Any acoustic player will tell you that the tonewoods of a guitar are the main influencers of the instrument’s sound. They’re one of the first things you should consider when investing in an acoustic.

Of course, there are factors such as body shape and laminated/solid constructions, but when it comes down to it, the wood is the real sculptor of your tone.

If you’re a beginner, read on! It can be overwhelming to search through the vast breadth of tonewoods out there, but this just means that there’s one for everybody.

What are tonewoods?

Tonewoods are specific woods that have been chosen for, you guessed it, their tone, amongst other properties. They make up the guitar’s body, neck, fretboard, and headstock, and depending on whereabouts it’s used, each wood has different qualities.

Why are they important?

When it comes to tone, the body top is the most vital part of the guitar. And so, it’s the tonewood which is used for the top that really shapes your sound. Also known as the “soundboard”, the top vibrates with the help of bracing beneath, allowing strumming and picking styles to be projected.

As the top vibrates, so does the rest of the body, and so it’s important to consider the back and sides’ wood as well as the top.

For example, a guitar with a spruce soundboard and mahogany back and sides (a popular combination) would produce the articulate, dynamic voice of spruce with an undercurrent of mahogany’s warmth and resonance.

The neck of a guitar needs to be strong enough to withstand string tension and frequent playing. This can also be said for the fretboard, which, additionally, needs to be able to handle the attack of your fingertips and offer smooth playability. Examples of fretboard woods are rosewood, maple, and more premium options like ebony.

Popular tonewoods for acoustic guitars

So, now you know why they’re important, let’s dive into some of the most common tonewoods. We’ll discuss which part of the guitar they’re used for, their sound, and which genres of music they thrive with.

Spruce

A body top go-to, spruce comes in a few different forms.

First off, there’s Sitka spruce, which delivers supremely broad dynamics and clear articulation – making it versatile enough for a range of playing styles. It’s a common soundboard wood for many guitar manufacturers as its balanced tone and sharp clarity can bring any strumming or picking technique to life.

If you’re after something with a little more volume, Adirondack spruce is a good choice. Adirondack delivers even more dynamics, whilst still retaining spruce’s renowned, glistening clarity. This makes it perfect for heavier playing styles.

Alternatively, another excellent option is Engelmann spruce, which is rarer than its cousins. Its tone is mature and rich, ideal for players who want something that sounds slightly older and like it’s already been ‘played in’.

And like the other species of spruce, Engelmann’s versatility is well suited to a range of playing styles.

The beauty of spruce, particularly Sitka, is shown in all its acoustic glory with the Sigma 000M-18 Acoustic Guitar.

Mahogany

A common body wood, mahogany is primarily known for its emphasised mid-range frequencies and balanced tonal character, as well as its beautiful reddish-brown colour.

Not only is it warm in looks, but it’s warm in sound too. As well as pronounced mids, mahogany resonates with a rich tone that adds depth and body to chords.

It’s usually paired with a spruce top for some added articulation and sparkle in the treble or kept as an all-mahogany build for luscious sound.

As mahogany matures, the sound becomes more focused, giving you tighter and more articulate tones to work with. It suits blues and folk music brilliantly.

One exquisite example of an all-mahogany guitar is the Fender PM-1 Standard Dreadnought NE.

Rosewood

Rosewood is typically used for the fretboard of an acoustic guitar, and sometimes the body.

It’s a tonewood that’s well versed in the art of sparkly, snappy sound, which makes it a keen contender for fretboards.

You’ll usually come across Indian rosewood, as opposed to Brazilian rosewood, as it’s easier to produce.

Expect a full low end with glistening highs – rosewood balances clear brightness with a rich resonance. This means that whether you’re sliding right to the top frets or strumming chords at the bottom, every note will ring out with equal power and clarity.

Rosewood is exceptionally versatile, so whatever genre you prefer – a rosewood fretboard will serve you well.

Yamaha’s beginner-friendly APX600 range is a prime example of the ever-popular rosewood fretboard.

Maple

The density of maple gives it the quick note decay it’s known for, and this results in a tight, focused tone.

Such clear, sharp sound is ideal for the hollow body of an acoustic as it ensures there’s minimal feedback tainting your music.

In addition to this astoundingly articulate tone, maple’s sonic response is bright, loud, and absent of overtone content.

It’s ideal for live performances and ensures that intricate picking styles slice through the mix with dynamics.

Paired with a solid spruce top, maple back and sides feature on the Takamine GJ72CE 12 String Electro Acoustic.

Cedar

A staple tonewood for classical guitars, cedar is less dense than others on the market, and this results in a beautifully rich, dark tone.

It focuses on clarity and quality of sound rather than volume, which makes it perfect for fingerpicking styles.

If you’re a classical player or someone who doesn’t need any serious dynamics, cedar is an excellent choice.

In fact, it’s usually a go-to for many classical guitar manufacturers, offering a sound with character, quality, and plenty of definition.

Known for their sublime nylon-string guitars, many of Ortega’s guitars boast cedar constructions, such as the Requinto Series Pro which has a solid cedar top.

Ebony

If you’re looking for a guitar with the highest quality of fretboards, ebony is the one for you.

A premium tonewood, ebony has a naturally high oil content which makes for a gorgeously smooth finish.

Ever heard of a ‘fast fretboard’? Chances are it’s crafted from ebony. It’s described as ‘fast’ due to how silky it feels, allowing you to dance seamlessly across the frets.

Ebony is tonally exquisite, too. It produces a bright tone with a strikingly snappy attack, giving every note the clarity it needs to ring out. Plus, ebony is exceptionally durable, meaning it can handle regular playing. Whichever playing style you prefer, an ebony fretboard will deliver.

All of Taylor’s guitars feature ebony fretboards, sourced sustainably through their Ebony Project in Cameroon. One shining example is the 150e 12 String Dreadnought.

Sapele

Similar to mahogany, sapele boasts beautifully strong, punchy lows and mids.

Balancing this out, it also delivers superbly defined highs – more so than mahogany.

Its even response across the frequency range ensures you’re granted a thick, warm sound for strumming chords and sparkle for fingerpicking.

With sapele, you can count on excellent versatility to suit a range of genres.

Another popular offering from Taylor, the Academy 12 Grand Concert showcases layered sapele back and sides.

Walnut

Again, a tonewood that’s typically used for the fretboard, walnut delivers a bright, crisp sound with a woody midrange.

Its tone becomes warmer and softer with age.

Walnut is also used for the back and sides of some acoustics, delivering clarity in the high range and presence in the middle.

All these sonic qualities make walnut a good contender for a range of playing styles.

One example of an affordable yet impeccably built guitar with a walnut fretboard is the Fender CN-140SCE Electro Acoustic.

Koa

A slightly less common tonewood, koa originates from Hawaii and makes for the ultimate ukulele wood.

Its tone resides between that of maple and rosewood, delivering a blend of warmth and brightness. Expect richness and clarity in good measure.

Koa delivers the jangly sound typically associated with the uke, and it thrives with both strumming and fingerpicking styles.

Its true beauty, however, lies in its ever-growing nature. The more you play, the more your sound will open up.

A good choice for an all-koa guitar is the Taylor BTe Baby Taylor Electro-Acoustic.

Which one is right for me?

The quick and easy way of knowing which tonewood would suit you is to assess your playing style.

If you’re into heavier styles of playing and like really strumming hard on those chords, something like mahogany or sapele would suffice for the body. A spruce top would then add that extra sparkle and clarity to the high end.

If you’re more of a fingerstyle player and prefer something a little more delicate sounding, consider cedar – this is the go-to for classical players.

The truth of the matter is you’ll never know unless you try. Have a go on some acoustics out there and try a range of different tonewoods – there are even ones that we haven’t mentioned in this article! You’ll find one to suit you and your acoustic needs perfectly.

Find out more

Hopefully this guide to acoustic tonewoods has been informative and helpful!

We have a vast range of acoustics here at Gear4music, all with varying tonewoods used for the body, neck, and fretboard. Why not check them out and see which suits you best?