7. The Tonewood Debate: Can You Really Hear the Difference?

Or: How to start a friendly argument at any guitar shop.

If you ever find yourself in a room full of guitar players and want to watch them turn into philosophers, scientists, and amateur lumberjacks, just say:“Tonewood doesn’t really matter.”

Then step back and enjoy the show.

The tone wood debate has been raging for decades. Some players swear different woods have different tonal characteristics. Others insist tone wood makes about as much difference as the color of your socks. And then there are the folks in the middle, just quietly strumming and hoping nobody asks their opinion.

So… does tone wood matter?

The short answer: Yes.

The longer answer: Well… mostly yes. Kind of. It depends.Let’s dive in.

Acoustic Guitars: Where Tonewood Really Shows Off

If there’s one place where tone wood absolutely makes a difference, it’s acoustic guitars. The top wood vibrates as you play, the back and sides help shape the sound, and the whole instrument acts like a tiny wooden concert hall.

Here’s the quick rundown:

Spruce (the classic)

Bright, balanced, loud, and clear. Basically the “vanilla ice cream” of guitar tops. Works with everything.

Cedar

Warm, soft, and sweet. Perfect for fingerstyle players and anyone who likes their guitar to whisper instead of shout.

Mahogany

Punchy and focused. Great midrange. It’s the “I drank black coffee before it was cool” of tone woods.

Rosewood

Big, lush overtones. Essentially the audio equivalent of a 1970s shag carpet—warm, thick, and luxurious.

Even non-guitarists can often hear these differences because acoustic guitars are directly shaped by the wood they’re made of.

Electric Guitars: More Complicated (and More Controversial)

Now we enter dangerous waters.

Electric tone wood arguments can ruin friendships.

Technically, the pickups and amp can shape most of the sound. But the wood can still influence:

• Resonance

• Sustain

• Attack

• Feel (which some players swear they can “hear”)

Paul Reed Smith said it best, If you put a microphone in front of Paul Rodgers, He wont sound like Barbara Streisand.

A maple neck tends to feel snappier. Mahogany bodies feel warmer. Swamp ash can be airy and bright. Basswood is neutral and balanced—like the Switzerland of guitar woods.

But here’s the twist: On an electric guitar, the differences are subtle. Sometimes very subtle.

Put a Strat through a cranked amp with a Tube Screamer and half the world couldn’t tell if the body was alder, ash, or recycled IKEA furniture.

So Who’s Right? Wood Believers or Wood Skeptics?

Both—just in different ways.

Acoustic guitars:

Yes, tone wood is a big deal. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Electric guitars:

Tonewood matters… but not enough that you should lose sleep over it.

The bigger factors are:

• Pickups

• Amp

• Strings

• Your right hand

• Your left hand

• How much coffee you had before playing

• Whether your dog walked into the room during a take

(Musical truth: Dogs improve tone.)

The Real Answer? Trust Your Ears.

Here’s the fun part—every guitar, even two made from the same wood, sounds a little different. That’s the magic of wood: it’s alive, unpredictable, and full of personality.

So when someone says, “You can’t hear the difference,” smile politely.

And when someone else says, “Mahogany absolutely gives you more midrange,” smile politely at them too.

Because the truth is wonderfully simple:

If it inspires you to play, the tone wood is right.If it doesn’t, it isn’t.

Visit www.ChapelHillGuitarRepair.com for more of my interesting insights on the world of Guitars.