The Myrtlewood Story. As Breedlove has discovered, the species— specifically Oregon Myrtlewood, virtually from Bend's backyard—makes an excellent choice for guitars, even an inspiring one, with a sound as unique and identifiable as a fingerprint.

Is Myrtlewood a good tonewood?

“Myrtlewood is a phenomenal tonewood to have at our disposal—because the wood is visually stunning and every piece is unique, the tone is a luthier's dream,” Devin Percell, Breedlove Global Sales Director, has noted in a written statement. ... The cost of the Breedlove Concerto, built in Bend, Oregon, is $2,199/street.

Why is mahogany the best guitar?

Mahogany seems to provide a more resonant tone, that is able to sustain longer. Players most often find that the tone also remains more balanced than most other guitar tonewoods. Sounds produced from a mahogany guitar tend to be on the warmer side of tone, and more controlled.

Is laminated wood good for guitar?

Laminate wood still can create a great sounding guitar, but it technically isn't as loud to the discriminating listener. It does come with a cheaper price point for sure. Some people say laminate guitars react better to extreme climate changes, but I haven't heard this enough for it to be a real plus in my opinion.

Do laminate guitars crack?

Due to the nature of their construction and their more complex patterns of overlapping grains, laminate guitars are far less susceptible to cracking. For this reason, they tend to be better suited for players who travel or for those individuals who simply require a more sturdy guitar.

Best Acoustic Guitars of 2020

34 related questions found

Do laminate guitars improve with age?

Laminate don't age, it only lift. There are a lot of guitars out there with solid top and laminate sides/back and those do sound better as they age. But for all laminate guitars, not only do they not improve noticably over the years, but they tend to be lower quality instruments and more issues develop with them.

Do mahogany guitars sound good?

As a guitar top, dense mahogany has a solid, punchy tone with low overtone content and good high-end response. Mahogany back and sides often emphasize bass and treble, with more overtone coloration and a “woody” sound (as opposed to the more metallic sound of, say, rosewood back and sides).

Do mahogany guitars sound better with age?

In electric guitars, mahogany bodies offer a gnarly growl and legendary sustain. ... Good quality mahogany ages very well and sounds better as it matures – it's part of the reason those mid-'50s Les Pauls go for so much today!

What is myrtlewood guitar?

Overview. Myrtlewood. Popularized by Breedlove, myrtlewood, from the windblown Oregon coast, combines the best elements of rosewood, mahogany and maple—rich bass, warm midrange and clear, bright trebles—for truly versatile guitars.

Where does myrtle wood come from?

This broadleaf evergreen, known officially as the Umbellularia californica, grows only on a narrow strip of inland land along the Pacific Coast, ranging from northern California to Oregon's southern coast. “The myrtle tree is amazingly distinctive,” Greif said.

Is mahogany a hardwood?

There are many species of mahogany, mainly grown in North and Central America. Known for its straight grain and characteristic red brown colour, it polishes and oils very well and can be buffed to a very high shine. An exceptionally durable hardwood, it is the ideal choice for furniture and fittings around the home.

Is mahogany wood good for outside?

Mahogany: An extremely hard, tight-grained wood with a deep, red-brown color. It resists shrinking, splintering, and checking, which makes mahogany a perfect wood for outdoor furniture. Left to the elements, mahogany will turn a soft silvery gray patina and can be expected to last up to 25 years.

Is mahogany the best guitar wood?

Mahogany: Mahogany is great for the backs and sides of a guitar as it has a great mid range character. It can enhance the mid range tones and add meatiness/thickness to the sound. If this is what you after, then this is a great wood option for you.

What wood is best for guitars?

Spruce. This evergreen, found in northern temperate regions of the globe, is literally top choice: the ideal wood for the soundboard, or top, of an acoustic guitar. Its look — light in color, even in grain — is appealing though somewhat plain; what sets it apart is its beautiful tonal properties.

Which is better rosewood or mahogany?

Rosewood is much denser/harder and stronger than mahogany. This is why it is also used a lot for bridges and fingerboards. ... Rosewood also has strong mids like Mahogany but it expands its tonal range in both directions – it produces pronounced lows and crisp highs.

Do laminate guitars need humidifiers?

So do all guitars need to be humidity maintained? Yes, even solid-body electrics and acoustic guitars with laminate or composite back and sides need a helping hand. ... The takeaway is that, yes, you should humidify your guitar, and no, it's not that complicated.

Are laminate guitars bad?

Though it is certainly cheaper, the sound depends more on how the guitar was put together rather than if it has true-wood construction or not. There are actually a fair number of OK sounding laminate guitars, and "OK sounding" is, in most cases, just fine for the beginner on a tight budget.

How long do laminate guitars last?

They will last 65.920394 years and then spontaneously combust. Naw, like the others have said even neglected laminates can last for a long long time.

Are laminate guitars more durable?

For low-end guitars, laminate is usually a more reliable and better-sounding choice for the money. Durability. Laminates are built to last. They resist both hard knocks and climatic changes better than solid woods.

Why do solid top guitars sound better with age?

Wood loses structure over time as water-soluble sugars that make up the wood's cell walls (cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose) break down. This causes the wood to become lighter and more resonant, affecting the wood's ability to hold moisture relative to humidity.

Do HPL guitars sound good?

The bottom line. HPL guitars have a lot of advantages. ... I've seen heaps of Martin HPL guitars, for instance, and they've all been well made, nicely playing, good sounding instruments.

Is mahogany stronger than oak?

Mahogany is a hardwood, it is harder and more durable than oak, but softer than maple.