All of the guitars on this thread are just magnificent. Will someone explain to me why maple guitars are so under appreciated?
It's a "niche" wood, IMHO. Lots of folks don't care for the maple tone which has (typically) a brighter top end, but also the fundamental tones take front stage where those more complex overtones are less pronounced. It makes for a more "forward" sound that is bolder, yet decays faster, and less of those "swirly" overtones characteristic of a good rosewood or mahogany back/sides guitar. And those prounounced fundamentals and shorter decay are precisely what many folks prefer in a
live stage guitar. Fewer pesky harmonics to get lost in a full band mix, and tone that cuts through the bass and keys, clearly creating its own sonic footprint.
It's a different tone, altogether. FWIW, I
love cedar/rw!! Though my beloved GA7E is now gone (never thought that would happen; she was my #1 go-to live guit) and now am fortunate to have a stable of maples, one of which is a 12-er, I have no doubt that rosewood and cedar (or redwood, mmmm sinker! ...yeah, dream on) will make it back in my life ...no doubt whatsoever because that's the "other" tone in my head I love and am so comfortable with. But if you can imagine, it is wholly different flavor from maple. Gotta love different ice creams, right?
One common misconception of maple, and one that I believe is further perpetuated by lesser-quality guitars, is that they are overly bright and/or lacking in bass. This thin tone has
everything to do with the build of the guitar. I will be the first to agree that many a maple guitar (again, particularly the cheaper guits that try and nab the buyer with pretty wood) are largely uninspiring, thin-sounding guitars lacking "girth" in their overall voice. Bleaahhh. Certainly no owners here on this thread, let alone myself, would own such an anemic-toned guitar just 'cause it's puuurty! Good maple guits are bold, pound out clear, deep bass notes, and balance that with crisp, chiming top end. I'd be willing to wager that not even the objective listener could say these sound thin ...they may not personally prefer the tone, but they can't call them thin. Until one plays a truly well-made maple guitar, this is the impression one walks around with; that and the "normal" mahog and rw tone one is accustomed to hearing in most every guitar sits prevelant in the head, simply because these guitars sit prevalent on every showroom floor. So lots has to do with what's familiar in one's tonal vocabulary, as well.
Was that verbose enough? That's what I get for typing with a healthy mug o' joe on the desk ...I just wax on, and on ...
Edward
