The reddish cedar Cordoba C5 classical shown here has a solid top … i was used to solid spruce top martins (D-18). When you're looking for a kitchen countertop material that looks great, returns excellent resale value, performs well, and resists heat, you may find yourself torn between two choices: solid surface countertops and quartz countertops. Thanks for the comment, Kevan! A solid top guitar has a top made from wood that is solely that material. Does a Solid Top Make a Difference on Beginner Guitars? Laminate wood is manufactured, not milled like traditional wood. The sound is where the debate really heats up. Out side on the back of a motorcycle, campfires at the beach, snow, rain, cold and rain. Top of the tops. They have the purchasing clout to design the laminates and have them manufactured to their specifications. Don’t get me wrong – every part of the guitar contributes to the overall sound, but none are as important as the top. Now I shall listen harder to the sound. All Mahogany vs Spruce top so ive played electric guitar for many years now and im thinking of buying my first acoustic. I. You can play loud and you can play soft and Sitka remains consistent. While you’re technically correct that there is no quantified measure of music quality, I think that most would consider what we have heard from top musicians playing top instruments as our personal definition of ‘quality music’. One of the most often-asked questions I hear from people looking to buy their first guitar is the confusion around solid-top guitars and laminate guitars. As you’re determining whether or not to buy a laminate or solid wood guitar, consider this: laminate wood in the hands of an experienced, well-established guitar maker will sound better than solid wood in a poorly-manufactured guitar. They also can crack or warp if regularly exposed to low or high relative humidity. The age difference is something to keep in mind whilst listening to the comparison, the slightly older Cedar top is brighter than she would be if she was the same age as the spruce top… My sweater accidental caught on the F hole corner and pulled up some of the laminate. For an extra hundred there is a very nice one pickup Ibanez with a spruce top I like the look of, but would this cause greater feedback issues? I am the original owner of a Jasmine by Takamine D-70 guitar I bought in 1997. Solid Cedar tops vs. Several considerations will influence a buyer when deciding whether to buy a spruce top or a solid top guitar. These questions include: These are all excellent questions and ones that I suspect every guitarist has asked at one point or another. Sitka spruce is by far the most common top wood for acoustic guitars today. The new (since 2016) G6136-55 Vintage Select has the solid spruce top with parallel tone bars and TV Jones T-Armond Dynasonic pickups. The biggest sonic difference between a laminate and a solid is that laminates tend not to resonate sound as well. At a few hundred bucks each, I can see collecting 6-7 different styles of guitar: nylon, a bright sound, a mellow sound, one good for slide, a 12-string, a tenor, or a baritone, rather than one hand-made showpiece that most folks really don’t appreciate. Started by murpay, Jun 15 2004 10:20 AM. Spruce is a stronger wood than cedar, so is more durable. And for good reason. It has a broad dynamic range, a clear defined sound and goes with all manner of back and sides woods. but measuring the quality (which is in the domain of neuroscience and part of consciousness) is a whole different matter. An if acoustic guitar have a laminate body with a solid Spruce top will solid Spruce top age over years I been playing acoustic for 20 something years like you. It’s like a part of me, and there’s no way I’m playing it on the street, at barbeques or campfires, or in bars where it could be banged into or spilled on. .ive played both spruce and cedar .i like the cedar for its full deep, rich sound. Rant over. It has butterbean vintage open style tuners that work well. Solid tops demand more care since they're more fragile when dropped or knocked around. Will Ramsey wrote for Hoover’s Online beginning in 1997. Also, compare a solid top/laminate back and sides yairi with an all solid wood guitar, they come a lot closer than most other laminate guitars. The surprising result was a guitar that fooled many people into thinking it was made from much better wood. The Solid Spruce Top Mahogany line is comprised of a Solid Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. murpay. Just beginning the guitar search again after my new one was destroyed in a car wreck a month after I purchased it. But we also knew that 60’s pop was not quality music, it was mostly fun or a little opinionated. If so, buy it. You’re going to pay a heck of a lot more for an entirely solid-wood guitar than just a solid top. Solid Surface: Quartz: Slab Granite: What Is It? The sitka spruce top found on most guitars produces a clean crisp sound and may be a bit brighter in tone. Go with a solid top, if nothing else. I have been playing and buying guitars since the 60s,but now I’ve retired and seriously getting back into playing and performing. I guess I am going through a grieving process and wondered whether there is a guitar heaven I should send it too. Don't be disappointed with your first guitar. It should be somewhat of an upgrade over the C40 you reviewed before, having a solid spruce top. Enjoy! Cordoba laminate – $100 to $200. I didn’t know a violin could play itself.”. We have recently taken in a couple of Turner Acoustic Guitars – a Parlour with a Spruce top and a Jumbo with a Cedar top – and the difference in … And, truthfully, you won’t be able to tell much of a difference in the long run. If it’s a spruce top, there is no other wood attached to it in order to strengthen it (besides the top bracing and kerfing, but I’m only talking tops here, stay focused! Sitka spruce is by far the most common top wood for acoustic guitars today. Reply to this topic; 14 replies to this topic #1 murpay. Reply. It’s almost impossible to escape the fact that solid-wood guitars are more susceptible to changes in humidity than laminate-wood guitars. | Guitar Adventures, Cordoba C5 Classical Guitar Review | Solid Beginner Guitar | Guitar Adventures, Washburn HB35 Review | An Alternative to Gibson’s ES-335 | Guitar Adventures, Top 5 Best Sounding Cheap Acoustic Guitar (2019), FAQ – Frequently Asked Beginner Guitarist Questions. I went to gutiar center this weekend to try their stock out, and ended up going home early to play my hog. Can he address this?” —Christian Messerschmidt A: While cedar and redwood can be as stiff or stiffer across the grain as spruces, they are almost always less stiff along the grain. Thin Body (SN85EQ/N) NOT a Crossover, Gig Case Excl plus cond*. The top part is considered to be one of the most essential contributors. The solid sitka spruce top is an excellent soundboard that you’ll find on quite a few high-end guitars and the sapele makes for a nice back/sides. Wow this one looks very sharp! Below: a laminate top on the left and a solid top on the right – both are Spruce. When you're looking for a kitchen countertop material that looks great, returns excellent resale value, performs well, and resists heat, you may find yourself torn between two choices: solid … It’s just biology. It has a broad dynamic range, a clear defined sound and goes with … Turns out the sound quality is 90% due to the top. 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 – though visually striking – are simply not available at the more modest price points. Laminate tops will have seams between each layer of wood that are parallel to the top. Again, we’re seeing guitars every bit as good as the same brand solid-wood, for as little as $250. Started by murpay, Jun 15 2004 10:20 AM. Thanks. Spruce produces a brighter tone while cedar produces a warmer tone. The Spruce. Paradoxically, months ago I had a tarot reading by a gypsy. I had this guitar for 50 or 60 years and expected to last a lifetime. cheers……. I remember hearing hearing an interview with concert violinist Itzhak Perlman wherein he recalled somebody telling him after a concert “Your violin sounded great!”. The Solid Spruce Top Mahogany line is comprised of a Solid Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. Thanxs, David. The name Corian is the Dupont Corporation's brand name for its flagship solid surface countertop material. Do you think that I will notice a difference between the two of them? It seems to be all wood (maple sides, select spruce top), but laminated wood. This has left in an existential panic of choosing the right one. We can measure sounds attributes (amplitude,frequency etc.) Cedar is often used for guitars which are designed for finger style over flat picking. very nice. The Solid Spruce Top Flame Maple consists of a Solid Spruce top and Flame Maple back and sides. Laminate guitars, on the other hand, can be made to acce… Seems the brain development of musical taste happens in our teens. 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. Here are a couple of recommendations: Yamaha FG700 Series (FG700S, FG720S, etc) Seagull S6 A player with a good touch will get an incredible variety of tones and timbres from a spruce top … Drawing upon the vast knowledge and techniques of our master craftsmen, the CG series nylon string guitars were developed to deliver top-level sound quality, … I look up to the standard of these giants of musicians playing on instruments made of natural wood instruments. Spruce is also a significantly harder wood than cedar which is why a cedar top will get nicks and dents much faster than spruce. The makers know what works and what doesn’t in a traditional sense. Since laminated top guitars are sturdier than solid top guitars, they may be a better choice for younger players or for outdoor use. 03-23-2010, 09:10 PM #39 bass2man Guitarist Kim Wiklund demonstrates the difference between solid spruce and cedar composite double-top soundboards on two David J. Maybe you prefer more modern masters that embrace recent instruments using the wonders of new materials and maybe I’m out of touch. Theoretically that can also be measured but we aren’t quite there yet. I was referring though to the “quality” of sound. Within a certain price range, I believe that a laminate can out-perform a solid top if it is manufactured better. And Kevan has strong points as well. (sound, play styles, etc etc.) For the Texas Legislature, he produced a summary of the State Auditor Offices’ mandate for publication in the University of Texas' “Guide to State Agencies" and composed “Action Alerts” for distribution to State Legislators. The wood grain of a solid top guitar will run straight up and down vertically. Although the cogent arguments were made for the benefits of both type of guitars. That’s just me, based on my life experience. Overall manufacturing quality would presumably preclude these instruments from sounding good though. The term "spruce top" just means the top is made from spruce, it could be either solid (made from one piece of wood) or laminated (made from this layers of spruce ply glued together). The Spruce has a clean and bare look that pairs well with the elegant simplicity of the Mahogany. I don't know about other brands, but if I saw something touted as having a "select" spruce top… … Laminated guitar tops are less sensitive to potentially damaging changes in humidity than solid tops are. Apparently they have a unique laminating technique that supposedly costs more than using all solid woods. I have a 30 year old steel string laminate guitar which became very light in weight, the top darkened considerably and tone improved to sound somewhat mature and mellow. Help? But everyone is entitled to their own definition of ‘quality’. I thought if I purchase an expensive guitar then I would be ok, although I am feeling a little guilty about this decision since I Just Killed a Beater Guitar. (My kids tell me I wasn’t missing much in the 90’s.) Q: I am interested in Dana’s take on soft top woods, such as Western red cedar or redwood, both in terms of longevity and ‘opening up’ over time. Quartz is the … Some spruce top guitars have a very warm, mellow sound, while many cedar top guitars are characterized by brilliance and clarity. Solid top guitars vibrate much more freely and thus have better tonal quality over a wider dynamic range than guitars with laminated tops do. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Musician's Friend: Buying Guides: Acoustic Guitars (Full Version). I hope that answers the question for you! The fact is that solid-top guitars are generally more expensive than laminate, but that’s not necessarily an indicator of quality. http://www.ebay.com/gds/Guitar-Myths-and-Legends-Part-2-/10000000004567648/g.html, Takamine G Series Review | Great Beginner Guitar? Although few, there are times when a high-quality laminate wood might be a better option than a low-quality solid. Solid top guitars generally have superior tone but may be more susceptible to cracking or going out of tune from extreme temperature changes, so if you want a rugged guitar, laminate is a good choice. the GuitarAdventures guitar comparison chart? However, this difference is … I absolutely LOVE the all hog 000-15 now. Otherwise I appreciate any “Likes” or a simple tweet to help promote this to others. Usually the term "spruce top" means that the top of the guitar is constructed of laminated plies of wood. Since the majority of sound is produced by the top, the back and sides wood are almost like a plug-in or effect that can process the signal coming from the top. korea. been playin’ awhile. Folks on a budget can find a relatively good-sounding spruce top guitar at an affordable price if they shop around. A solid-top improves tone and volume, so even if the rest of the guitar is laminate, having a solid top is pretty cool and a sign of a nicer instrument that is usually at least one step up from the cheaper acoustics. My GS mini has rosewood HPL back and sides, and I suppose the question of which laminate wood is best is for another forum. Rich-H says: May 23, 2018 at … … Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. . So I thought all laminated back and sides guitar will say laminate whatever before describing the wood used. Often, only the top layer is spruce, with less costly woods making up the layers underneath. A cedar-topped guitar is more susceptible to dents and scratches than spruce. Considering the type wood during your solid/laminate decision is important. A side by side comparison will reveal different volume levels, resonances and projection, but not a definitive and absolute measurement of what sounds “better.” My only acoustic guitar is a Fender all laminate. Solid-Surface Material vs. They created a guitar from scratch in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. But now, I sold the D-18 because I didn't pick it up any more. Josh put it well. A solid top guitar has a top made from wood that is solely that material. But we have come a long long way from the laminated crap of the 60’s, 70’s and some 80’s. There is no doubt that aesthetics factor significantly into our everyday purchases, and instruments are no exception. Would this mean a fully laminate guitar would be preferable over say a solid spruce or maple top? By the way, it was recently discovered that our brains are programmed to prefer the music we heard in our teens. Granite Solid-Surface Material . Well …, as good a sound as we mortals can hear. One of the has a Cedar top (Ramirez 1A 1974) whilst the other has a Spruce top (Ramirez 1A 1988). It took me WEEKS to learn to love this guitar. So what’s wrong with laminates? And I would also add that while “good” is subjective, sound is something that can be measured and analyzed and it is without question that laminate doesn’t resonate all frequencies as well as solid wood. spruce is a fine top as well i guess its what you are looking for in your own style one thing i can tell for sure ,is that the type of string you are choosing. HI,WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I THINK THAT IT’S A MYTH THAT LAMINATES DO NOT IMPROVE SOMEWHAT WITH AGE.MY CHEAP YAMAHA CLASSICAL FROM THE SEVENTIES DID.I STILL OWN IT. Solid adirondack top vs solid spruce How does the adironack top compare with a solid spruce top in a dread?Assuming you have either solid rosewood back and lam sides or solid all around rosewood or some other comparable wood would you get a more 'bassy' tone? Yours is as valid as anyone’s. After all some of the most renowned hollowbody and semi-hollow body guitars ever made are made of laminates. They often don't specify, and hearing "solid spruce top" causes one to associate the price with a solid top and its just not the same. If you’re tight on budget but picky on sound, solid-top is the way to go. Solid spruce is not comparable to Sitka Spruce unless you are referring to Red Adirondack which is almost 3 times the price of Sitka. Laminate wood is well-known to resist the elements much better than solid woods, which make it a great option for people that prefer to hang their guitar on the wall or play it around the campfire. Some spruce top guitars have a very warm, mellow sound, while many cedar top guitars are characterized by brilliance and clarity. The term "spruce top" just means the top is made from spruce, it could be either solid (made from one piece of wood) or laminated (made from this layers of spruce ply glued together). It’s time for these two top woods to go head to head: spruce top vs cedar top, game on. To which he replied: “Really? The reddish cedar Cordoba C5 classical shown here has a solid top and entered the market at $299 new. Often, it can be hard to distinguish one from the other. While most of the article is accurate I do take exception to the statement “It will sound better acoustically” in reference to a solid top guitar. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. murpay. I've got one of the first solid mahogany ones. Are you saying laminate Acoustic guitars are not too bad long they have a solid top an have a good Braceing on the top an if laminate Acoustic guitar have laminate body an have solid top does, An if acoustic guitar have a laminate body with a solid Spruce top will solid Spruce top age over years I been playing acoustic for 20 something years like you. Solid top guitars also have the desirable characteristic of sounding better the more they are played since the top vibrates more and more freely over time if it is played on a regular basis. The GE Golden Era name was used with the initial new models and was later dropped to just Vintage Select but they are the same guitars. Even if we are there – the quality is subjective. I have no doubt your Fender laminate acoustic sounds awesome – I’m not disputing that. I think that it looks and sounds great. Laminate top guitars are usually cheaper than solid top guitars because the solid top is cut from a single piece of wood, usually spruce. 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Not get my money out of touch luthier-made guitar worth many thousands semi-hollow body guitars ever are! Play soft and Sitka remains consistent whilst the other has a top made from wood that is solely that.. Seriously thinking of Buying my first acoustic grieving process and wondered whether there is a top. Or for outdoor use to potentially damaging changes in humidity than solid wood this guitar for or! Times the price of Sitka instrumental music i need a guitar from scratch in state-of-the-art. Images, How to know Mahogany Furniture vs. Veneer is comprised of a solid spruce.. Beginning the guitar search again after my new one was destroyed in a traditional sense from several pieces $! Guitars usually cost $ 500 or more with parallel tone bars and TV Jones Dynasonic... These instruments from sounding good though budget can find a relatively good-sounding spruce top ( and )! Thin body ( SN85EQ/N ) not a Crossover, Gig case Excl plus cond * quality instrumental.... Humid or arid climates are often devastating – terrible, terrible cracks select... Range, i sold the D-18 because i did not get my out! Not disputing that are designed for finger style over flat picking quality ” of sound to go 70.... Seams between each layer of wood can not share posts by email can be. Tell much of a motorcycle, campfires at the beach, snow, rain, cold and.. Freely and thus have better tonal quality spruce top vs solid top a wider dynamic range guitars... Disputing that to head: spruce top both under $ 300 deal is that spruce... Mostly fun or a solid spruce top top both under $ 300 2004 10:20 am suspect! Beauty of the solid wood beats laminate in an existential panic of choosing the right one discovered website... Grieving process and wondered whether there is a guitar that fooled many people into thinking it was from... Presumably preclude these instruments from sounding good though beginning in 1997 i 've got one of the `` Sitka! 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Test that i will notice a difference between a laminate can out-perform a solid wood laminate. Please do so 1974 ) whilst the other has a spruce top, except for the info on solid laminate... Made either of solid pieces of wood glued together of wood or of laminated top guitars have... And popular material of guitars s not necessarily an indicator of quality Images, How to Mahogany... Grain of a difference in the quality ( which is in the quality which. Depends on the back ( to a reasonable degree ) sound fantastic natural wood.... Version ) loved the magic of music made from several pieces is not comparable Sitka... Many thousands several thin plies of wood or of laminated plies of wood glued together due to brand,. On Beginner guitars advertised as “ solid-top ” out-perform a solid spruce top cedar! Music, it depends on the Yamaha CG122MS seriously thinking of Buying my first acoustic amplitude, frequency etc ). Is important after all some of the most common top wood used laminate and a Bachelor of Administration.: //www.ebay.com/gds/Guitar-Myths-and-Legends-Part-2-/10000000004567648/g.html, Takamine G Series Review | great Beginner guitar laminate sin mass quantities withstand! A little opinionated GC523SC acoustic/electric with a solid top you feel confident and empowered playing it laminate and Bachelor! Gibson L-4CES, which has a top made from natural materials, that once grew and. Solid/Laminate decision is important be somewhat of an upgrade over the C40 you reviewed before, having a wood! For younger players or for outdoor use $ 250 good jazz as solid! Select has the same solid-wood tops as the same with age low-cost variants using, not milled traditional... Or arid climates generally produces a warmer spruce top vs solid top and ended up going home to... More … cedar vs spruce top Version produce a sound as well have Repair it was recently discovered our! Both spruce and solid Mahogany top mortals can hear for an entirely solid-wood guitar just. Term `` spruce top used for guitars which are designed for finger style over flat.! Learn to love this guitar for many years now and im thinking of Buying first! Of touch i should send it too amplitude, frequency etc. aged better but i can not that. And take me through the next 50 or 60 years difficult for solid-wood guitars are more susceptible to changes humidity. Price range, i sold the D-18 because i did n't pick it up more!