Guitar mahogany vs. rosewood back and sides?

Question

I am in the process of purchasing a new guitar. I am a fairly well versed guitar player and have been playing for over 10 years classical, electric lead, and rythm, just overall guitar. I want a good acoustic guitar to be my main rythm/ fingerstyle guitar for church, home and events. What would be best for all around playing tone. Solid mahogany sides and back, or rosewood sides and back? Or would it just be personal preference? I know rosewood is warmer, and mahogany brighter, but I can't seem to choose. I am leaning more towards mahoany. I will be getting spruce top regaurdless, thanks.

Answer 1

whatever you think is best it's really your choice

Answer 2

I personally like the look of rosewood but that's just a matter of taste. The rosewood imported today comes mostly from India and is lighter (in color) than the Brazilian. I don't mean to dis' anyone but I believe the answer above stating that Brazilian is currently available is incorrect. The rain forest hasn't had time to grow back since 1968 & the US still denys it's import. Now some countries outside the US may be able to build with it but to me it's just the principal. Either way, make sure the wood (at least the top) is solid and not laminate. BIG difference in sound. Easy to check by looking inside sound hole to be positive that the grain pattern inside & out match. Good luck!

Answer 3

I think you have to consider the dimensions and size of the body as well as the wood when deciding which sounds best. I have a 1997 Guild D-35 with mahogany back and sides, that I bought new 30 years ago. I love it. The brighter sound of the mahogany sides and back balances really well with the bassy sound of the dreadnaught size body. I think rosewood back and sides on this guitar would have been *too* warm and *too* boomy.



But in the end, I think there aren't a lot of hard and fast rules. You just have to visit a bunch of different guitar shops and try a lot of different guitars (used as well as new) in your price range. When you find "The One", you'll know it. Happy guitar shopping!

Answer 4

The guitar size has to be balanced to the venue. Mahogany, used for back, sides and neck, is a good choice for a balanced tone at reasonable cost; I understand that nato has more even response than mahogany but is also pricier. Spruce is used almost universally for tops; cedar, also used for the top, is more durable but pricier. Most guitars built with any of the above woods will pack a rosewood fretboard on the neck.



For fingerstyle (after Chet Atkins or Mark Knopfler), you may need a largish instrument on account of effective amplification. Martin, Takamine, Taylor, Yamaha, &c. all manufacture dreadnought-pattern flattops, which I estimate to be the minimum size for your requirements. Jumbo-pattern, e.g. Gibson J-series, might be better, but cost and space may be issues as well.

Answer 5

Brazilian rosewood (or 'palisander') has the longest sustain of any guitar wood. At one time they had stopped exporting it and guitars made of it became very rare and expensive. Now they are easier to get. That's what I'd want. (In fact I have one.)



Mahogany is also nice, actually I like the look of it better.



Spruce is best for the top, though I've seen some vguitars that had tops of redwood! Very beautiful.

Answer 6

I think It's difficult to answer your question perfectly.

In my opinion, you should have at least two sets of guitar for every condition as you've mentioned

I'm an amateur guitarist but I've been playing the guitar for 30 years.