Taylor Acoustic Guitar Woods
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.
Western Red Cedar
Origin: Western North America
Used On: 514ce, 514ce-N, 512ce, 514ce-N, GA5, GS5, GC5, GA7, GS7, GC7
Cedar is less dense than spruce, and that softness typically translates into a sense of sonic warmth. If Sitka has a full dynamic range, cedar makes quieter tones louder, but it also imposes more of a ceiling on high volume levels driven by an aggressive attack. If one tries to drive a cedar top hard, at a certain point it will reach a volume limit. Typically, players with a lighter touch sound wonderful on a cedar-top guitar, fingerstyle players especially — that lighter touch will be amplified a little more, and one's attack never reaches the ceiling. Flatpickers are likely to hit the ceiling fast, and might be frustrated by an inability to get the tonal output to match their attack.
Cedar's color can range from lighter to darker.
Goes Well With: Fingerstylists, players with a lighter touch, mahogany and rosewood GA, GS and GC bodies.
Popular Western Red Cedar Guitars
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Shape: Grand AuditoriumWoods: Western Red Cedar, Tasmanian BlackwoodCategory: Nylon
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Shape: Grand ConcertWoods: Western Red Cedar, Tasmanian BlackwoodCategory: Nylon
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Shape: Grand SymphonyWoods: Western Red Cedar, Tasmanian BlackwoodCategory: 6-String
