A kop top's visual beauty is instantly inspiring, while its sonic rewards unfold over time, as warm, sweet overtones gradually emerge.
Sitka Spruce
The soundboard choice for most guitars, Sitka spruce produces a broad dynamic range and accommodates a versatile range of playing styles.
Western Red Cedar
A true performer for those with a lighter touch, cedar tops yield extra warmth and pair nicely with mahogany and rosewood.
Adirondack Spruce
Loud, dynamic, clear and undeniably loud, Adirondack is a good match for players with a driving attack.
Engelmann Spruce
Engelmann's mature tone compared to Sitka tends to yield an extra splash of midrange warmth and richness.
Tropical Mahogany
As a hardwood top, mahogany's density translates into a bright tone that develops more overtone bloom with increased playing.
European Spruce
Similar to Engelmann spruce, with extra headroom and overtone warmth for a robust, mature sound.
Sinker Redwood
Reclaimed from Northern California rivers, sinker’s warmth is similar to cedar, with a bolder response.

Origin: Northern California
Used On: Limited Editions, Build to Order
A customer favorite for its origins, sinker redwood soundboards are sliced from huge old-growth redwood logs reclaimed from the depths of Northern California rivers, where they’ve lain in many cases for more than a century. The tops typically display a rich spectrum of variegation, the result of colors uniquely imparted from silt and the mineral-rich water. The age and size of these trees translates into a tight grain with nice cross-grain stiffness, so it will tend to have a fairly bold response, with a brilliance complemented by warm overtones similar to cedar. In fact, it’s often characterized around the Taylor complex as "cedar on steroids."
Goes Well With: Players who like the warm overtones of cedar with a little extra brightness and headroom. It pairs well with rosewood and mahogany, and looks striking when visually matched with Macassar ebony through the Build to Order program.