How do different types of wood affect guitar tone?

Long, but thorough:

Guitars all across the board are constructed with different species of wood which often can affect the tonal characteristic of an instrument and provide for certain effects, such as increased sustain. On average, acoustics and electrics use different kinds of tonal wood in their construction. However, in recent years some of these wood types have become increasingly rare and are leading guitar manufacturers to use different wood. The most stark example is Sitka Spruce which has for years been the luthiery standard for steel-string acoustic guitars. This species of spruce is now dwindling across the globe and is forcing different woods to be used.

Wood in relation to parts:

Different types of wood are used for different parts of the guitar. For example, most woods used for the fretboard are seldom used for the bodies and vice versa. The main components in guitar woodwork are the neck, fretboard and body. Electric guitars are generally composed of a singular, solid wood, sometimes which is hollowed out. Acoustic builders often use different wood types for the backs and siding, as well as for the top. For example, the Martin HD-28 which is considered to be a high range valued acoustic, is composed of a solid sitka spruce top, a rosewood siding and back, mahogany neck and an ebony fretboard.

These different wood types can affect tonality in varying degrees, though it is believed that the tonewood of the guitar's body is responsible for most of the instruments unique voice. Fretboard and neck wood while somewhat responsible have more to do with the application and feel of the instruments themselves. Many guitarists even argue that fretboard wood does little to nothing to affect tone.

Alder: Because it is cheap and diverse, Alder suffices as one of the industries top choices for electric guitar engineering. It's density and lightweight provides a very even sound all across the board, unlike some woods which are very warm and sustained or others which can be nasally and shrill. It is used for solid bodies and laminate acoustic tops. Fender guitars are very often made from Alder or Ash.

Ash: Two types of Ash are used for guitars: Swamp Ash and Hard Ash. Swamp Ash has a brighter tone while Hard has more warmth and increased sustain. Swamp is the lighter of the choices and exemplifies more of a 'pop'. It is also less porous than Hard Ash thus easier to finish. Both woods are used strictly for solid bodies and laminate acoustic tops. The original Fender guitars from the 30's were constructed from Ash.

Basswood: Top choice for a lot of 70's hair metal fanatics, Basswood is extremely lightweight and soft, providing a moderately warm tone with strong, growling mids. It's a cheap and frequently used wood for many budget guitars. Because of it's lack of grain and figure and because of it's tendency to display unattractive mineral streaks, Basswood is generally left to solid paint jobs as staining and transparencies tend to look unsatisfactory.

Bubinga: A very uncommon wood by most manufacturer's standards. It's most often seen as fret wood as it's incredibly stiff and difficult to work with anywhere else. Warwick does however provide Bubinga bodies in some of their models. As a tone wood it provides a very tight, low sound with a sharp mid range. While being one of the heaviest tonewoods used, it's sustain is limitless.

Ebony: Strictly a fret wood. Traditional ebony is impossibly heavy to use for solid or even chambered bodies. There are other species of striped ebony which can be used for acoustic backing and sides, but it's very uncommon and usually only appears in custom jobs. As a fret wood, ebony is smooth and very dark in color; often black. Along with Maple and Rosewood it is the third primary fret wood used today.

Koa: This Hawaiian wood is similar to mahogany with it's rich sound, though provides more brilliance and clarity. Since it is exclusive to the Hawaiian islands it's not in huge supply and thus seldom used in large quantity. Koa is reputed for being one of the more naturally beautiful woods and is often left stained or clear coated. It can be used for laminate tops, bodies and necks; it is never used for fretboards.

Korina: Also known as Limba. White and Black versions are both native to Africa and do not share many differences, though they do have different colored grains. Many guitarists are Korina enthusiasts because of the supreme tone it provides. It's well-earned favoritism with players is rooted in its enhanced responsiveness and beautiful, rich tone. It is often referred to as "Super Mahogany" or "Mahogany Deluxe". It provides all of the sought-after sound of mahogany but is much lighter and more articulate. It's popularity as a tonewood began with the initial release of Gibson's Flying V and Explorer guitar models. Each first became available in White Korina/Limba, which when stained turns a rich golden color.

Mahogany: While Alder and Ash serve as a great option for many Fender styled guitars, mahogany is the typical choice for players seeking a sound rooted in the rock and metal genres. It is one of the heavier woods used today but does offer very warm and powerful sound and is in good supply. All of these make it suitable for the most commonly used material in luthiery. It has been used for nearly every part of the guitar with the exception of fretboards.

Maple: Predominantly there are two different types of maple used in the music world. Unlike other sibling woods, Eastern Hard Maple and Western Soft Maple serve different purposes.

Hard Maple is used for any and all construction, more commonly fretboards and guitar necks. Maple fretboards are distinct as they are the only bright colored fretboard used on guitars. All other fret tonewoods are dark in color (although ivory frets have been seen in the past). This species of maple is very difficult to dye.

Soft Maple is used only in bodies and is slightly less articulate. It is still considered to produce one of the sharpest tones, however, and unlike Hard Maple it produces a great canvas for stains and dies.

Other variations of maple used are flamed maple, quilted maple, spalted maple, birdseye maples, and burl maple. Those with more complicated patterns are usually made into tops and placed on top of another type of tonewood. Ibanez, for example, features Prestige line guitars with mahogany bodies and figured maple tops.

Poplar: This wood is almost identical to Alder and because of it's overabundance, is another popular choice among many manufacturers. The wood is very unattractive, however, and is almost always finished in solid colors.

Rosewood: Aside from Maple, this is the other industry standard for fretboards. When used for bodies it is often chambered or hollowed to alleviate some of it's tremendous weight. Because it is oily, Rosewood is difficult to finish, though it supplies a very lush and creamy tone which is no doubt worth any trouble it may provide.

Brazilian Rosewood: Moderately rare type of wood that unlike rosewood is not used for functionality. It's expensive and almost solely used for laminate tops. Strong grains and gorgeous when finished properly.

Walnut: This is a contradictory type of wood because it is a very heavy and complex wood but offers a very bright sounds. Walnut is another wood sought after for the visuals as opposed to sound. Figured Walnut makes wonderful tops.

Wenge: This overbearingly heavy and dark wood is most commonly used in basses for the sharp attack it provides. It is often oil finished to showcase its strong and curious zebra stripe pattern. It's tone falls dead center between warm and bright, offering excellent midrange.

Zebrawood: It's a pretty uncommon wood and remarkably heavy. It occasionally pops up in custom built guitars as a figured or laminate top, but not much else. It's sharp sounding like maple and grained much like Wenge, although it offers much more contrast.

	Peep Bunnies -  1248 pts -  (2 years ago)
	What a well thought out answer. =]