Standard Back & Side Materials
The top may be the ‘vocal chords’ of the guitar, but the back and sides help shape the tone and body (literally and figuratively) of the sound.
Indian Rosewood
Indian Rosewood is the densest of the materials offered on the Standard Model. This material offers a strong bass response with abundant highs. The lower frequencies provide warmth and sustain, while the higher frequencies offer a sparkling brightness that ‘wettens’ the sound, almost mimicking reverb. It’s colour ranges from burgundy to brown and over time, oxidization will darken the wood. It is a handsome, stable material that is widely used by instrument makers today.
Big Leaf Western Maple
Maple projects strongest in the middle and upper midrange frequencies, with relatively less bass and high frequency response than Rosewood or most other hard woods. Less bass response will limit the oomph and sustain somewhat, and without the strong high frequencies (reverb-like wetness) the sound is drier. This is precisely why people love maple: It produces a crisp, clean amber punch that optimally articulates each note. Not always the loudest guitar in the room, but often the easiest to pick out. It has a pale creamy colour with highlights of pink and tan and is complemented by ‘flame’ figuring which gives the material a luminescence and depth.
