7 Common Woods Affecting Guitar Sound

From Brazilian Rosewood to Sitka Spruce, learn details about popular tonal woods.

You always see this when you buy an acoustic guitar : Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood bridge, this, that, that....

All very impressive, but what does it mean?

Most of us aren't wood experts, so what exactly do different woods have to do with the sound of an acoustic guitar?

Wood is the most important part of an acoustic guitar. The type of wood used to make guitars — especially acoustic guitars — is called tonewood, and they have a huge impact on the sound and price of a guitar. Different woods have distinct tonal qualities, especially when used for the top of an acoustic guitar, which is the most important wooden tonal component of the guitar.

Here are the different types of wood and the sound quality with which they are noted:

WOODEN (MAHOGANY)

As a guitar top, dense mahogany has a strong, solid tone with low overtones and good high-end response. The mahogany back and sides often emphasize the bass and treble, with more timbre and a rustic sound.

WOOD WOOD (MAPLE)

A heavier, flat-sounding wood of which there are several different species, maple is used in barrel guitars because of its "transparent" tonal quality, which allows for the tonal character of the sound. The top area reverberates with no significant tonal coloration from the back and sides.

SITKA SPRUCE (SITKA SPRUCE)

One of the most popular woods for barrel guitar tops. Rugged and lightweight, it's known for its clear, powerful sound.

RED SPRUCE (RED SPRUCE)

Very popular for iron-barrel tops because of their rich, full, clear, and loud sound quality.

BRAZIL CAM WOOD (ROSEWOOD)

Powerful and clear in the bass, rich and sparkling in the bottom, with reverberation quality.

INDIAN ROSEWOOD (INDIAN ROSEWOOD)

Very similar to the Brazilian variety, but thicker, more mid-range.

KOA

A dense hardwood that, when used for a guitar top, produces a solid sound, especially in the highs, with a pronounced mid-range quality. Used for the back and sides, the koa's timbre resembles mahogany.