Rosewood vs Mahogany! Acoustic Guitar Tonewood Comparisons

[@AussieWoodyGirl]

Thank you so much for a great comparison video. Most of my guitars are spruce top with mahogany back and sides , and a couple of all mahogany. So looking at something different and wanted to hear the difference of rosewood

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks for the listen and the comment!

[@georgehomme6167]

Thanks for this video. Used to be a rosewood fan until it came to my hands a Guild D40 Traditional. Now Rosewood seems to me that something is missing and Mahogany sounds to me more full if i describe it correctly....

[@tommysixstring5094]

I'm with you on this. Mids are the meat of the sound and they're so much more present in mahogany guitars. Rosewood harmonics are nice and that bit extra bass is nice but the mids dip too much for me and I also don't need the extra trebles which are like ice picks to my ear. I like the earthy growl of mahogany when you dig in.

[@populousmass]

Amazing to see this comment. I just ordered a new D-40T a few hours ago. I've been playing an HD-35 for years now, and the D-40 will be my first mahogany guitar. I got tired of the muddy unfocused tone that the martin was producing and I'm hoping this one will be crisp and focused. I haven't had the chance to play a D-40 cause they don't exist in shops, so I'm a little nervous. I hear only good things though.

[@jpmist]

Amazing! Thanks very much! I left an overlong comment on AGF for ya with specific notes you probably don't need, but the bottom line is that this helps me very much in hearing how a mahogany guitar differs from rosewood. While I might not ace a blind listening test, I'm sure I'll do better than a coin flip. Really appreciate your work, thanks again! "jpmist"

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks jpmist! It was your comment on another video that initiated this, so it is gratifying to hear that it was helpful for you. Thanks!

[@rzh3443]

They all sounded great 1 These boutique builders create more balance, so the difference is less noticeable than the Martin traditional voicing. I suppose if you re vocalist the mahogany might drown out some frequencies? Everybody hears the same sounds differently.

[@dcallan1]

Terrific video! Thanks for taking the time.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks! I appreciate it, thanks for listening and commenting!

[@Geeman002]

Beautiful picking, as usual. I’m a Rosewood guy, I like the complex overtones. Mahogany sounds dryer to me, more clear and woody. Both are great, but I’ve always favored rosewood (I thing it covers up my sloppy playing 😂😂).

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks for the listen and the comment! I appreciate it and understand. In my case, I like both woods, depending on the type of music I'm playing as to my preference.

[@lebe220]

Fine playing, thank you. Interesting comparison.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks for listening and for your comment! Much appreciated.

[@Blues40]

First of all. You my friend are a great player! They both sound great. I prefer the warmth, and dark tones of mahogany.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thank you! Thanks for listening and for your very nice comment

[@startreker8591]

These guitars y your ways of demo mesmerized me…

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks so much for listening and commenting!

[@KiffRiffart]

Thank you for this great comparison. Though I am a Martin guy, I like your selection. Fantastic guitars. If I could choose one, it would be the Santa Cruz OM mahogany.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks for watching and for your comment!

[@joshuacrossing7117]

first, thanks so much, so helpful. what is particularly interesting to me is how some are a "better" sound match for the song. just about the time i was about to say "I like this guitar the best", you'd play a different song on a guitar i didn't really like, and i would stop and think, "huh, that guitar really shines on this song." now i can explain to my wife in fuller detail why i need so many different guitars. I'll take all of them, please!

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Nice comment, thanks! I agree, nice to have different tools for different types of music/playing.

[@helppeople1321]

Thank you! Wanted a good mahogany and rosewood top comparison!

[@benclaase8181]

Thanks for the video. I personally love and prefer the Rosewood sound over the Mahogany.

[@waynzwhirled6181]

One of if not the best guitar tone wood comparison I have heard. Heavenly stuff. For me, whether I preferred the mahogany or the rosewood all depended on the brand/builder and body shape. I guess I would have to buy one of each model. I'll have too go rob a bank though.

[@delfinoandres8857]

😂😂

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks so much! I agree - so much depends on the builder and the individual guitars.

[@benclaase8181]

Would love to see/ hear a comparison and some feedback on Baritone guitars.

[@Hendrix.]

Actually, I have a few guitars and played a lot of others also. I have a Brazilian Santa Cruz that sounds better than any of the Mahogany I've ever played, I do have a very cheap Mahogany that a friend gave me that sounds better than any expensive Mahogany I've played, it's quite amazing. Some Mahogany have a more treble sound and some seem kinda lame, one 60's model Gibson I've played was kinda lame. You'd think it wouldn't but it's just not impressive. As far as this comparison presented here, the rosewoods sounded slightly warmer and as bright as any of the Mahogany you played, that's not been typical to my experience, the Mahogany I find usually more responsive and brighter to picked notes than Rosewood while the Rosewood has an overall warmer and richer tone. Like you stated, other things affect the sound, it's not just the wood.

[@brianm8275]

That bass from Mahogany . And the Crisp of mids and highs from rosewood. But hey. All well made guitars have their own sound of beauty.

[@Explosivo11]

I would've said the exact opposite haha. Mahogany has the crisp mids and mid-highs that the Rosewood is lacking, but said lacking makes the Rosewood feel warmer and softer (in addition to the extra bass)

[@davidward5225]

Rosewood for me

[@benambler1393]

That SC mahogany sunburst was gorgeous. Don’t see it on your website.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

That one's not for sale. Thanks!

[@benambler1393]

@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars I can understand why. Looks like a keeper.

[@direfranchement]

The mahogany gives a more sophisticated tone, more appropriate for music outside of country and bluegrass.

[@clyntonmoorcroft6413]

Random question. Does the back and side woods have to match? Id love to hear a guitar with a mix of mahogany and rosewood back and sides.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

There's no reason that the woods used for the back and the woods used for the sides have to match. It is not uncommon to have three piece backs (for example, a Martin D35), with a different wood used as the center strip. I haven't seen a mix of rosewood and mahogany in one guitar, but someone has probably made one!

[@firecrackerheart]

Apples to Apples with each Pear?

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Berry funny!

[@firecrackerheart]

@@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars 🤠

[@mickymillersson4376]

Really good comparison video, thanks

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks!

[@josejcastaneda5826]

These videos are trouble. You have to buy them both.

[@CHDEXTER5]

Lowden. Rosewood or mahogany, they sound great !! With headphones, no difference...

[@ubermod5564]

No difference? Big difference with the strumming with the Lowdens I thought. The rosewood seemed to get muddy with all the overtones, didn't seem suited for strumming to me, but the mahogany managed better. Lowdens are quite bell-like, very beautiful but sometimes seem unsuitable for heavier strumming. To my ears.

[@jmw510]

Rosewood for me, I find Mahogany to be too dry sounding especially in lower priced guitars.

[@dbucka]

It seems the rosewood has a brighter tone.

[@OrganicSoundsSelectGuitars]

Thanks Dave! Generally speaking, rosewood has a tendency to be "scooped" - think of a smiley face EQ. Lots of bass, brighter trebles and less midrange tones. Mahogany has a tendency to be more balanced across the mids with a bit less bass and treble brightness. But there are so many factors that affect tone...

[@ITigerbaum]

Yessir I heard scooped from the Rosewood. Sweet pickin! Thanks for the great video!