woods

[Sklnnerbox]

does having solid wood on the back and sides matter that much......or is the top just the main issue. also, if something has like solid rosewood or mahogany back and sides for example.......would that always be better than if it was a different wood on the back and sides but not solid?

also.......what are typically the best woods to have on a guitar, and what are some of the different sounds u get from different woods.

[ZaqDiesel]

check out www.taylorguitars.com. they go over all the different types of wood they use (just about every tonewood known) and their tonal qualities. but in general, for back and sides maple is the brightest and rosewood is the warmest. there is a whole spectrum of sounds in between. spruce tops are also brighter than cedar tops. every combination will have a unique sound. solid back and sides is a huge difference. laminate guitars sound hollow and don't get the same projection as solid wood guitars. this is because only the laminate vibrates as opposed to the entire guitar.

[Stuntcheeks]

Keep in mind that 75-85% of the sound of a guitar comes from the top. If you have 2 solid top guitars, one with solid back/sides, one with laminate back/sides, I'm not sure you could tell the difference.

Just make sure you get a solid top...it'll sound better over time.

[Rob]

I don't know many people who can't catch the difference between a full wood guitar and one with a laminate back and sides. It's pretty distinct.