help with custom guitar design

[mangold]

I was lookin through the Martin custom shop catalog a I had a few questions. (I cannot afford a Martin Custom Shop But I Can Dream THough Right!)
1. Whats the best top wood for strummy/percussive playing? Spruce or Cedar
2. Whats a good side and back wood for that same type of playin? Mahogany, Rosewood, Maple, Cherry, Koa, or Walnut Claro?
3. What is the difference between a 2 and 3 piece back, sound wise?
4. What is the best nut material for that type of playing? Fossil Ivory, Corian, Bone, or Ebony?
5. Does the finish have any real effect on sound?
Any info is appreciated, I am somewhat informed on this subject but i need input.! thanks!

[Pickles]

I was lookin through the Martin custom shop catalog a I had a few questions. (I cannot afford a Martin Custom Shop But I Can Dream THough Right!)
1. Whats the best top wood for strummy/percussive playing? Spruce or Cedar
2. Whats a good side and back wood for that same type of playin? Mahogany, Rosewood, Maple, Cherry, Koa, or Walnut Claro?
3. What is the difference between a 2 and 3 piece back, sound wise?
4. What is the best nut material for that type of playing? Fossil Ivory, Corian, Bone, or Ebony?
5. Does the finish have any real effect on sound?
Any info is appreciated, I am somewhat informed on this subject but i need input.! thanks!

1) typically spruce, but i love cedar and i play very percussively.
2) subjective
3) none
4) either bone or ivory would be best. many people have bone installed on their guitars after they buy them
5) no

[DMBFan63]

I was lookin through the Martin custom shop catalog a I had a few questions. (I cannot afford a Martin Custom Shop But I Can Dream THough Right!)
1. Whats the best top wood for strummy/percussive playing? Spruce or Cedar
2. Whats a good side and back wood for that same type of playin? Mahogany, Rosewood, Maple, Cherry, Koa, or Walnut Claro?
3. What is the difference between a 2 and 3 piece back, sound wise?
4. What is the best nut material for that type of playing? Fossil Ivory, Corian, Bone, or Ebony?
5. Does the finish have any real effect on sound?
Any info is appreciated, I am somewhat informed on this subject but i need input.! thanks!

1) typically spruce, but i love cedar and i play very percussively.
2) subjective
3) none
4) either bone or ivory would be best. many people have bone installed on their guitars after they buy them
5) no

I agree, cedar has such a warm tone that I also love..

for back/sides, it's up to your personal liking..they all sound good..

[Pickles]

I agree, cedar has such a warm tone that I also love..

for back/sides, it's up to your personal liking..they all sound good..

ya know, i shouldve been more specific.

the majority of the time these days, spruce refers to sitka spruce, which is kinda a jack of all trades type wood.

however, theres also englemann spruce and adirondack spruce. englemann is used on some Taylors and possibly some martins, but im not a martin officianado. englemann is best for fingerpicking, but it can be used for strumming.

adirondack/red spruce is closer to spruce than englemann, but its of higher quality. i have a sitka spruce top and an adirondack top guitar, but i cant compare seeing as how theyre of different makers and one is a 12 string.

the process of opening up (where vibrations increase the tonal quality of the guitar over time) is slower with adirondack spruce, but the results are higher.

its best to have a good luthier who handbuilds guitars to use adirondack. theyre the ones who will be able to make it as best as it can be.

[mangold]

thanks alot, u guys seem to have alot of knowledge. Does the three piece back still sound the same if its got a different wood in the middle? I didn't know there was a difference in spruces or i would have specified, martin offers:
top:Engleman spruce, sitka spruce, bear claw spruce, and adirondack spruce.
I, prefer strummy, percussive, bassy, dave-esque sound, is their a specific back/side wood for that? I was thinkin walnut, that'd be hot wit the spruce top and walnut sides.

[Pickles]

thanks alot, u guys seem to have alot of knowledge. Does the three piece back still sound the same if its got a different wood in the middle? I didn't know there was a difference in spruces or i would have specified, martin offers:
top:Engleman spruce, sitka spruce, bear claw spruce, and adirondack spruce.
I, prefer strummy, percussive, bassy, dave-esque sound, is their a specific back/side wood for that? I was thinkin walnut, that'd be hot wit the spruce top and walnut sides.

bearclaw spruce is just any spruce that has the bearclaw texture on top. its called bearclaw because it looks like a bear scratched it. my 12 string has a lot on it (pictures on my website in sig).

claro walnut is very bassy, which is one reason grafted walnut was created. grafted walnut is a tree that has english and claro walnuts merged. the english walnut adds to the highs to add more complexity to the tone.

a rule (that isnt necessarily true in all cases) is that the darker the wood, the more bass there will be. its not always true, but who knows.

also, the bracing provides a lot of the tonal quality. Taylor once made a guitar (called the Pallet Guitar) that was made from wood Bob Taylor found in a dumpster. because of the bracing, the Pallet guitar sounded good.

my advice (since im not to keen on martins) is call a rep who can talk to you about what youre looking for in a guitar.

if youre not set on Martin and have the cash for a luthier, i can give you a few names to check out. Martin may be the oldest name, but its not the best.

edit: as for the wedge in the middle of a 3 piece back, it will cause a tonal change. i dont know how much. its all what your ears pick up.

[DMBFan63]

thanks alot, u guys seem to have alot of knowledge. Does the three piece back still sound the same if its got a different wood in the middle? I didn't know there was a difference in spruces or i would have specified, martin offers:
top:Engleman spruce, sitka spruce, bear claw spruce, and adirondack spruce.
I, prefer strummy, percussive, bassy, dave-esque sound, is their a specific back/side wood for that? I was thinkin walnut, that'd be hot wit the spruce top and walnut sides.

bearclaw spruce is just any spruce that has the bearclaw texture on top. its called bearclaw because it looks like a bear scratched it. my 12 string has a lot on it (pictures on my website in sig).

claro walnut is very bassy, which is one reason grafted walnut was created. grafted walnut is a tree that has english and claro walnuts merged. the english walnut adds to the highs to add more complexity to the tone.

a rule (that isnt necessarily true in all cases) is that the darker the wood, the more bass there will be. its not always true, but who knows.

also, the bracing provides a lot of the tonal quality. Taylor once made a guitar (called the Pallet Guitar) that was made from wood Bob Taylor found in a dumpster. because of the bracing, the Pallet guitar sounded good.

my advice (since im not to keen on martins) is call a rep who can talk to you about what youre looking for in a guitar.

if youre not set on Martin and have the cash for a luthier, i can give you a few names to check out. Martin may be the oldest name, but its not the best.

edit: as for the wedge in the middle of a 3 piece back, it will cause a tonal change. i dont know how much. its all what your ears pick up.

changing the 3 peice back woods to two different speices won't make a dramatical change..you might notice it if you have a real good musical ear, but it's not a noticable enough change that would make the guitar sound better or worse

[juineaux]

Yea If your'e not set on martin look at santa cruz, their guitars are based upon the pre-war martins. They are expensive, but a custom-shop martin is probably expensive as well-

[mangold]

again, my fair peoples, i aint got nuff money to buy new socks, better yet a custom martin, me was jus dreamin my life away

[SpatiumPropriumMea]

again, my fair peoples, i aint got nuff money to buy new socks, better yet a custom martin, me was jus dreamin my life away

what are you talkin about, socks! you've got like 400 dollars in your wallet, moron!!! god i hate you sooooo much!

[SpatiumPropriumMea]

sorry, i'm being a jerk...praisedave, you know i'm just joking...don't listen to me...i'm not gonna post anymore...ever....goodbye

[mangold]

hey matt, i see you've joined the dmbtabs, and maybe i was buying super exspensive socks with like a real gold tipped toe or somethin, the point is i cant afford a custom shop martin...