Let’s take Adirondack red spruce (picea rubens), for example. The bottom line, however, is that the name or species of tonewood does not make a soundboard sound good, and definitely does not make it stable. Consumers today are bombarded with advertising that puts the emphases on the name of the tonewood, or maybe even a catch phrase that somehow suggests it’s a superior tonewood. The majority of harvested Adirondack is just too heavy to make the cut to be considered musical-grade tonewood. On the other end of the spectrum, players with a harder attack tend to choose heavier soundboards for their ability to be driven harder without running out of headroom or “breaking up.” The trick is choosing the correct instrument for your playing style-which largely depends on these variables-so understanding these two basic ranges can be very helpful. That’s why fingerstyle performers often prefer such soundboards, with their quick response. Lesser-weight soundboards tend to favor response and clarity due to their efficiency in turning string energy into sound. The differentiating factor on all top woods is the strength-to-weight ratio (or specific strength) of the material, which affects the sound and feel of the guitar. Typically, the soundboard will be made from some type of lightweight wood like spruce or cedar, but harder woods like mahogany or koa are, of course, used as well. Other qualities certainly have their place, but at the end of the day, what the instrument does to inspire the player (along with the instrument’s longevity) is key. The tone, response, and the overall life of an instrument are what a buyer should focus on. Heck, it’s even in the title of this long-running column.Īs buyers wade through the available tonewood options, I feel they need to keep their eyes on the prize. Think about it: Something called “the soundboard” should be the first clue that it’s the single-most important component in developing the overall coupled system that will become an acoustic musical instrument. In the acoustic-guitar market, however, too much attention is given to peripheral components of the instrument, and the soundboard’s significance is too often diminished to that of hype. It’s the gatekeeper to tone and a guitar’s overall lifespan. The soundboard is the heart of any acoustic instrument. Unlike a grading system that judges tonewood generally based on looks, the rating system developed by our columnist establishes a numerical code, which gives builders the ability to select tonewoods better suited to their building style or their customers’ playing style. Starring Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.īy the way, sorry if this is the wrong category, I'm new here. Comedy from BBC Scotland with Chewin' The Fat's old men, Jack and Victor.
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