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Wood is an important factor in the tone of an acoustic guitar. The type of wood used, as well as the construction of the guitar, can affect the tone.
The most common woods used in acoustic guitars are spruce, cedar, and mahogany. Spruce is the lightest of the three woods, and it is often used for the top, or soundboard, of the guitar. Cedar is a bit heavier than spruce, and it has a warmer sound.
Mahogany is the heaviest of the three woods, and it has a fuller sound.
The body of the guitar also affects the tone. The size and shape of the body, as well as the type of wood used, can all affect the sound of the guitar.
Acoustic guitars are generally made with a solid top and a hollow body. The solid top helps to produce a clear, resonant sound. The hollow body allows the guitar to produce a fuller sound.
The construction of the guitar also affects the tone. The way the top, back, and sides are attached, as well as the type of bracing used, can all affect the sound of the guitar.
Acoustic guitars are generally made with either a dovetail joint or a mortise and tenon joint. A dovetail joint is stronger, and it allows the guitar to be made with a thinner body. A mortise and tenon joint is not as strong, but it allows the guitar to be made with a thicker body.
The type of bracing used can also affect the sound of the guitar. The most common type of bracing is X-bracing. X-bracing helps to produce a clear, balanced sound. Other types of bracing, such as fan bracing and ladder bracing, can produce a different sound.
The type of strings used can also affect the sound of the guitar. Steel-stringed acoustic guitars generally have a brighter sound than nylon-stringed acoustic guitars.
The way the guitar is played can also affect the sound. For example, fingerpicking will produce a different sound than strumming.
In general, the wood used, the construction of the guitar, the type of strings used, and the way the guitar is played all affect the sound of the guitar.
20 Best Wood For Acoustic Guitar
Product Image
Product Name
Features
Price
Yamaha FG850 Solid Mahogany Top Acoustic Guitar Natural
The FG850 Dreadnought is all-mahogany with mahogany body binding which gives it a warm, woody design to match the distinctive richness in the middle frequencies. Like all of Yamaha’s newer FG models, it is louder and stronger in the low- to mid-ranges, thanks to cutting-edge acoustic analysis technology developed by the Yamaha R&D Division.
Yamaha’s engineers have achieved this sound by utilizing analysis and simulation to arrive at the best bracing design without depending on tradition or guesswork. This analysis led to the development of a new scalloped bracing pattern that maintains the durability of the top board while bringing out the most sound the Yamaha FG850 has to offer.
Case sold separately. Yamaha FG Guitars The history of Yamaha‘s FG Series started in 1966 with the release of the FG180 and FG150. Over the 50 years since its introduction, they have developed and produced several generations of FG – all of which have made FG an ideal acoustic for contemporary players.
In all, there have been over 200 FG models since 1966.
New scalloped bracing boosts the low end and adds richness to harmonic mid overtones. The flamed maple back and sides of the traditional Western-bodied FG840 Dreadnought provide distinctive, exotic and high-end appearance.
The result is a sound that is not only transparent nut allows each individual note in a chord to ring clear. The solid spruce top also gives you reliable, well-balanced projection. Other appointments include a abalone with black and white inlaid double rosette, tortoise pattern pickguard, cream body binding, die-cast chrome tuners and black ABS bridge pins with white dots.
When it was introduced in 1966, the Yamaha FG proved that a great acoustic guitar didn’t need to cost a fortune. With a focus on great playability, musical tone and outstanding build quality, the original FG180 quickly became a classic with countless careers and hit records starting life on an FG.
50 years since the introduction of the FG acoustics, the new range features the best-ever FG tone and the same great playability and class-leading quality that’s made it the choice of millions of guitarists.
The 800 Series has a louder and stronger sound in the low to mid-ranges, thanks to cutting-edge acoustic analysis technology developed by the Yamaha R&D Division. Yamaha’s engineers have achieved this sound by utilizing analysis and simulation to arrive at the best bracing design without depending on tradition.
Acoustic class and exceptional value, combined. It features a solid spruce top, resulting in endless versatility and a crisp, articulate, dynamic character that gets even better the more you play. Beginner, intermediate, or pro, this is one powerhouse of an instrument with quality that truly belies the price-tag.
Rich, rumbling, riveting. From first strum you’ll notice a fantastic response to your individual touch, while its dreadnought body brings plenty of tonal flavour. And it’s perfect for a multitude of genres.
From traditional techniques to modern styles, this is an instrument that’ll excel whatever your mood. Plus, with a silky-smooth matte finish and a classic Yamaha feel, playability is effortless, keeping you sliding up and down this FG800M’s neck without restriction.
And, you’ll also look like a pro wherever you play thanks to its classic looks and alluring vintage charm.
A marvel of scaled-down design, the GS Mini is a fun little acoustic cannon that has taken the world by storm. Sporting a rich, full voice that belies its compact size, the Mini is ultra-portable, yet just as comfortable to cradle in the comfort of your home, making it the ultimate modern-day parlor guitar.
Featuring the Taylor NT neck, this Mini comes with a distinctive solid mahogany top. And with the easy-to-add ES-Go pickup and Taylor V-Cable, you’ll have a viable performance tool, too. Includes Taylor gig bag.
I am just a beginner, and a “senior” learner. I started trying to learn guitar as a pandemic project and found out that I really enjoy it. I am frustrated by the guitar I am using (a large dreadnaught).
I am left handed and there are not too many left handed guitars available. I thought I would enjoy a smaller guitar, and was excited to see this one on a visit to NYC. I knew the Taylor name and it is a beautiful little acoustic guitar.
But it seems too small after I got it home and really started trying to play it. My hope is that after I get a little more proficient I will be able to adjust to it.
Love my new Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Top acoustic. The sound from this guitar is incredible. It projects extremely well and has beautiful tone. Playability of this guitar in my opinion is easy. I’m not an expert by any means, but I love to play and learn more each time I pick it up.
Also, can’t say enough about how this guitar looks. The combination of the mahogany top and the color variations in the ebony fretboard are visually very nice. It also came with a custom Taylor travel case that will make hauling it around worry free.
Finally, the folks over at Sam Ash in Lyndhurst were terrific! Isaiah my salesman was super patient allowing me to try several guitars before deciding on the Taylor. When I played this guitar it sold me.
Beautiful Yamaha with great sound!! This guitar is all solid wood as well! Treated with ARE technology, however, it doesn’t have any built-in electronics. Gig bag included. Zero scratches or dents, still in amazing shape!.
An all-mahogany folk guitar. Using mahogany for the body binding as well gives this model a warm, woody design to match the distinctive richness in the middle frequencies. The small and thin body is perfect not only for female/young players but for intermediate to upper level finger-picking style players.
Looking for a new and unique instrument that’s easy and fun to play? Seagull’s dulcimer-inspired Merlin Natural Mahogany SG definitely fits the bill. This ultra-compact, 4-string instrument has a diatonic fretboard making it quick and easy to start playing.
The Rock maple body and neck offer superior tuning stability and base tone. Merlin’s solid mahogany top offers full-range tone and projection. A mustache-style Tusq bridge and saddle offer enhanced intonation for in-tune playing.
Add a new twist to your musical instrument selection with the Seagull Merlin Natural Mahogany SG! A fun and easy-to-play instrument for all ages.
I wasn’t too sure about buying the Seagull S6. But, it’s nationwide reviews were tremendous and so I ordered. I have to say that I am impressed with this guitar. Out of the 40 I own, this particular guitar, while not standing alone, is certainly becoming a favorite for a few good reasons.
The playability is superb. It’s fast, smooth, and it sings very nicely, it’s voice puts several of my guitars to shame. The build quality is excellent. The machines are smooth and the guitar holds tune well.
The woods used are beautiful, and although in many ways it would be considered a somewhat plain guitar, the clean lines and the finish only add to its aesthetics. I do not recommend many guitar makers, but I certainly recommend this one.
For the price, this is a very nice guitar, and it’s a keeper.
I didn’t feel that the guitar came very well set up but I’m fortunate enough to have an amazing guitar tech buddy who gave it the once over. After that, the difference was amazing! The neck was slimmer than I was expecting (despite the accuracy of the spec – my bad) to so it took some getting used to.
It’s taken a year or so of on/off playing to get the feel, but now, I love it. I’m getting more resonance now that I know how to treat it and the neck width/radius is no longer an issue – in fact it has improved my accuracy.
The build quality was fantastic from the start as you might expect from a mid range (as opposed to budget) priced guitar and having mastered the feel of it I can highly recommend this dreadnought.
Girlfriend bought me a Seagull Entourage Rustic for my birthday and I loved the sound and build quality of the instrument. I’ve since purchased several for family members and friends as as first instrument or a “step-up”.
Every site said the S6 was the perfect starter. meh! Only problem with the Entourage Rustic was the nut width made finger picking a chore. I decided to purchase an S6. Playing it in store. rusty strings and all.
I could tell it was perfect for my purpose. It has enough space between the strings to allow my fingers to pluck away. I’m finally getting it to the point where the top is aging and the sound is becoming resonant, harmonically rich, and almost three-dimensional.
The Entourage Rustic is a great Strummer but mine is now my permanent DADGAD guitar. I tuned it down a whole step (CGCFGC. right?) and have put the capo on the second fret. This allows me a heavier set of strings and the spacing at the second fret is wide enough for my fingers.
I may replace the second fret with a stainless steel fret in the near future. as my version of a “zero” fret. Incredible guitars made to impeccable standards. yeah, they’ve won a fanboi. I’ve also purchased a Taylor that’s nice enough.
I just seem to gravitate towards the Seagulls. Leaving the Taylor in the corner.
Yamaha’s FG800 Folk Acoustic Guitar is a reasonably priced entry-level acoustic guitar featuring one of the most popular tonewoods – solid Sitka spruce – for the top. This gives you a nice mellow tone with a slower response, and keeps the guitar nice and lightweight, a combination that is ideal for a beginner trying to find their way around the instrument.
The nato back and sides also keeps the guitar lightweight and inexpensive while not sacrifcing tone. Other features of the FG800 include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black and white body binding, die-cast tuners, and a tortoise pickguard.
Case sold separately. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select between Natural or Sunburst finishes.
Yamaha’s FG800 Folk Acoustic Guitar is a reasonably priced entry-level acoustic guitar featuring one of the most popular tonewoods – solid Sitka spruce – for the top. This gives you a nice mellow tone with a slower response, and keeps the guitar nice and lightweight, a combination that is ideal for a beginner trying to find their way around the instrument.
The nato back and sides also keeps the guitar lightweight and inexpensive while not sacrifcing tone. Other features of the FG800 include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black and white body binding, die-cast tuners, and a tortoise pickguard.
Case sold separately. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select between Natural or Sunburst finishes.
Taylor’s popular GS Mini series warmly welcomes a new tonewood addition. This GS Mini features all the short-scaled comfort and playability of Taylor’s classic series along with the bright and resonant tones rosewood has to offer.
Fine Taylor features include a Nubone nut and saddle, an ebony fingerboard, and a varnish body finish. With this GS Mini, all the stellar tones of a Taylor are ready for practice or performance anytime, anywhere.
Yamaha’s FG800 Folk Acoustic Guitar is a reasonably priced entry-level acoustic guitar featuring one of the most popular tonewoods – solid Sitka spruce – for the top. This gives you a nice mellow tone with a slower response and keeps the guitar nice and lightweight, a combination that is ideal for a beginner trying to find their way around the instrument.
The nato back and sides also keeps the guitar lightweight and inexpensive while not sacrifcing tone. Other features of the FG800 include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black and white body binding, die-cast tuners, and a tortoise pickguard.
It All Starts Here When it was introduced in 1966, the Yamaha FG proved that a great acoustic guitar didn’t need to cost a fortune. With a focus on great playability, musical tone and outstanding build quality, the original FG180 quickly became a classic with countless careers and hit records starting life on an FG.
50 years since the introduction of the FG acoustics, the new range features the best-ever FG tone and the same great playability and class-leading quality that’s made it the choice of millions of guitarists.
Wherever your musical journey’s going, it all starts here. The new FG has louder and stronger sound in the low- to mid-ranges, thanks to cutting-edge acoustic analysis technology developed by the Yamaha R&D Division.
Yamaha’s engineers have achieved this sound by utilizing analysis and simulation to arrive at the best bracing design without depending on tradition or guesswork. This analysis led to the development of the new scalloped bracing pattern, a new and ideal acoustic structure that maintains the durability of the top board while bringing out the most sound the Yamaha FG has to offer.
Every aspect of an FG is crafted to make a better guitar. From painstakingly cured and dried woods to beautiful hand-sprayed finishes and detailed quality control checks each and every FG is made to be a lifelong partner.
The FG 800 features a traditional western body, solid Spruce top, Nato/Okume sides and back.
M-120 NaturalWith its comfortable body and distinctive voice, the M-120 provides excellent balance and a delicate tone. Built with solid African mahogany top, back and sides, the M-120’s 24¾” scale length and 1¾” nut width on a vintage shaped Guild neck make this concert size guitar easy to play.
The M-120 features a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, mother-of-pearl rosette, and period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard. This model also showcases Guild’s iconic Chesterfield headstock emblem reminiscent of 1960s Guilds, and includes Guild’s new premium acoustic gig bag.
Available in Natural gloss finish. The Westerly Collection pays homage to an important period in Guild’s early history, when Guild outgrew the beloved Hoboken, New Jersey factory, and moved production to Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967.
Finding a home in a former furniture manufacturing building, Guild took advantage of the additional space the new location had to offer, and improved upon the production layout left behind in Hoboken.
With a fresh start, highly skilled employees, and plenty of room to grow, Guild flourished. It was not long before the Westerly factory became renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, quality, and the introduction of many beloved Guild acoustics.
The dedication to innovation was apparent, with meticulous attention to detail. Inspired by this golden era, the Guild Westerly Collection carries on the tradition of impeccable workmanship and unwavering excellence by incorporating high-quality materials and classic Guild designs into each instrument.
The Taylor GS Mini Koa LTD is a premium, limited edition instrument that boasts a gorgeously compact construction and truly exquisite sound. Its solid Sitka spruce top and koa back and sides produce exceptional dynamics, full of sparkle and definition that allow each and every note to sing beautifully.
A sapele neck then offers silk-like playability, making for a dreamy playing experience as you slide from fret to fret. As the name suggests, the GS Mini Koa has a scaled-down size for effortless transportation and comfortable playability.
It’s sure to become your new travel buddy. Plus, the Taylor Mini looks exquisite, too. With the gorgeously figured natural beauty of koa and a dazzling tortoise pickguard, it teams understated elegance with the long-lasting quality that Taylor are renowned for.
And to retain this mesmerising build, a hard bag case is included.
The LS16-NT//ARE features a solid Spruce top with ARE treatment, solid Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fingerboard, concert-style body and comes with a quality soft case. Select ARE pre-aged tonewoods combined with Yamaha’s all-new bracing design creates a warm, rich tone that fits perfectly in a mix or solo.
Yamaha’s Zero Impact pickup system provides live players with accurate dynamic response and full bodied tone at the output, without affecting the look of the guitar. Natural finish.
Half a century has passed since the first FG was born. The newly designed bracing enhances the volume of the mid-low range. Achieves a sound that exceeds the class. Rosewood is used for the back and side plates.
A long sustain has been added to the clear sound with a core, and the depth of the sound has increased. Avalon shells are applied to the sound hole to create a luxurious and unique appearance. There are scratches on the bottom of the body that reach the xylem, but they are not cracked at present.
There is a feeling of use such as other scratches.
The Fender CD-60 V3 Acoustic Guitar in Natural is the latest iteration of Fender’s classic Dreadnought acoustic. Aimed at beginner players and veterans looking for a backup, the CD-60 is designed to inspire you with its comfortability and impressive sound.
Classic Design Dreadnought The Fender CD-60 V3 has a laminated Spruce top with laminated Mahogany back and sides to give you a massive sound. The scalloped ‘X’ bracing ensures that your tone is evenly balanced and has plenty of volume to compete when playing with a partner or even playing a small venue.
Whether you’re fingerpicking gently or strumming hard, you can rest assured you will be heard with clarity and volume. C is for Comfort Featuring a comfortable ‘C’ shape, the CD-60 V3 has a solid Mahogany neck construction to ensure excellent sustain and warm tone when playing.
Married to the neck is a Walnut fretboard with a comfortable feel and 3mm Pearloid Dot Position Inlays to ensure you never lose your way. This combination of construction materials gives you a stable and comfortable platform to express yourself from.
Hard-wearing Hardware The Fender CD-60 V3 features a Walnut Bridge that works in conjunction with a Graph Tech NuBone nut to ensure excellent intonation and playing feel all across the fretboard. With Chrome Die-Cast Tuning Machines you’re assured of complete tuning stability, great if you want to experiment with open tunings.
The CD-60 also features a Dual Action Truss Rod, which gives excellent stability across the neck, ensuring that your neck is not subject to changes in the atmosphere which can affect playability over time.
The Fender CD-60 V3 Acoustic Guitar in Natural is a welcome addition to the Fender family of acoustic guitars. With a raft of premium features, fantastic looks and incredible playability, this guitar will appeal to new strummers and veteran pickers alike with its balanced tone and superb price point.
I was looking to buy another guitar with all mahogany body but it was out if stock. After some extensive research I decided to go with the Fender CD-60S. So glad I went with the Fender. What a beautiful guitar.
The pictures on line don’t do justice to the dark mahogany wood. Pleasing to the eye as well as the ear. It has a rich full tone. I think it comes with Fender strings which sound good but I prefer D’Addario.
The action is good but there’s room for improvement. I’ll work on that when I change the strings. The neck is perfectly straight so I’ll work on the nut and the bridge each time I change strings. The “easy play” neck is very comfortable.
The tuning is very smooth and the strings don’t slip or “pop” when tuning. All in all I’m very impressed and very happy with the guitar.
Those looking for big-bodied acoustic tones can’t go wrong with the Original Jumbo size of this Yamaha LL36 acoustic guitar. This instrument has a solid Engelmann spruce top with the Yamaha A. R. E. (acoustic resonance enhancement) treatment, with solid Indian rosewood for the back and sides with a non-scalloped bracing that retains a bright tone while also enhancing low-end.
– Nitro Lacquer Natural Finish – Solid Engelmann Spruce Top w/ A. R. E. Treatment – Solid Indian Rosewood Back and Sides5 Ply Mahogany Rosewood Neck25-9/16 Scale Length1-3/4 Nut Width15. 7 Fingerboard Radius – Ebony Fingerboard1-3/4″ Tusq Nut – Ebony Bridge – Die-Cast Gold Tuners4 lbs, 12 oz.
850″ Neck Thickness at 1st Fret. 920″ Neck Thickness at 9th Fret – Includes: Hardshell Case, Truss Rod Tool, Paperwork.
Ultimately, it depends on the specific attributes that you are looking for in an acoustic guitar. Different woods will offer different tonal characteristics, so it is important to choose the right wood for the sound that you are hoping to achieve.
Some common woods that are used for acoustic guitars include spruce, cedar, and mahogany. Each of these woods has its own unique sonic properties that can help to shape the sound of your guitar. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which wood is the best for your individual playing style and needs.
