What no one will tell you about acoustic guitar soundboards!

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Chris dives into what makes every piece of wood unique, and how its individual characteristics can affect its sonic footprint and structural integrity.

[@robertshorthill4153]

Back in '67, I bought a Gibson J-50 brand new, made a year earlier. I paid $250 for it, which was a good bit of cash in those days. There were several of the same brand and model in the store at the time. I spent over an hour playing, picking, and strumming each guitar, intently listening to whatever subtle differences these beautiful instruments were "talking" to me. There was one that had a punchiness, brightness, crispness that sounded better, if only slightly, over it's mates. I knew that each and every one of these guitars had not become fully "awakened" at this stage in their young lives and that over time, and being played regularly, this one particular guitar would blossom into a very good sounding and playing instrument. I didn't know what the action was supposed to be, but I took it to a guitar technician to have him look at the set up features that might need adjustments, if any. I ended up walking out of this store, 250 bucks lighter, but the proud owner of a phenomenal guitar which I keep and played for many decades into the future. Yes, it did wake up several months later to become a very highly prized possession, a good friend, and an instrument that I could develop the type of music I was interested in playing, which at the time was folk/ bluegrass. In the mid '80s I had more than one offer from folks wishing I would consider selling it to them. Of course I refused their offers of 4 figures, near the 2 grand range. Later on during the Dubya Bush era and due to extreme financial hardships, I was forced to sell my J-50, which had been with me since a "baby". I got a decent price, but it cut my heart out ! It's never been replaced to this day, by any other guitar, sadly for me. That's my story about buying a good guitar out of a music store. Bob

[@patricksmith4424]

Great story, but a bit sad. I am sure it found a good home. Go and get another one!

[@paranorm1]

This broke my heart just reading...😢

[@rhoff7272]

As others stated this story broke my heart! I have an acoustic that i am extremely fond of to say the least. Last night my 2 year old dinged the top pretty bad and as i was steaming the ding out i was thinking that i would NEVER be able to find another acoustic i like this much. Your story just confirmed that for me!

[@LoneTinaja]

@robertshorthill4153 - I vividly remember that during the Great Recession that began toward the end of the George W. Bush administration in late 2008 new guitar prices in shops soon began to fall as demand fell. In 2009 a shop in my area had a very large inventory of guitars and they must have needed to sell a lot of them cheap to boost their cash flow, because a friend of mine struck a deal with them to buy a new Gibson J-200 acoustic for only $1000. Nowadays new Gibson J-200s are typically about $5500. I've had my '67 Gibson J-45 since '67. I love it. I hope the day comes when you can get another great guitar.

[@dantallman5345]

Kind of like Leo Kotke’s song Tilt Billings and the Student Prince, but in reverse. Hey atleast you did not have to see it get ruined by a drunk sitting on it. 🫤

[@metriczeppelin]

I have just learned more in 33 minutes about the art of woods being chosen for guitar construction than I've learned in the past 40 years! Super thanks, sir!

[@melwynalmeida50]

Hey ! You are a guitar scientist man ! Thank GOD for guys like you. Thanks for sharing. You gave me such a profound understanding of guitars and wood. Next time I am going to spend lots of time listening to different guitars. Love from Mumbai, India.

[@kingrobert1st]

Fascinating! Subbed! I have a hand built 12 string. The luthier kept the two book matched sound boards in a humidity controlled environment for 3 months before matching them. He said he would match them according to the natural curve they developed. The guitar is needless to say, still absolutely perfect after 36 years.

[@michaelsimpson398]

sounds like you know how to look after it too mate

[@karthikmylavarapu3289]

Could you share the details of that luthier?

[@slipstreammonkey]

Your talking about overbuilding guitars prioritizing stability over efficiency. Every added mass counteracts the ability of the machine to flex and thus resonate. I get lost when woodworkers use magical language to describe their intuition based on years of experience. I believe most look at the top desired flexibility as being a physical touch and listening response rather than, "i just know when its ready or it speaks to me" which isnt what you said exactly but i,ve heard it said many times. Ive seen some builders use a more accurate/scientific approach. I forget the name but using a weight to show elastisity or movement under pressure. Overall very clear. One question though, how does one tell over time when the desired top is where it's most efficient. And how could we judge it to be so after the guitar is all together. How can we pinpoint it being the top that needs a change.

[@walshamite]

It stuns me to discover a 3000 year old buried spruce trunk could be fashioned into parts of a contemporary musical instrument. Sir, your videos , which I discovered serendipitously, are a fascinating revelation in so many ways.

[@kenteel2944]

Well said !

[@ememe1412]

If you look up bogwood or morta, oldest have been dated around 5k... BC! These have been used for fingerboards, bridges...

[@趙溫]

That word 'serendipitously' is at least as old as that trunk they found

[@markeverett5273]

I'm from westvirginia and I remember going to the pentical the highest elevation in westvirginia a place called spruce knob the trees were 3 ft tall but the diameter was every bit 20 to 30 inches the reason was the intense wind kept them from growing straight up I would find it interesting to see you make a acoustic guitar out of that wood

[@christopherwilliams7222]

Interesting about factory builds running pre selected thicknesses for mass top quantities. This is what I believe the result of that is. Out of 10 Martins, Taylor’s, or Gibsons, you play at the store 2 will sound open and 8 will not. It’s the law of averages!!!

[@richysguitarworkshop1159]

So informative. As a Luthier in London I hope to one day actually start to build an acoustic. I enjoyed watching this very much :)

[@nilsensantin5351]

I got me an orangewood guitar just for kicks (Oliver Mahagomy Jr.) today 5/22/22 saw your Orangewood review. I was blown away! this video cleared all i kind I knew about these guitars. i love nylon

[@xdognatex9897]

I love hearing people talk about things they are super passionate about. Thank you!

[@magicdaveable]

Truly excellent video. Back jn the late 1980's I acquired a dozen or more 1x12x1"(3/4" thick) Kiln Dried Quarter Sawn clear Douglas Fir shelving boards. Not a "soundboard wood" but very fine straight grain that when I resawed it into top wood and joined it the tops are truly excellent. The stiffness allowed me to make very thin tops with radically scalloped bracing. So far I have built two Drednaught Body guitars (1988 &.1990) with Black Walnut back, sides and neck with French Lilac fingerboards and bridges cut from 50 year old extremely dense tight grained boards. I air dried those logs for 5+ years. The neck and tail blocks are also Black Walnut. They were my first two acoustic builds. Both have cosmetic issues but play well and sound great. I learned by disassemblibg an old Guild D-40 that had been seriously abused. Found it in a pawn shop in NYC for $5. Those first two builds taught me a lit about building acoustic instruments. Now that I am retired from my "daycjov" I want to tackle building my most favorite stringed instrument... The Baroque Cello.

[@przybyla420]

I love lilac wood, so pretty and nice to work with. Never seen it used as a fretboard, that’s sweet

[@BLN47]

I’m a teacher at a private jr and sr high school in Japan. I convinced my school to let me start a beginners guitar club. They gave me a small budget to buy 5 entry level guitars. The guitars I ordered were from one of the largest, most famous (and Japanese) instrument makers. Long story short: two sound great (wonderful resonance/projection/range of frequencies/etc.) One sounds “ok…” and two sound like cardboard. They’re all the same model and came straight from the warehouse together. So, everything you said about the mass produced factory guitars was spot on!

[@cutebabyseal621]

Holy crap, this video blew my mind. I'm just starting to do research for my first build, and your videos are the most informative I've seen. I've just finished reading chapter 4 of Somogyi's "The Responsive Guitar", which is all about the material properties of wood. I found this video to be an excellent followup to that. Also, that ancient sitka is absolutely badass.

[@paulcockerill4260]

Puts my laminate Yamaha to shame lol

[@MYEVILTWIIN]

I don’t even play the guitar I actually make electronic music , but I love watching these videos of people making guitars ... out of the hundreds I’ve watch none have ever explained the tone wood like you have here 🤘

[@tuco8734]

Wow, very interesting . I’ve been playing guitar for 45 years and your video taught me more about soundboards than I have ever heard before , thank you .

[@xandytablizo6200]

Hello sir.

[@xandytablizo6200]

Where can i buy your guitar? Im from canada

[@xandytablizo6200]

I really like to have a guitar that you have made.🙏🏽

[@russellscott1151]

I’ve been building guitars for about 1.5 years now and it’s a fascinating and absorbing hobby and this video really covers the tonewood topic better than any other I’ve come across so far. More please, awsome.

[@profdrenz]

You also might want to listen to what José Romanillos has to say about soundboards.

[@frankmormon2503]

Somewhere on the inter web I remember an interesting talk from Richard Hoover , also another from George Lowden. I’m a hobby luthier and am on guitar 7 . Greatest hobby - mainly because seasoned builders share so much to help us on our way- a great community

[@arnoldmmbb]

That 3000 years old spruce its just awesome, great video

[@steveschultz300]

I am not musically inclined; but I do have "garage style" woodworking ability. Cabinets, cutting boards and toy boxes. What you describe regarding the wood is exactly what I go through with my projects; the backstory for each piece of wood and the possibility it will give me. Even though your skills are completely different then mine; I appreciate your wisdom.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I appreciate you watching! Keep at it in the garage.

[@benwright6330]

..did what you said, ..went for lite weight and used Balsa wood for the top but it fell to Dust and collapsed on itself the first note I strumbd. All that whittling and sandin' I done on it jus to end up with a pile a Kindlin' dangit.🔥😳.

[@rohlfing63]

It's weight AND strength. Light (low density) is pointless without strength, and high strength is pointless without light weight.

[@Jagannath79]

Nice to see someone who REALLY knows the nature of wood......respect.

[@mattyburrows9059]

knows this or believes this..has he made an ebony or rosewood top ? if not..how does he know? he doesnt..he believes..taylor make koa tops and thats a heavy hardwood..i havent heard one so i cant say if its crap..im guessing its not crap because taylor make it

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Well I’ve made several Koa topped guitars and played a TON of Koa Topped guitars, and they do in fact sound subpar to Spruce. Sometimes, you don’t have to make a guitar from woods to know that the wood won’t make a good guitar. I don’t have to attempt to make a car out of cheese to know that it won’t make for a good car either!

[@hobetto4817]

@@mattyburrows9059 The idea of using light woods on tops is to decrease the inertia, so they will vibrate wider. That means, higher volume. And the hardness is also important, because soft woods filters treeble, and we want to collect the wider spectrum possible. Easy as that. Also, not mentioned but important, the sides and the back of the guitar are crafted in hard wood, as well as the fingerboard to reflect the soundwaves back to where we want, that means, the harmonic top and the strings, respectively.

[@mattyburrows9059]

@@hobetto4817 great explanation.so ideally you dont want knots or defects like martin tell you..you want them and they are sort after. they say..but you only find them bearclaw defects in cheaper their guitars....however..they still sound good.the taylor hardwood one they do sounds ok too.better than alot of softwood tops ive heard..so all that theory is missing something..on paper and theory the bee doesnt fly.weve seen it fly..ive heard the taylor..it sounded better than most in the shop.so the theory is nonsense pal..taylor have proven it

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

That just means you’ve never actually heard what a great guitar sounds like my friend. I’m sorry, but if you think a Koa topped guitar sounds great, then you just haven’t played a truly great guitar.

[@Ram.Saketh]

Wow! Very insightful and an eye-opener, so to speak. I learnt so much from this video.

[@raymondeaton5692]

How about a video on bracing, the affect radius plays in the tone of a top, gluing the radiused brace by forcing it flat the way Martin does or using a radiused gluing board like Santa Cruz or Huss and Dalton.

[@richardcooksey1600]

Very well explained. I found this out in 96 when I bought a Takamine Sante Fe.....I played several of the same guitar and they all sounded so different. I had played one at a music store in Nachogdoches Texas and fell in love with it. Asked the salesman to hold it for me and I'd be back with the money...in the meantime I had to go to San Antonio for a VA appt....then Dallas a few days later to p/u a friend at the airport. I played the exact same guitar in 5 different stores....didn't care for any of them really. I finally got back to Nachogdoches and was starting to think I must have just imagined how it sounded. It was truly a special guitar....still have it....I've worn a hole through the top nearly from playing so much. Never heard this explained so well. Great job!

[@karljshaw]

Well done, Chris... I can share this with some of the folks who fail to understand why the guitars that I have had you make for me are so exceptional when compared with some of the big name instruments in my collection. Keep on, keeping on... and Merry Christmas to you.

[@ravi230988]

Wonderful sir, the way you explain, it makes us feel more about the wood...more than what its basic function is being a guitar top. Keep making more videos to guide us more.thanks

[@guloguloguy]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S INCREDIBLE WOOD-OLOGY/(DENDROLOGY)"!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!!

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Wonderful, thoughtful discussion. You appreciate "quantifiable" factors, and yet so much comes down to your experience. That's exactly what anyone would desire in a custom instrument builder.

[@danmax68]

I have purchased a Martin guitar that ships tomorrow; I get to choose from two; your spectacular video is reassuring to me! Bravo and thank you so much

[@DominelliGuitars]

Really good video man! You are helping to inform the average person about the complexities of wood, and what the true art of lutherie is all about. Cheers!

[@buddha65281]

So glad i found this video. I am looking at buying my 1st ever guitar and learning how to play but there is a catch.. I'm a 57 yr old disabled veteran... may be a little too old but I am looking. Are you saying "cyprus"? thank you for explaining and showing us more about guitar building and what makes a guitar sound so amazing.

[@rickkernell2486]

Chris, I am a novice builder trying to sort out all of contradictory statements found on-line. Thank you for a very well thought-out and presented tutorial. You have given me a wealth of information.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Glad I could be of help!

[@richardchalker3465]

I enjoyed your knowledge of tops and tone woods, and you confirmed some of my beliefs. Ten years ago I was fortunate to get a limited run custom shop Martin. The CS-00S-14 is a "00" with a torrefied Swiss Spruce top, it is the sweetest and most beautiful guitar I have. I confirm that the torrefied wood does have the look and sound of a very old instrument. Thanks for sharing your skill.

[@thejeffersonlee]

I love Cedar top guitars. Even being a strummer more than a picker, I love the response of the cedar over Sitka spruce. Volume tolerances are easily negligible when PAs, pedals, and amps are included. But that is going on just what I hear from manufactured guitars.

[@jefffixesit60]

This is the best wood info I've seen, I love the way you combine precise measurement with tactile, visual, and audio clues. I'm an old dude who's new to guitar building, and your description of factory built vs hand built reminds me of the difference between a custom built race bike and a touring bike from a dealership. I digress. Just acquired my first band saw, now to find a home for it in the shop.

[@xugefu]

Thanks!

[@stevehallford2200]

There are lots of videos that cover the building process of a guitar, but you provide in-depth knowledge and insight that goes deeper than the "how to" that I don't get from other channels. I've learned quite a bit from your videos - thanks and keep it up!

[@planetterror649]

Wow that glacier wood guitar build is probably the most stunning acoustic guitar i have ever seen i paused the video for a long time looking at how beautiful the wood is and the craftsmanship is absolutely jaw dropping you sir are a master and the story behind the wood its history loved everything about this video thank u for spending your obviously busy schedule to show us your craft 👏👏

[@chipstick1973]

I’ve been playing acoustic guitar for over 30 years now, I’ve heard all about what wood is used as a soundboard and never really considered the subtlety’s which determine the final sound. Great video and can only dream of owning a hand grafted guitar.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I appreciate you watching!

[@KimbrellBrad]

I am a woodworker - not instruments - but I have built a few dulcimers as a cool challenge. Your explanation of wood and its characteristics was well done! I build Maloof-style rockers and I also try to get the entire rocker out of a bunch of 12/4 wood from the same tree. It not only looks better but it generally "acts" the same as pieces next to it as far as movement. Those rockers are hand-carved in many spots and with 200-300 hours in one you don't want troublesome wood. And you mentioned that tree that takes a lot of wind - some wood just has internal stresses that you cannot beat and just have to cut in into smaller pieces for inlay work. You cannot tame it! Great video. New subscriber here!

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I appreciate that! I’ve always wanted to try my hand at a rocker.

[@peterveri6188]

WOW! Truly informative. As a teenager I used to salvage spruce and cedar “blanks” that would eventually be used for guitar wood from an old growth logged out area on Haida Gwaii. Your video enlightened me as to what eventually happens to those 95mm X 1000mm blanks.

[@johnhicks7057]

Not a builder or luthier. Just a long time player. This was a GREAT and very informative video. You guys do a great job. Thanks.

[@vanhap]

very interesting information, this makes the specific instrument wood so preferable

[@michaelwisdom1422]

Enjoyed it vary much. I have built instruments for years and agree with your video. I might make a video myself and add to all your comments as I have had some unusual experiences with making tops. Thanks good job.

[@davidsaliba9209]

Your shop is absolutely stunning. They layout, the windows, all of it. Kudos!

[@mwmcbroom]

An excellent presentation. I've been building for about 15 years (I specialize in classicals) and it was a treat finding out about some of the rare woods you have. If I might add a brief comment about other species that were not mentioned. Redwood is a somewhat uncommom wood for biilding, but good sets have acoustic properties that fall somewhere between western redcedar and spruce. My favorite species is actually a hybrid. It comes.from British Columbia , called Lutz spruce, and it is a hybrid between Sitka, Englemann, and White spruce. Lutz has acoustic properties that rival the very best Euro spruce and it just looks fantastic, with its very pronounced medulary rays. When I build a spruce topped guitar these days, it's with Lutz.

[@kevingreene6893]

Totally agree… I have a Taylor guitar 12 fret 312 limited edition model with lutz spruce over Tasmanian Blackwood and it’s a dream to play and hear…a sonic delight! My brother had an Avalon guitar, auditorium model, built with sinker redwood over ancient bog oak and believe me it’s a real piece of craftsmanship. Plays beautifully and has a rich, lush sound quality with a nicely balanced tonal range throughout. Hitting a single note cam hold your attention for a surprising length of time - awesome.

[@mwmcbroom]

@@kevingreene6893 I have one set of sinker redwood that I'm saving for a special build. Its tap tone is the wildest I've ever heard. Sounds like a bell! I can imagine your brother's guitar must have an awesome sound.

[@michaelsoro9672]

I really appreciated your acoustic guitar sett up video. I had a problem with mine low at the nut high at fret 12. I lowered the saddle and put some relief in the neck. worked out great. love your guitars wish I had the money to order one. Let me know if you ever have a scratch and dent sale.

[@JDCottonMusic]

Superb presentation, especially breaking down the tonal characteristics of the more common top tonewoods in class terms.

[@musicforyou2010]

Chris, thank you so much. This video is outstanding and there is nothing comparable among all the videos posted on KZbin. I really appreciate your work and craftmanship/knowledge!!!!! I hope I can try some of your guitars soon. And you really have talent for these kind of videos because you have so many things to say and you come across as very easy-going, kind and competent. It is really relaxing to watch your videos and share your passion for guitars. Greetings from Germany, Joe

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Your wonderful! You explain things and the vidio length is perfect! Wow a 3000 year old piece of spruce! Wow hopefully it is now stable. I'm primarily a violinist but have some classical training and folk training. I'm not immediately in the market right now but love your vidios and they are educational. My grandfather played a Martin ukulele and I played it. If I had the workshop and tools I would be making violins and guitars but I just stick with carving violin bridges and making violin sound posts. Please keep making vidios I learn so much from you. Thank you!😅

[@jerryphillips6809]

The glacial staining is from rock minerals called feldspars and forms clay here in the Pacific Northwest. It's composed of Sodium, Potassium and Calcium aluminate silicate. You could season and age your spruce in glacial clay to replicate the same artistic effect.

[@dominocweber9763]

Wow i just checked out your website. You build some of the most beautiful instruments ive every laid my eyes on. Im sure they play and sound like a dream as well

[@davetoce4373]

I love and admire your attention and care to building these. I just bought a Taylor GS mini and I do love it. It sounds woody and bigger than it is but man... I'd love to buy a handmade guitar from you because as you said the bigger names don't have the time to do things the way you do and they build for the masses. Thanks for great videos and sharing your knowledge

[@AlessandroShrimp]

I love your videos!! Very informative and educational!!! I'm looking forward to the video when it comes to the wood for back and side.😬😬😬

[@bknesheim]

ref: 10:38 You can easilly measure the tap-force and the sound db and Hz. Also resonase can be measured. You can do it with a raspberry pi (any version) and 20-25$ in sencors. Software do it is free.

[@cutebabyseal621]

Can you refer me to the software for this, or some kind of guide? I'm a software engineer and was thinking about how feasible it would be to build something like this to do a Fourier analysis of the tap tones. I'd love to contribute to an existing project if someone already has the groundwork laid.

[@bknesheim]

@@cutebabyseal621 I have no specific solution, but any software would be closely linked to the sensor used. If you search for: "Arduino vibration sensor" you will get result for both sensor hardware, active projects ans videos. From that as a base for data I am sure that Fourier analysis and other filters can be used to greatly expand what the data can be used for.

[@cutebabyseal621]

@@bknesheim Oh sorry, your original comment made it seem like you had some familiarity with existing software.

[@bknesheim]

@@cutebabyseal621 Have seen it used and now what is "needed", but that is not the same as "Have done that". :-)

[@ronfish5388]

Excellent video. Great descriptions and explanations. Just what I was looking for from an independent (non big name) builder. You seem honest and transparent; which are uncommon traits these days.

[@SuperRingoffire1]

I never knew the complexity of the physics of a guitar...really insightful explanation...thank you 👍

[@dougcrowe1226]

Great Job!!! Ive listened to many versions of the top discussion and they are mostly general and also similar. YOURS was that and much more. Much more insight into the wood itself and how its true that acoustic guitars all have character that goes beyond just the wood species and the approach a builder must take when making those magical instruments that stand above and feel and sound and resonate. What you hear and what others hear you make from it. More please- body woods yes. I have s custom build that went very wrong due to the builders lack of sensitivity here. I hope to make it right some day but it will take tearing it back down again and starting over

[@Mysterios0]

This video is so, so interesting and informative. Thanks for that. My first guitar was a Martin XD1R (pre Mexico). I feel like I got lucky in terms of the piece of spruce I got for the top. It sounds very nice for a cheaper guitar. It’s really loud and resonante. I’m going to put some silk and steel strings on it just to balance it out and make it more playable. That old wood you have sounds so cool! It looks supremely beautiful to me, too.

[@JitendraWagh73179]

Man, this was just a glimps of your extensive knowledge with these woods. you are incredibly talented.

[@johnosborne3187]

I love these stories that give depth of life to your guitars. The wonderful journeys of these woods, many of which may never have found a new life are inspirational. I built a semi-hollow electric out of the remains of a150 year old piano I found at at goodwill store. When I play it, I feel the wood's history and imagine the joy it brought to others in its former life. These things affect the emotion I put into my playing. I loved this video!

[@carlosreira2189]

That could very well be red spruce if it was an American piano. Yeah, all those trashed pianos have a spruce soundboard, and all sorts of fun stuff, sometimes ivory keys, and ebony.

[@julianmokhtar]

Good information. I think though that wood from the lower part of a tree trunk would be denser and stiffer as a natural response to the stresses of bearing the weight of the rest of the tree as it grows and resisting the flexing motion due to wind, in the same way that that people who lift weights or do heavy work develop denser and stiffer bones in response to the load imposed.

[@robertdodge8587]

Very interesting,I like your way of explaining things, very clear and concise.

[@plainjane1812]

Thank you for such a well explained and interesting video. My grandfather was born in 1899 and he was a master with wood. Died when I was very young, so I never got to spend enough time with him. But he made an impression. I loved all the things he made as well as the smell of his shop.

[@arthurlove1002]

You have a great knack for making good analogies to make your point! Love this video.

[@JoeySchmidt74]

From 20:30 you can distinctly hear the tone lasting longer on the older pieces. I take it that that's the stability thing you were referring to?

[@patberning]

Thanks, nicely done, informative.

[@briefwechsel]

Great vid. Would love to see a video on timber for Back n sides. Thanks for your perspective.

[@stevec.1802]

I would hope a custom shop guitar from CFM, Santa Cruz, etc. would receive the individualized attention like you're referring to. Love your presentation.

[@glennlopez6772]

Thanks for the video! The last part about the users decission is so true, for every self respecting person. I was going to ask if you go any thicker for the top, but you answered that, and also confirms that the feel is so important. It must be nice to get the woods you prefer. Your body designs look neat.

[@thejeffersonlee]

If I ever get to a point where I can quit my teaching day job and go to luthier school, I will fight tooth and nail to apprentice with you. I am classically trained in brasswind instruments, but a self-taught guitarist. I genuinely understand the nuance of materials used to make an individual instrument and, while I love electric guitars and music, I am an acoustic player at heart, always looking for the nuance that an individual instrument can produce. I want to produce musical instruments that are specific to the materials available and the player's specifications. It's my dream to work with wood and create musical instruments. I envy, admire, and respect your craft. If I win the lottery, you're the first person I call after luthier school.

[@richardg5938]

Fascinating & very informative and enlightening. Thank you.

[@nelsonvega2919]

Thank you for making us more aware of the woods that are used to make such wonderful music.

[@JackChessa]

To speak to your point about the issues with using tapping as a way to qualify wood, - if you listen to the tap comparison at 21:13 people will be so influenced by the fact that the larger boards have a fundamental frequency that will be lower than the smaller boards and they will then say things like it is richer or more round, but they are just hearing the lower 1st mode. If you shape them so they have the same 1st mode freq I don't think most will say such things. I am a structural engineer (and bad guitarist) not a luthier, I would try to QUANTIFY something like decay time as a better indicator. So when you talk about having a top that is an efficient sound producer I think you are spot on. Bowed instruments don't have this issue of only a finite amount of energy going into the sound production, but the energy that goes into sound production on a guitar when you release the stretched string is very small. You can plane and brace to help optimize that, but I think the inherent damping of the wood is more difficult to overcome.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Dude that’s a great point and I’ll certainly try to use this for future vids. Thanks so much.

[@stellingbanjodude]

I just finished a torreified spruce guitar matched with a nice set of sinker mahogany back and sides. It was an awesome sounding guitar, I certainly think torrefaction is a good idea.

[@celticdadgad]

This is very illuminating and I love this builders approach & mindset.

[@ryanbond6266]

i gave assumed much of this but i have learned so much about the instrument that i love. Just wanted to say i appreciate it and im hooked.

[@PeterBryan-l1y]

Just so interesting. I am so glad that I stumbled on your website. I am subscribed and plan on spending hours in your company. Thanks so much.

[@gearhead4005]

that was great, very informative. You can tell this guy is an elite professional.

[@tcoudi]

actually furch does this with machines, they just have ideal stiffness in differents part of the top mesured and they will sand everything down, so it matches.

[@chrisstanford3652]

Wow, that torrified wood had a bell like 🔔 tap tone🤗

[@larrycortner6321]

That was a Awesome video of explaining soundboard and bracing .

[@MrRussellbum]

Thank you for sharing about the wood having its own sounds

[@alansturgess1324]

I'm a subscriber to and regular watcher of uploads by Ted and Twoofrd and Jerry at Rosa Stringworks but had never heard of your channel before. Fascinating topic and well explained. Bell rung.

[@joelmccoy9969]

At minute 02:12 there seems to be a Tailpiece of some kind shown. That is the most interesting and exceptional article shown in your videos yet! Please make a video about that.

[@Surgical2x4]

Thanks so much for all the info. I have lots to consider now for my first build.

[@ronallen2458]

I have a Gibson custom shop guitar that sounds pretty good. I am wondering if they take this amount of care in the custom shop.

[@anne.e.mrozek]

So interesting! Thanks for taking the time to share some of your knowledge. One of my favorite parts of playing my guitar is the little waft of sawdust I smell when it resonates. Now you have me thinking....I wonder what a CYPRESS top would smell like. : ) I love the smell of cypress trees but I didn't know there were guitars with cypress tops. Oh boy. Anyway, a lot more to think about than the smell, and I like that you give such attention to the history of each piece of wood and how that affects it.

[@john61952]

Thanks that was great information just found you on KZbin I’ll be watching for more videos thanks again

[@utbutch13]

Watch all your Tiny workbench concerts after I watched this soundboard video. All very nice! Thanks!!

[@gottaflylee5521]

Loved this one. Would love to hear your thoughts on Bridge plates.

[@Jkaterchannel]

"Adirondack" spruce doesn't grow only in the Adirondack region and the Appalachian range where it grows extends all the way into Canada in the Eastern townships region of Quebec where it is harvested for guitar builders all over america. The famous Normand Boucher guitars of the 70's were built with it and his nephew Robin builds some of the best boutique guitars in America

[@mohamedbahaeddineferchichi5105]

IT is the best video I have ever seen about Guitar making. You said it, "what no KZbinr will tell us". I would love to know what is your quantifying/measuring protocol to monitor the stiffness and guide these soundboards to their happy-spot thickness.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

If you're interested in owning some of this, and many other fine tonewoods, go check out our website! www.driftwoodguitars.com/tonewood

[@chrisdover8507]

I’m kinda new to this channel. I really like it. Great info. Really like your reviews too.

[@randyganow7250]

I like your reference to the top being happy!

[@chappo5410]

Love you videos explaing in detail about different woods

[@stellingbanjodude]

I’ve got some port orford that I can’t wait to use, the smell is very unique

[@Dbm7b5-p7y]

Beautiful video. One question though: I always figured the sides provide a stable stiff rim for the top to vibrate on, and that the specific wood, and whether solid or laminate doesn't matter for the tone at all. Likewise the back reflects the sound without vibrating or generating tone itself (it even rests against your body), i'd reason it is not desirable for the back to absorb frequencies. You mention the back and sides provide spice, suggesting they colour the tone, but is this really the case? I find this very hard to believe, but then again it would be very difficult to test because you cannot easily swap the same top to a different guitar and do blind tests. So what is the effect of back and sides? Do they even matter besides looks? And if so how do they influence the sound?

[@Za7a7aZ]

I keep have running through my head that it must be possible to make a top of synthetic material. You know ...make it in such a way that it can resonate with certain frequencies and so on... Anyways, I really appreciate your attempt to apply the maximum of the properties wood can have into the instrument. It all connects with an excellent tone in the end..

[@willmorrison1022]

All kinds of alternate tops, alternate bracings, tons of things out there. There are carbon fiber guitars that sound surprisingly good, very even. There are lattice bracing patterns that are nothing but what looks like a lattice work fence inside the guitar. One of the ones my brother uses in his is what is called a double top, where you take a pair of spruce tops and plane down the center area, and replace that wood with a honeycomb material called nomex, gluing the pieces together with a VERY thin layer of epoxy so you don't fill up any of the honey combs. What you have is a structure called a torsion box that is very strong, looks just like a solid piece of spruce, but has none of the individuality that a solid top has. Some of these are some of the most vibrant sounding guitars I've ever heard, and that is coming from an original owner of a 1971 Martin D18 that gets raves when I play it. LOTS of work done to try and eliminate that variable.

[@RandallHayter]

You could engineer a top material with basically any characteristics you want, but guitar players are a conservative bunch and selling anything other than wood is challenging.

[@kevingreene6893]

Yeah, really enjoyed your video and the depth of knowledge you articulately shared. I am fascinated by tonewoods and how the build approach and construction impacts the finished sound quality. Looking forward to more of the same my friend… cheers. K.