely, the Martins that I've bought had adirondack spruce tops. Maple instruments sound loud and bright and possess a tone focussed on the fundamental with very little overtone. Quilted, flame, fiddleback and curly maple guitar tops. That's part of the fun (and occasional frustration) of the learning process. T he top of your guitar, the soundboard, is less than ¼ inch thick, and itâs either a solid piece or a layered laminate top. Spruce top guitars vary in the quality of tone they produce. (Behind sofa) There are so many variables that go into a guitar build that you can't pin every ounce of your tone down to the top plate. Don’t forget Cannonball, also on KOB, was straight out of the hard bop era. I can predict and generalize the response, tone, or impact of a given guitar component/feature all day long. Then you would be very nicely in business. Maple is much more direct with less tonal complexity. It sounds better unplugged, and ages better. That's my recollection, too, said differently. It was a small run, can't recall if it was 50 of each color or 50 in total? When we bought our spruce top D Jr there were two in the store at the time and the difference in sound was clear and distinguishable. They were built by Harmony, right? Read on for the full lowdown! Spruce is a softer wood than maple, so is typically more resonant. ANy other thoughts at all? Don't be a stranger! There isn't just one sound out there. If you can follow the grain continuously along the entire edge as in this image the guitar has a solid top soundboard. It's quick, easy, and much appreciated. I don't think I've ever seen a purely acoustic guitar with a maple top. Quite a popular option on flat tops these days, but I don’t know about its use for archtop guitars. The amp can be a huge factor. However, other options arguably have more visual appeal: North American flame maple, for instance, as well as ⦠Spruce top guitars also have a tone palette that is sensitive and highly nuanced. We want the opposite for an acoustic guitar top. I do not subscribe to the idea that the 24th fret position is in any way magical. But arguably the most important component is the top wood; in this article, we'll delve deeper into the debate of solid tops vs. laminate tops. What do you guys know about this SS Stewart... Looks Like I Am Getting My D'Angelico EX-SS Back, 2015 Gibson Solid Formed - Sunrise Tea Burst. This is why I constantly roll my eyes at the jillions of threads on this sort of subject, but I also can't help but read them all. RED SPRUCE PICEA RUBENS. Carved top spruce guitars can't be beat for response, with a pressed spruce next best & laminate trails the field. Gibson "Modern Archtop" -- when was this available? Cannonball blended bebop, soul, RnB, and kept the music moving forward much like Miles did. What you quote from my post is about. I was just curious your thoughts and wondering if many acoustic archtops were made with maple other than what I have. (1) I prefer the Maple and Koa tops to the Spruce top for acoustic sounds (2) I find that custom Maple and Spruce tops look and sound a bit nicer than standard Maple and Spruce tops To each his own. When applied to new acoustic guitar tops, torrefaction gives them a similar molecular composition - and therefore tonal response - to vintage guitars tops after decades of aging. No real flowing harmonic overtones, bright, to the point, maybe "tinny" or "metallic" is another word. Nat Cole trio "It's Only A Paper Moon" - YouTube. Picups don't make most of the difference. They also can crack or warp if regularly exposed to low or high relative humidity. Maple. Welcome back, Kalampati! Sorry heres a response that might actually help lol. How about for acoustic archtops? Solid vs Ply is also an audible difference. You might prefer the sound of a laminated top over a carved or you might not. It is usually visually distinguishable from Sitka by its creamier complexion. Narrow in on tops made from German Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Redwood, Cedar, and several other enticing species. If anything, it shows that in a studio or recording you can get pretty much any guitar to sound like anything. The solid formed concept is a great way to make great-sounding acoustic archtops while conserving precious tone wood - namely spruce. Definitely will cut through everything else, and will be heard. For acoustic guitars, arch or flattop, maple is generally regarded as a great material for back and sides, but not for the top as it's a very hard, hardwood & simply can't move and ⦠About 10 (or more -?) Maple should also improve with time and frequent playing. I don't necessarily subscribe to the "louder is better" theory with acoustic instruments, there are many factors to consider, volume is one. I have a 6120 with a PAF style humbucker in the neck and a Filtertron wound to match in the bridge and it could certainly do what you want all day long.....through the right amp. On tops made from German spruce, Sitka spruce, even better yet vs. Cedar top and a smaller this. Acoustically than spruce vs maple top guitar maple-topped counterparts, with a maple top might make for a brighter electric archtop might. Tight grain, it shows that in a guitar is grain runout the... Tonic, any great American Songbook tune really call for this resurgence demand. Get where that come in both maple and exotic hardwoods make great-sounding acoustic archtops were made maple! Exists, but spruce vs maple top guitar don ’ t forget cannonball, also on KOB, was straight out of a guitar! The fun ( and occasional frustration ) of the hard bop era i your post exotic. Compared to spruce vs maple top guitar golden bell-like sound like what i have clearer, balanced, and appreciated! 'Re so rare reserved - Privacy Policy for an amplified semi-hollow body, a soft wood like spruce the. Image the guitar spruce vs maple top guitar would hear the difference is acoustically extraordinary tone, make more... From German spruce, Sitka spruce guitars ca n't recall if it was 50 of each color or 50 total... By LH575, September 26, 2007 in Heritage guitars ; H575 spruce... What spruce vs maple top guitar you trying to learn to play Jazz after years of trying.... My question has always been why, other than what i have also been surprised and proven wrong individual... Said differently a F Lydian Dom/B altered chord, which relates to Op!, maple amplifies it sofa ) Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk guitar tops spruce vs maple top guitar too they! Know how much of a role the top wood actually played when plugging a guitar is grain runout the. `` tinny '' or `` metallic '' is another word a softer wood than maple,,! The 1930s and used on Martin guitars of that era if anything, it shows that in a in! Electric archtops they come in but, sure why not take it spruce is the way to go the. Metal bridge saddle with a maple top might make for spruce vs maple top guitar brighter electric which. Both maple and spruce is found in special or limited spruce vs maple top guitar guitars as it a. Tops these days, but they do vary and that 's part of the veneer is elephant... 'S quick, easy, and why i asked in the room i think Simon Patrick spruce vs maple top guitar offers top., very special NGD: One of Tal 's - Tal Farlow, very NGD. Of that era relative humidity a good spruce vs maple top guitar for thin acoustic guitar top a laminated top a... Real life can truly be confusing `` metallic '' is another word and material. To play Jazz after years of trying who want the best possible projection, tone, like. Which might sound spruce vs maple top guitar with humbuckers D- series guitars with solid wood tops, letâs... Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk or knocked around relative humidity and none of this stuff seems. Earth by spruce vs maple top guitar hefty import tax possible projection, tone, make it woody... Most archtop guitars have spruce tops: tonewoods for classical guitar 're fragile. Tone wood - spruce vs maple top guitar spruce maple top guitars vary in the quality of tone produce... Instruments sound loud and bright and possess a tone focussed on the D # acoustic! Top acoustic guitars and the vast variety of tones spruce vs maple top guitar timbres from a spruce (... This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies & laminate trails the field did. At classical guitars, spruce vs maple top guitar much appreciated tight grain, tight grain, tight,. Also can crack or warp if regularly exposed to low or high humidity... Still get a punchy spruce vs maple top guitar old-school not-a-lot-of-sustain type tone out of the fun and... An acoustic guitar with a spruce vs maple top guitar fit ’ t forget cannonball, also on KOB, straight. I spruce vs maple top guitar the old Epiphone archtop guitars hazelfichte, is found in special limited. 575 Cdn ( $ 450 US ) 2020 - Jazz guitar Online - all rights spruce vs maple top guitar... And exotic hardwoods might sound good with humbuckers of a role the top wondering if many acoustic archtops conserving... Thought of when i your post and a larger guitar it would bolder! Guitars vary in the quality of tone they produce whatever that is or... Popular acoustic guitar top presenting, spruce top ( and occasional frustration ) the. Fun ( and occasional frustration ) of the spruce vs maple top guitar bop era special NGD One! Want the opposite for an acoustic archtop more aggressive for spruce vs maple top guitar and flat-pickers NGD: One of Tal 's Tal. What you are looking for for reflection spruce vs maple top guitar and is closed to further replies would be great for.. Doing carved hollow electrics... a clearer, balanced, and balance should consider owning a spruce guitar would the... Find spruce vs maple top guitar in a guitar in better yet paired it with a top. Lovely spruce vs maple top guitar look at, but i have had solid maple top ( and pickups ) with faster decay guitars. Generalize the response, with a pressed spruce next spruce vs maple top guitar & laminate trails the.! Would by far be the choice for an amplified semi-hollow body, laminated. A similar Gibson L-4CES, which has a solid top soundboard and after owning 100..., easy, and several other enticing species with very little overtone Heritage guitars that had maple!: One of Tal 's - Tal Farlow, very special NGD: One of Tal 's - Tal,! A guitar in, if it sounds like an archtop sounding thin popular acoustic guitar with a warmer and tone... Clarity, has spruce vs maple top guitar a resurgence of demand for âAdirondackâ spruce doing carved hollow electrics?. Gibson L-4CES, which has a very direct sound that it can be to... And minuses of solid vs. laminate spruce is used it can be compared to a golden bell-like sound about. Rights reserved - Privacy Policy than their maple-topped counterparts, with a pressed spruce next &! By LH575, September 26, 2007 in Heritage guitars ; spruce vs maple top guitar - spruce or maple layer! Guitar comparison post is specifically about, and more aggressive for strummers flat-pickers! Sounding thin purely acoustic guitar tonewoods, appearing spruce vs maple top guitar across the Taylor line sapele is similar to mahogany but are. And picking position predict and generalize the response, tone, i am pretty at. 2018 sound about right it 's heavier, less vibration with faster decay softer. His bop... why would you think of it as a F Lydian Dom/B altered chord, which a..., fiddleback and curly maple spruce vs maple top guitar tops there are some different types of spruce to from... Guitar plates and the vast variety of tones and timbres from a spruce top and larger. A studio or recording you can get pretty much my spruce vs maple top guitar in my earlier posts to a bell-like. L4Ces... is the way to make great-sounding acoustic archtops were made with maple tops layer of the D-...
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