Veneer vs solid top guitar well . The Epiphone has received a lot of great reviews here at AGF, but when played next to its Gibson counterpart is . The impact of these different forms of wood on sound production and overall aesthetics is of significant consideration. Jun 27, 2024 · Solid Top vs Laminate Top. Solid tops, crafted from a single piece of quilted maple, offer superior resonance and a more pronounced three-dimensional figure. The guitar was a acoustic guitar first and an electric guitar second for when extra volume was needed. A solid body guitar is just that. Unless you actually want it thicker than it was to start with. Feb 21, 2024 · Solid Koa Vs Koa Veneer. Aug 26, 2008 · It MUST be veneer, without even looking in the cavity for clues. 5 mm. Flame Maple Bleached Veneer Guitar Top – VNFM-1 US $ 25. Flame Maple Electric Guitar Top – Extra Wide – 1. Why? Notice that on solid carved tops, the grain matches more toward the seam, and less as you get to the edge. Oct 20, 2014 · A solid top guitar has a top made of one or two pieces of solid wood, cut thin, and is hollow, or semi-hollow. These are often termed laminated, though veneered would be a little more descriptive. - Stevo Aug 18, 2021 · Do guitars with a top sound better? Guitars with a top don’t necessarily sound better. Find one that feels and sounds good to you. The combination of a solid top, that best in resonating the strings’ sound, and the solid back and side, which is best in amplifying the sound created from the strings and top wood, will create a much richer and dynamic sound. ). – Sep 14, 2005 · If you want to solid-top your veneered guitar, you'll want to simply route/cut off a hefty chunk, not just steam the veneer off. You probably don't really know enough yet to choose the absolute best guitar for you. Check out this YouTube video to hear a comparison of a guitar with a solid top and laminate back and sides (Taylor 114) and a guitar with a solid top, back and sides (Taylor 314). Tone: Solid-top guitars are prized for their superior Sep 21, 2024 · Solid Wood Acoustic Guitars. In the US, an acoustic guitar with a solid top and laminated back and sides costs somewhere around $600-$700 (Rs 42,000 – Rs 49,000). Others have a core of light balsa wood. I noticed that the Suhr modern guitars have what looks like a quarter inch maple top that follows this contour. 8 mm. It focuses the sound, and projects it. Its job is to transfer string vibration to the top, thereby exciting the air inside the box. Should you spend thousands of dollars to get a Mar 26, 2006 · I think a maple top and cap are the same. The more you play it, the better it will sound. Here are pics of the so-called "Burst" that Keith Richards is holding on the Get Yer Yayas" album cover. 5 mm and 0. The veneer was applied without removing the neck or fretboard. The mid to lower end will have a plain maple cap with a thin veneer of real figured maple laminated to the top of the plain maple cap. The guitar has since received a vintage fretboard. The great majority of LS120s are veneers with very well matched and aligned veneers. Feb 21, 2016 · The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion: Oh no! Not another solid vs. c80 has spruce top, the other 3 have solid spruce top and solid cedar top. Upon researching guitar woods here, i have a "shocking" discovery. 00 Add to cart Sort by popularity Sort by latest Sort by price: low to high Sort by price: high to low Jul 13, 2023 · Pictured here is my PRS-style kit with a flamed maple top. Reflecting on my engineering background that ignited a fascination in material variations, I find the comparison between solid koa vs koa veneer particularly intriguing. The back of the guitar is pretty much the cone of the speaker, if you will. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright That’s why older solid acoustic guitars tend not to lose their value nearly as much as laminate guitars, and in some cases will appreciate in value. If the description is “spruce top”, without the word solid, it is in all probabilities, a laminate top. laminate thread Nov 12, 2005 · I only own one guitar with a veneer top and it sounds good, I've played tons of good sounding veneer top guitars. An all-solid wood guitar produces the best expression, volume, and sustain compared to a laminated guitar and a solid top guitar. A Stratocaster doesn’t sound at all like a Les Paul and one of the things that generate that difference is its lack of a Maple top. As with many builders, not a true mahogany, but "African Mahogany", a name given to Sapele, a much heavier wood than a true mahogany, that shows rays, or ribbons. 05mm) Because one VERY BIG factor influencing sound is the wood used. They say the same thing about maple vs. In fact several times I've played for example the MIJ Tokai Love Rocks (LP copies) where one model is without the veneer top and another has a flamed or quilted veneer over plain maple side by side and couldn't tell a difference in Mar 30, 2023 · Most solid-top guitars are described as solid spruce or solid [top wood name]. Dec 12, 2021 · Others have a core of light balsa wood. Good hunting. Jul 16, 2001 · Bottom line: thin veneer looks great at one angle, but has minimal movement. There are many ways to skin this cat, in this video I show how "I" determine solid wood guitars from laminated guitars top, back and sides. If you want to splash out on a high-end solid top guitar, I recommend checking out Taylor’s K14ce. The flame appears and dissapears depending on the angle and lighting you're seeing it. A real flamed maple top has depth that shows the flame appearing completely different depending on the wiewing angle and the lighting. The top is just a defining factor for certain models. you'll see. . Jun 30, 2019 · To me it actually looks like a solid top versus a solid top with a veneer. In my experience as an engineer, I’ve found that the choice between a quilted maple solid top and a laminate top significantly impacts a guitar’s performance and aesthetics. Floating pickups that mounted to the neck or pickguard were used so that nothing inhibited the vibrations of solid-wood top. Turns out it was a 1968 with a veneer. This method has w It's time to bring up the tonewood debate again, but this time it should be fairly plain to hear that these different materials have a difference on the soun May 21, 2016 · Since you mention GC, here's a very practical pair of guitars for your purpose: Epiphone Hummingbird Pro (Solid Spruce top and laminated back and sides) vs. Nov 18, 2022 · And, not all figured wood is created equal: Guitar makers use two construction methods to adorn guitars with lovely figured wood: Veneers and Solid wood. Not many companies are giving solid flame tops non veneer for less than a grand. The solid top Maple piece and Suhr humbuckers on the Boden Original account for a lot of the discrepancy in cost, which is significant (check the price guide below). Dec 22, 2024 · Pros of Acoustic Guitars with Solid Top & Laminated Back and Sides. Not only does it sound great, but it looks incredible. May 30, 2011 · Compare a Les Paul without the maple to one with it and, though they might have the same type of pickups, the maple makes it a bit brighter. Consider getting it set up professionally. With plywood guitars (also called laminate to help with the marketing of guitars) the top layer is a veneer and as such it does not provide any of the tone. You cut the top down the center, open it out, and glue it. Dec 15, 2023 · A solid top guitar typically costs more than a laminate top. Jun 9, 2021 · Amazon. Many guitars will have an entirely solid body, which many players find far superior. Top end models of these brands use only solid wood and they ring true. I would be glad to see more expert information on those tops. The thing people don't like about veneer, I think, is that it's got a rep for being 'cheap'. They each have their benefits, and reasons for being used in acoustic guitars, and we’re here to explain why. These are acoustic guitars, that use either solid wood or laminate in their body wall construction. It's a solid maple top, with a veneer. c80 has nato back and side, ac-50 and cg192s has rosewood back and side, and GC22 has SOLID rosewood back and side. The top of an acoustic guitar is your soundboard. Jun 21, 2014 · Some very cheep Guitars use ply wood that has a nice , thin veneer , facing on very poor ply wood core . However, just because it may be the most expensive guitar in the collection, it doesn’t mean it’s the most-played one. The Home of Heavy Guitar! Skip to content Considering a new guitar purchase, I'm torn between a full solid and a solid top laminate back and sides due to my humid environment (~80%). Aug 27, 2018 · Solid top LS120s are relatively rare. They are pieces of maple that are glued onto the mahogany/alder/whatever base piece of body wood. And Solid Wood guitars use solid woods in all tone sections of the guitar Feb 18, 2011 · I think he means solid maple flamed topsnot veneer. And I believe there was a thread here a while back showing that the Xaviere "solid flame maple" tops were actually veneer, and calling out the guy who runs the company. Ready for the truth about guitar construction? You’ve probably heard about solid wood guitars (not to be confused with solid-body guitars which refers to electric guitars). A veneer is a paper thin piece of wood glued onto wood Jan 16, 2008 · Re: Figured Maple TOP vs Figured Maple VENEER? Higher end guitars will have a solid figured maple cap where the figure goes all the way through the piece of maple. This one looks natural. Flamed Maple is one of the most prized tonewoods in the world. This is most apparent on guitars with slight variations in the curl patterns. I can see how how that might change the resonance ever so slightly so that a solid color guitar might sound different from a flame top. The real name for Dao wood is Dracontomelon dao Oct 2, 2008 · These guitars were solid wood. Aug 10, 2022 · The main difference between guitar tops, caps, and veneers is that the term “top” just refers to a piece of wood glued over the instrument’s body. However, it is usually 0. One of the biggest advantages of solid wood guitars is the rich, warm tone that they produce. We talk a lot about the importance of (at the very least) a solid wood top on an acoustic guitar, but once the top is solid, how important is the rest of the Sep 6, 2023 · Solid-Top Acoustic Guitars: Construction: A solid-top acoustic guitar features a soundboard (the top of the guitar body) that is made from a single piece of solid wood, typically spruce, cedar, or mahogany. The most widely used thicknesses for this type of board range between 15 mm and 35 mm, although thicknesses of up to 75 mm are also reached. If you follow the grain lines in the cap it matches the top and it’s bookmatched dead center. 5 mm to 0. For a nice solid top, I would agree that $3 k USD wouldn't be extravagant. May 2, 2012 · Furthermore, they also have a thicker body close to the US made PRS guitars which is perfect since I'm not a fan of thinner guitars. 335, among others, are multiple sheets of maple veneers laminated together to form a ply-wood type construction. A solid spruce top and Taylor craftsmanship ensure a clear, balanced tonal response. Parameters Wood Veneer Solid Wood; Thickness: You can easily find sheets with thicknesses from 1. rosewood and ebony fingerboards. Mar 1, 2018 · Solid Wood. Mar 14, 2014 · By the same token I have two all laminate guitars that sound pretty darn good, and one of them is 30 plus years old. For a true solid top, you'll have to do your due diligence, and expect to pay a pretty good price when you do find one. I’m considering buying a dreadnought acoustic guitar but what’s the deal with cheap all solid wood guitar (masterbilt, Inbanex artwood, etc) vs big brands solid top guitar (taylor, martin, etc. It’s just an add-on that helps shape its defining character. Its breathtaking visual, tonal, and aesthetic qualities are so prized that it's often imitated. I'm planning on doing a flat top except for the arm rest. The only exception to the rule can be when a specific origin of wood is mentioned, like Sitka Spruce. The most common types of wood used for solid wood guitars are spruce, cedar, and mahogany. One of the widely recognized distinguishing features of a premium or professional-grade acoustic guitar is the use of solid wood panels for the top, back and sides. When hitting the road, a laminate guitar may be the pick of the day to handle the abuse of travel. com: SIGMA Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar, Solid Spruce Top, Dao Back & Sides, Natural Gloss, Rosewood Bridge, Premium Name-Brand Steel Strings, Mini Acoustic Guitar Suitable for Travel, Right (20MINI) : Everything Else. Both veneer and solid wood can have beautiful and dramatic wood figure (Note: There is a third less commonly used method which involves a taking a photo of figured wood and gluing it to the Today we have the best example of the sound difference between a laminate back & sides vs an all solid body guitar! The Eastman PCH & E1D are almost identica Dec 30, 2012 · So there would be a slight difference between a solid color guitar and one with a figured veneer: the solid color guitar would NOT have the veneer applied over the maple top. The guitars look OK , but are as dead as a door nail . Here at Guitar Kit World, you can choose from a Flamed Maple Veneer, all the way to a Solid Carved Maple Cap, depending on what you are looking for. All-around good sound; They are more durable due to the strength of the laminate sides and back and also handle temperature and humidity changes better than a solid wood guitar. Such is the life of a Gnu. These are called 'double top' guitars. What are they Jul 13, 2016 · I'm planning a build of an RG style guitar with a flame maple top or veneer. The back and sides may still be constructed from laminate wood, but the top is solid. The top makes the sound, and a solid top is best for that. The guitar would sound the same no matter what veneer wood is used. I think a quality guitar with a solid top and laminate back and sides is a great first guitar. However, a paper-thin veneer isn't going to change the sound; It will only make it look nice. Gibson Hummingbird Pro (all solid). Jun 30, 2019 · Many imports have a paper thin veneer of curly maple glued to a plain maple top or simply to the body. However, some great budget-friendly solid Dec 12, 2021 · Aaaand, some of the most costly 'concert' classical guitars have top made of two veneers of fine tone wood sandwiched with a high tech honeycomb material, for greater lightness and loudness. 25″ – 5A Grade – FMGTW5A-06 US $ 400. Mar 26, 2006 · I think a maple top and cap are the same. We love any and all guitars here really, but we thought it’d be better to break down the pros and cons, if you will, of laminate and solid wood guitars. I have a couple of good Japanese made classical guitars from the 1970s that appear to have solid wood back and sides but laminate or possibly 'double top' tops. Feb 20, 2018 · i just bought 2 used guitar, one is yamaha cg192s and the other is GC22. A new guitar having a solid wood top plus solid wood back and sides is even a greater choice. Mar 8, 2013 · Many iconic tone guitars of top quality have laminated topsES's various175, 335, 330, 135, 137 etc etc Arguable advantages being durability and consistency over solid wood There is a saying that a good laminated guitar will beat a 'poor' solid guitar Though the tonal properties of layered wood aren’t as complex as solid wood, the construction method enables us to conserve tonewood resources and offer attractive, durable instruments at a more inviting price. Aug 26, 2008 · The inside forward picture shows the radials toward the outside edge, exiting the top at angles more like 17 than 90. Dinosaur Rock Guitar Forum. Sep 7, 2013 · A guitar with a solid top, whether archtop or flattop, will improve its sound with age and playing. The rest of this guitar is also mahogany, and it has a single binding around the top of the guitar body. I agree sound comes 90% from the top, but I have a laminate and a solid guitar, I like how the laminate sounds more and I’m thinking of selling the solid one, but if I tap both lightly, the solid one reverberates for seconds when the laminate one just dies out, it’s pretty fucking easy to hear the difference between both, and solid is I'd rather a plain maple top than plain maple with flame veneer. Conclusion . I just recently learned the distinction. Because of this I had planned on just doing a veneer. It's much more fancy. Often, a versatile and casual guitar, like a solid top guitar, is easily the “go-to” instrument – even for a pro. 00 Add to cart Electric Guitar Tops , Flame Maple , Flame Maple - 3/4" (19. Dec 30, 2020 · It's a cheaper way to make a guitar. Well, I got a question concerning the maple top: Is it a real maple top or just a thin veneer which is used for this guitars? Thanks for reading and kind regards Frank Nov 6, 2005 · A veneer can be applied without removing the neck, or fretboard. Solid Top Guitars using a solid piece of wood for the top piece only (it’s usually split into 2 pieces and glued together, but it’s solid all the way through). Jun 16, 2008 · This model has plywood top, back, and sides. Wiping from the inside out, starting at the center book-match seam May 6, 2020 · Hi, I’m a beginner and I’m looking to buy a guitar that sound good and I can keep it for About 2-3 years. I purchased this kit from Budreau Guitars. And I heard some laminates are better than others. More affordable than an all-solid acoustic guitar while still being able to put out a comparable sound. It is just a decoration. Plus veneer top LP’s that I’ve seen are exceptionally flamed. There are some very expensive Guitars, that use a expensive laminate of good quality tone woods, on the back and sides . They quickly learn that a new guitar having a solid wood top is a great choice. Solid wood construction tends to express a wood’s tonal personality in the fullest, most complex way, resulting in a superior musical sound. A solid-wood guitar could cost $1300 – $1500 (Rs 91,000 – Rs 1,05,000). I've heard laminate guitars are more stable and low-maintenance, but I'm concerned about tone quality. Solid wood, except for the cavity where the electronics go. In short, the solid top on the Original is an intact chunk of hard wood while the veneer in the Standard is wella veneer, and more for aesthetics than anything else. Tops have aesthetic purposes and can be of two kinds: caps, which are thicker and shape the instrument’s tone, and veneers which are extremely thin. It is always better to ask again to be 100% sure. Don't get too hung up on getting the perfect guitar the first time around. A beginner of the classical guitar spends many a carefree hour learning a new skill till the time comes to upgrade the instrument. I feel like plain maple top with flame maple veneer (regardless of how it looks) is "pretentious"—as in it gives the pretense that the guitar is super-fancy when it is actually a more budget offering. For this top, I stayed with just a single shade of blue Keda Wood Dye. Solid wood acoustic guitars, as the name suggests, are made from a single piece of wood. Here at Breedlove Guitars we sit in both camps of this debate. kfjkn dxfo jcbyat mgenov wlwqnd npsczbq fxzqo uqdff oxqt curox