Global Guitar Network

Guitar Woods 101

Guitar-Woods

[lollum_dropcap]A[/lollum_dropcap]lot of different variables go into creating a guitar’s overall tone. One of the main factors is wood choice.

Guitar builders have many different types of woods to choose from when constructing guitars. They are chosen for their different tonal characteristics and how they look.

Let’s take a look at six of the most popular types of guitar woods.


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Mahogany

Mahogany is most associated with Gibson guitars and it produces the warmest, fattest guitar tones. Mahogany is used for bodies and necks.[/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 5px 0 5px”]

Maple

Maple is a very hard and heavy wood. It’s tone is bright with long sustain, and lots of bite. It is a great choice for both bodies and necks.[/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 5px”]

Alder

Alder is light but produces a full sound. Used mostly for bodies it has a well balanced sound with equal doses of lows, mids and highs.[/one_half][one_half_last padding=”0 5px 0 5px”]

Rosewood

Rosewood is the most popular wood for constructing fingerboards. Its tone is warm and is suited for rock and blues playing. It’s feel is smooth and fast.[/one_half_last][one_half padding=”0 5px 0 5px”]

Swamp Ash

Swamp Ash is another light wood which makes it a great choice for bodies. It has a bright and warm sound and its open grain makes it a nice choice for clear finishes.
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Ebony

Ebony is very hard, smooth and fast feeling making it a perfect choice for necks, especially fingerboards. It’s tone is bright with long sustain.

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