"Tone for Days"

Since wood is a natural product each piece is unique and has its own markings, tone and characteristics.  Some woods are rare and hard to come by and can vary in price and availability, and quite frankly can be very difficult to obtain at times.   Please inquire should you have specific needs or questions.

Some woods have a more harmonic relationship when put together than others.  If you are unfamiliar or unsure with the different tones and/or woods, please inquire directly with  our master builders during our regularly scheduled  business hours at 909.592.5144 or contact us via e-mail

TONE WOODS

Alder carries a full and rich tone along with fat low-end, nice mids, and good overall range. Alder is considered to be one of the favorites throughout the guitar industry. Medium in weight with good balance.

Ash has a bright edge and a "snappier" tone. Extends with a warm bass and long sustain. Used for many years in the traditional guitar market and is considered the popular body wood. It has beautiful grain patterns and can be heavy or light depending on its origin. It is also known as Swamp Ash.

Ebony is the fingerboard wood of choice within the guitar industry.  It is very dense and stable which will create a bold sound with incredible sustain. It has a smooth finish and comes in different grain colors from black to chocolate striping.

Koa is highly figured and is considered a prized wood for both its beauty and influence on sound.  Koa produces a warm rich sound with a more midrange tone. Koa is becoming more  difficult and expensive to obtain.  This wood is likely to see a dramatic rise in price over the next several years. Koa is native to Hawaii.

Korina is also known as White Limba. This wood is lighter in color, but has much of the same tonal characteristics as some Mahogany species.  This wood was popular and widely used in the guitar industry starting in the late 50's to date.

Mahogany gives you the deep warm mids with good sustain on the bottom end and a nice "bite" to go along. Sometimes can be on the heavy side.

Maple tends to be punchy, bright, and gives a nice clean bite on the high end. Often used only as a laminated top instead of an entire body. Maples tend to be heavy but not always. Figured tops used would be Quilted, Flamed and sometimes Birdseye.

Poplar this is one of the softer hardwoods that carries a nice resonance with a meaty tone. Many guitar manufacturers use it as a substitute for Alder. The tone is very similar to Alder. Medium in weight.

Rosewood is another popular fingerboard material used within the guitar industry.  It is dense and stable but not to the extent of Ebony.  Rosewood will add to a slightly  warmer tone and adds a different feel to the touch.

Walnut is an excellent tonewood falling between the warm sounds of East Indian Rosewood and the bright bell-like ring of Maple.  Sometimes with figuring and others with straight grain, colors vary from chocolate browns, black and beiges. 

"Some woods are made to be seen and heard"