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.
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.
