Guide to Tonewoods

Even though there are a lot of new materials in the world, guitar makers have almost universally continued to use wood. Of the woods used, a few favorites have been given the moniker "tonewoods” for the sonic properties they possess.

Wood is an organic material that changes shape and density as it grows. As it ages, wood develops deeper grains that change during its lifespan. Different types of wood have various imperfections and characteristics in their make-up, and this variation makes them sound different from each other.

While we go through the tones offered by different tonewoods, keep in mind the sonic elements are generally accurate for each of the varieties. However, woods of the same species cut from other trees, or grown in different regions, can sound slightly different, have different weights, and have different densities. The variables can exist between woods and different guitars made from the "same" wood.

Top Woods

Most of the sound of an acoustic guitar comes from the top. That’s why it’s also called a soundboard.

European Spruce

European spruce may be the single most popular tonewood for acoustic guitar tops. It's slow-growing, lightweight, and shows a high grade of rigidity. European spruce has a distinctive sonic profile relative to other spruce species, which are known to be loud and bright. Tonally it blends power and headroom a touch of warmth.

Western or American Red Cedar

Red cedar is a very resonant tonewood. Notes will seem to have a softer attack than spruce, with a warmer tone and focused midrange. Red cedar has less headroom for a heavy attack but offers sweet harmonics and a broad tonal palette when used with a lighter touch. Cedar makes quieter tones louder and imposes a ceiling on high volume levels from an aggressive attack.

Back and Sides

The wood for the back and sides is often thought to add to how a guitar projects sound. Those woods add to the overall tone, so choosing those when pairing with a top wood is essential. 

Indian Rosewood

Indian rosewood offers an excellent frequency range from low to high. It’s one of the most popular and musically rich tonewoods with deep lows that can assert a throaty growl, while bright, sparkling treble notes ring out with bell-like clarity.

African Mahogany

With its excellent acoustic properties, African mahogany offers a deep projecting sound. It’s prized for its beautiful large pore grain, excellent stability, and warm midrange tone.

Pau Ferro

Pau ferro is warm in the low-end with well-defined, pronounced clear, and articulate high-end attack. Its response is fast and clean, representing the entire frequency spectrum while maintaining superb clarity.

Cocobolo

A dense, stiff tropical hardwood from Mexico, cocobolo produces a fairly bright overall tone emphasized by sparkling treble notes. Sonically it resembles mahogany but resonates a little deeper on the low end. The tone is fast, responsive, and articulate.

West African Sapele

Sapele's tonal output is consistent and balanced across the tonal spectrum, making it compatible with a diverse range of playing styles. It's comparable to mahogany, but its higher density produces a slightly brighter sound with more top-end shimmer.

Bulgarian Walnut

Bulgarian walnut offers a density and stiffness to yield bright treble notes, but a bold midrange splits the difference between rosewood and mahogany. The bass tones initially produce a woody character that will grow richer as it's broken in with performance.

Cypress

Cypress is a beautiful tonewood with a rich complete tonal profile. A light, soft wood that’s also very resistant, Cypress has a brilliant and percussive sound, making it one of the most treasured tonewoods for flamenco guitars.

European Beech

European Beech has tonal properties close to African mahogany. The grain is straight with a fine, even texture, usually reddish-brown and slightly coarse with conspicuous rays and tiny pores. It offers excellent sustain and a warm midrange tone.

Patagonian Rosewood

Patagonian rosewood a beautiful exotic hardwood with unique, varying grain that makes it very interesting. It offers solid projection with a balanced tone.

Fingerboards and Bridge

The wood for the fingerboard and bridge of a guitar also affects the tone. While not exactly taking a huge part of the overall sound as a top does, the fingerboard and bridge add elements to the attack and sustain of the notes while playing.

Ebony

The traditional wood choice used for fingerboards on many classical instruments is also popular for guitars. Ebony is a hard, high-density wood that’s ideal for the transfer of vibration. Compared to rosewood, ebony produces a drier and brighter tone.

Purpleheart

Purpleheart is from South America and offers an intense purple color that no other wood has. The sound produces a brilliant tone very similar to maple, but warmer.

Hear Them for Yourself

As we mentioned near the start of the article, woods do vary from guitar to guitar. There’s no better way to understand the differences in tone than to play them yourself. Stop by your favorite acoustic guitar dealer and discover the sonic elements of tonewoods with a Kremona model in your hands.