Taylor Acoustic Guitar Woods
A midrange powerhouse. Mahogany is prized for balance and articulation, making it one of the best all-around tonewoods there is.
Madagascar Rosewood
Exotic and complex, Madagascar rosewood is one of the few tonewoods that deservedly compares to the vaunted Brazilian rosewood.
Indian Rosewood
The tonewood superstar. Popular, traditional, and versatile, Bob Taylor puts Indian rosewood among the greatest tonewoods ever.
Big Leaf Maple
High-end sparkle and incomparable good looks put maple in its own category.
Hawaiian Koa
Few woods carry the allure of Hawaiian koa, with its gorgeous figure and sweet, complex tone.
Walnut
Walnut’s crisp highs are balanced by a deep, woody low end that emerges as the guitar is played in.
Cocobolo
A cannon of a guitar, with exotic coloration and figure to match its bold voice.
Macassar Ebony
Macassar’s exotic beauty is matched by a bold, dynamic tone that can be dark or bright, depending on the player and the top pairing.
Ovangkol
Although not as well-known as its Indian rosewood cousin, ovangkol shares many of the same properties, making it a versatile, great-sounding tonewood.
Sapele
One of the best all-around tonewoods there is, sapele will deliver for any playing style.
Rosewood Laminate
A rosewood veneer and laminate construction present a beautiful aesthetic in a durable, affordable package.
Sapele Laminate
Laminate construction is used to offer attractive, durable and affordable models.
Maple Laminate
Maple veneer is part of the resilient laminate construction on the black 214ce-BLK.
Blackwood Laminate
A blackwood veneer with laminate construction blends exotic beauty, resilience and affordability.
If a guitar’s body shape produces the sonic equivalent of a meal, think of tonewoods as the seasoning. The unique acoustic properties of woods help color a body shape’s fundamental sound. The key is to find the woods that match up best with your playing style and intended applications. It might be rosewood’s low-end growl and sizzling trebles; the midrange overtones of mahogany; the focus and projection of maple; or the warmth of a cedar top for fingerpicking. As you play different guitars, pay attention to each wood pairing’s distinctive acoustic traits, along with the feeling of responsiveness in your hands. If you plan to play and sing, tune in to the way the acoustic sound relates to your voice.
Beyond tonal considerations, woods boast an inherent visual appeal that can also be deeply inspiring. Figured koa, maple, and cocobolo, to name a few, have cast a seductive spell on many a player. Grain patterns, color variegation, and other visual characteristics all help differentiate a guitar and showcase each one as a truly unique instrument.
Our wood descriptions should help convey the tonal characteristics of each of the woods we use, but keep in mind that each tree, and even each set of wood, is different. Fortunately, here at Taylor we benefit from having listened to countless versions of particular models, which has given us a good sampling of each tonewood’s core acoustic personality.
In the end, our goal is simple: to help you find the ultimate tone.
