Best Wood for Guitar Body: A Comprehensive Guide to Tonewoods

A wood that influences the voice of a guitar. That’s what a Tonewood is all about. 

Such a material has multiple variations. There’s Mahogany, Maple, and Sitka Spruce. They all have particular strengths that impact the sound, resonance, and tone. 

So, what would you choose? 

For that, you must know about the wood for the guitar body and what each has to offer. 

Once you understand the varieties, you can pick the one that matches your genre, playing style, and level of expertise. 

Want to know the names of different materials that are ruling different worlds? Let’s explore them together. 

Key Takeaways: Best Wood For Guitar Body

Materials like maple offer clarity with stronger highs, mahogany sounds warm with heavier lows, and some versatile wood like spruce stays in the mid to give you the best of both worlds.

Want to know the difference between acoustic guitar body types? Check out our guide to the 7 most popular sizes and shapes, and find the one that suits your style best!

The Ultimate Comparison Between Different Tonewoods

Tonewood	Density & Grain Pattern	Sustain	Tonal Traits	Music Genres	Playing Styles
Maple	Dense, tight, smooth grain	High	Brightest. Strong highs, smooth mids, tight lows	Jazz, country, pop, and rock	Fast, Intricate playing, and Slapping
Ash	Mid-heavy, pronounced grain	High	Brightest. Snappy highs, smooth mids, punchy lows	Funk, country, rock, and blues	Lead, Strumming, and Aggressive picking
Alder	Lightweight, tight, even grain	Moderate	Bright. Clear highs, smooth mids, tight lows	Rock, pop, blues, and punk	Rhythm, Strumming, and Solos
Sitka Spruce	Light, straight, even grain	High	Versatile. Clear highs, well-balanced mids and lows	Folk, classical, and rock	Fingerpicking, Light-medium Strumming, and Flatpicking
Red Cedar	Soft, straight, fine grain	Moderate	Well-balanced highs, mids, and lows	Classical, soft rock, and folk	Fingerstyle, Rhythm playing, and Soft Fingerpicking
Mahogany	Dense, straight, fine grain.	High	Warmest. Rich lows. Smooth highs and mids	Blues, rock, and jazz	Rhythm playing and Fingerstyle
Rosewood	Dense, oily, rich dark grain	High	Warm. Deep lows. Smooth highs and mids	Classical, jazz, and blues	Rhythm playing, Fingerstyle, and Slide guitar
Basswood	Lightweight, fine, even grain	Moderate	Warm. Heavy lows. Mellow highs and mids	Metal, shred, fusion	Shredding, Solo, Strumming, and Fingerpicking

What Is Tonewood?

A wood meant to bring out the right tone. 

Tonewood is a term that indicates certain wood varieties modified to strengthen tonal properties. Such qualities make them good ‘picks’ for designing musical instruments like guitars. 

Technically, it isn’t any particular type of wood. Instead, tonewoods are specific wood materials altered to incorporate distinct sound traits. 

The changes are:

• Straighter grain
• Free of bug holes and defects
• Polished finish and clear-looking 
• Less discoloration, knots, and cracks. 

Different wood materials are used in different guitar body parts. 

Hardwoods like mahogany and maple are often used in soundboards, necks, fretboards, and heads. Meanwhile, softwoods like spruce and cedar are used for soundboards only. 

Impacts on Sound

Different wood types are used in the guitar. They determine how the guitar vibrates, influencing the tone.   

The factors that work are—

Vibration Transmission

A guitar’s wood density and grain pattern influence how vibrations are transmitted through the body from the strings. 

Sound Resonance 

Different materials enhance different frequencies. As a result, it influences overall tone qualities. 

For example— denser wood like maple highlights the highs. And softer ones like spruce emphasize mids. 

Sustain

The tonewood type, especially its density can influence how long the tone rings out. 

For instance—

Denser or heavier wood produces longer sustain whereas lighter wood provides shorter one. 

Tonewood Types

The range of tonewood materials for guitars is quite broad. Let’s highlight 8 of them—

• Mahogany
• Alder
• Ash
• Maple
• Basswood
• Rosewood
• Sitka Spruce
• Red Cedar

8 Types of Wood Used For Guitar Bodies

[Image: 8 types of wood used for guitar bodies]

1. Sitka Spruce

Meet the most versatile tonewood. Sitka Spruce is a lightweight tonewood. It owns a straight, even grain pattern with a lightish pink-brown tint.

The wood is super-prevalent in acoustic guitars. It’s mostly used as a top. 

Surprisingly, Sitka Spruce produces a much stronger sustain despite being a lighter wood. So, you get to enjoy its versatility even more. 

It has a sweet spot between trebles and basses, with highs slightly clearer. The mids and lows are well-balanced. 

• Music Genres: Folk, classical, rock
• Playing Styles: Fingerpicking, Light-medium Strumming, and Flatpicking 
• Popular Examples: Zager, Taylor, and Martin. 

2. Mahogany

This tonewood holds some serious weight, metaphorically and practically. Mahogany is a dense, heavy tonewood that possesses straight, fine grain. It looks reddish brown but deepens over time. 

You can call it the most versatile wood for acoustic guitars. The reason? It’s used in different body parts. Neck. Back and sides. Headstock. 

Mahogany has natural sustain and produces the warmest tone. Despite being heavy, it emphasizes lows because of the loose grain pattern.

The trebles are smooth, the mids are warm, and the basses are rich. 

• Music Genres: Blues, rock, and jazz
• Playing Styles: Rhythm playing and Fingerstyle
• Popular Examples: Zager and Gibson Les Paul. 

3. Alder

This is an easy-breezy one. Alder is quite a light-medium timber with a tight, even, swirling grain pattern. It comes in a light red-brown tint. 

Such a tonewood is mostly used in electric guitar bodies, particularly—soundboards. 

It has a moderate sustain but you get a bright tone from the wood. 

Alder typically produces clear highs and well-balanced mids, with a little stress on lows. 

• Music Genres: Rock, pop, blues, and punk. 
• Playing Styles: Rhythm, Strumming and Solos
• Popular Examples: Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster.

4. Ash

It’s quite denser to give your guitar a distinct appeal. Ash has a mid-heavy weight with a pronounced grain orientation. 

Just like Alder, it’s popular in the world of electric guitar bodies. You’ll mostly see it in soundboards. 

Ash gives you a high sustain and you get the brightest tone from the wood. 

You get bright, snappy highs and punchy trebles with well-balanced mids as you strum the guitar. 

• Music Genres: Funk, country, rock, and blues. 
• Playing Styles: Lead, Strumming, and Aggressive picking
• Popular Examples: Fender Telecaster, Stratocaster.

5. Maple

It’s a fine heartwood with a creamy to reddish brown hue. Maple belongs to the densest family. There’s a tight, smooth grain pattern to it. 

Common in acoustic guitar models, this tonewood appears as tops and necks. 

Maple offers the brightest tone. The sustain is much stronger than other rivals. 

It gives you super-pronounced trebles and well-balanced mids. The lows feel controlled, however. 

• Music Genres: Jazz, country, pop, and rock.
• Playing Styles: Fast, Intricate playing, and Slapping.  
• Popular Examples: PRS Custom 24 and Gibson ES-335.

6. Red Cedar

Another tonewood from the versatile family. Cedar is a soft, lightweight material. It features a straight, fine-grain pattern and has a reddish-brown look.  

Like the previous one, it’s common in acoustic guitars and used as soundboards. So, call it a direct rival of Sitka. 

The sustain is moderate. However, you’ll enjoy the balance of both bright and warm tones.

The highs are mellow, the mids are rounded, and the lows feel resonant. 

• Music Genres: Classical, soft rock, and folk. 
• Playing Styles: Fingerstyle, Rhythm playing, and Soft Fingerpicking
• Popular Examples: Zager, Taylor, and Martin. 

7. Rosewood

The wood seems buttery to deliver a smooth experience. Rosewood is a denser oily material but its grain pattern is rich and somewhat loose. 

For this, the guitar made of this wood produces a stronger sustain with the warmest tone. 

Rosewood is popular among acoustic guitars. You see it in necks, heads, backs, and sides. 

Because the heartwood delivers a rich, warm tone, it emphasizes the lows. The basses feel deep, mids are well-balanced, and trebles are less pronounced. 

• Music Genres: Classical, jazz, and blues
• Playing Styles: Rhythm playing, Fingerstyle, and Slide guitar
• Popular Examples: High-end acoustics like Zager and PRS

8. Basswood

Get the warmth from this material. Basswood is one of the lightest, softest tonewood, which comes in a very muted brown. It has a fine, even grain. 

It’s typically used in soundboards and quite common among electric guitars. 

Basswood generates short to moderate sustain. However, it offers the warmest tone. 

With a softer wood, it gives you the bass-heaviest tone. The mids and highs are quite mellow. 

• Music Genres: Metal, shred, and fusion
• Playing Styles: Shredding, Solo, Strumming, and Fingerpicking
• Popular Examples: Ibanez RG series and Music Man John Petrucci.

Other Tonewoods (Optional)

• Koa: Warm, resonant, best for soft rock and acoustic. 
• Walnut: Balanced with strong lows and mids.
• Korina: Resonant, vintage tone, used in classic Gibson guitars.

How To Choose The Best Wood For Your Guitar Body? 

Picking the best one might seem confusing since there are different tonewoods. Then again, you already know each wood has its distinct strengths and a few weaknesses. 

It’s just, you need to consider some factors. 

1. Playing Styles

Ask yourself what your playing style is and what music genre you’re into. This helps you decide which wood goes well with the combination. 

For instance—

• You play rhythm playing or fingerstyle that’s great for blues and jazz. In that case— you can go with the warm, resonant tones of mahogany. 
• Or. You play fast, intricate playing that’s perfect for pop and rock. For that, opt for wood with the Brightest tone like Maple. 
• Want both? Then, there’s Sitka Spruce. 

Many guitars like Zager ZAD900 offer versatility— when it comes to playing styles and genres.  

2. Sound Preferences

This one is related to the previous factors. 

Your playing styles and genres may influence your sound preferences and help you determine what to pick. 

Settle on what you prefer. Bright. Warm. Or Balanced tones. 

Each wood possesses a distinct tone profile and emphasizes certain frequencies. This is what makes a tonewood suitable for certain styles and music. 

For instance—

• Ash tonewood has the brightest tone with snappy highs and tight mids and lows. 
• Meanwhile, rosewood offers the warmest tone with deep basses while the highs and mids are smoother. 

So, pick one that aligns well with your tonal preferences. 

3. Weight and Comfort

Wood can be heavy or light. It can influence your comfort, especially during the longer sesh. 

For weight, stress the density of tonewood. 

The denser it is, the heavier. 

Some hefty materials are—

• Mahogany
• Maple
• Rosewood

Such materials typically have stronger sustain. However, they can be harder to use for too long. In that case, we wouldn’t suggest it for newer players or ones preferring manageable weight. Dense tonewood can be perfect for experts or stronger individuals. 

For beginners, consider starting with lightweight wood. 

Some low-dense tonewoods are—

• Alder
• Sitka Spruce
• Red Cedar

They might have a short sustain but you can get incredible tone from it. Plus, the guitar will be easier to strum for longer sessions without causing finger pain or handache. 

4. Aesthetics

Different woods have individual visual appeal. The grain patterns and finishes of one will be different from the other. This can influence your choice.

For instance— 

You’re more into aesthetics. In that case— you might love maple for its smooth, polished appearance or ash for its open grain.

Then again, it depends on your playing styles, genres, sound preferences, and comfort. Make sure to emphasize these factors first. 

It’s because— they act like the elements that can help make you more polished as a guitarist.  

Tonewood Comparisons

Mahogany Vs. Alder

This is a battle between warm and bright tones.

Mahogany delivers a warmer tone with richer lows whereas alder gives a brighter tone, stressing much clearer highs. 

There’s a difference in weight too. 

Mahogany is more denser and heavier than alder. So, the sustain will be stronger than the latter. 

Ash Vs. Maple

They are rivals in the treble group. 

Both give you the brightest tone. The difference is in the traits and patterns of tone. 

Ash is popular for its bright, snappy highs. The mids are smooth and the lows are punchy. 

Meanwhile, Maple impresses you with very pronounced, articulate highs. It has balanced mids and controlled lows. 

Basswood Vs. Mahogany

This is a fight between warm and warm. 

Both deliver a warm tone. 

Mahogany offers a warmer, fuller sound than Basswood. This tonewood gives you rich basses with warm lows and highs. The combo makes it perfect for blues and jazz. 

Meanwhile, basswood offers a mellow tone and thick basses. The lows and highs are softer. This makes it ideal for metal and shredding. 

Caring For Your Tonewood

Just using a fine tonewood guitar won’t suffice. Take good care of the instrument and its material too. 

The cleaning methods for your guitar can vary based on the wood materials. However, some upkeep patterns will be the same for each. 

Here are some maintenance tips along with environmental considerations. 

Regular Dusting

After each sesh, wipe down your pal ‘guitar’ with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. This should work to remove dust and prevent debris buildup. 

Make sure to wipe the guitar body regularly or twice a week. 

Avoid Excess Moisture

Woods are mostly sensitive to moisture. Even your sweat and its acidity can deteriorate the structure of the wood.

“They can drive physical changes and affect biological and chemical processes. Consequently, it can cause deterioration in timber.” (Source: mdpi) 

So, make sure the guitar isn’t exposed to water much. Once there’s excessive moisture—- it can warp and affect the finish of tonewood. 

Always use a dry cloth to clean the body. You can consider using a dampened cloth only if it’s necessary. It’s okay for a guitar with the most stubborn dirt. 

Use Proper Cleaners

Get yourself specialized cleaning products. Pick the ones specifically designed or formulated for guitars or particular tonewood types. 

Avoid using harsh chemicals and household cleaners because they can cause damage to the wood. Check the ingredient list of the cleaners to stay safe. 

Store Properly

Keep your guitar somewhere safe. Here Environmental Considerations play a key role. 

Higher temps can distort the tonewood of your guitar and cause cracks. So, store it somewhere cool. Usually for guitar storage, the ideal temp is around  66 to 77°F and humidity is around 40 to 50% (Source: Fender). This keeps the guitar in fine condition and maintains the wood’s moisture level. 

Keep the guitar in a room or closet. This helps maintain temperature consistency. 

Protect the instrument from dust and rain. Use a case made of hardshell materials like— fiberglass, injection-molded, and wood. 

That way, your guitar won’t get damaged easily. 

Condition Periodically 

For woods, use a suitable fretboard condition. This should help maintain the natural oils in wood and prevent drying out. 

The frequency and application vary based on guitar and tonewood type. We suggest you follow the manufacturer’s suggestions. 

However, try to condition the wood once every 3 to 6 months. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Pick The Best Tonewood Matching Your Genre

Now that you have reached here. We guess it’ll be easier for you to grab the best wood for the guitar body. 

Remember! It depends on your playing style, music genre, skill level, and comfort. Jot down your preferences while aligning with these factors and match them with the tonewood traits. You’ll get your answer there.