Back in '67, I bought a Gibson J-50 brand new, made a year earlier. I paid $250 for it, which was a good bit of cash in those days. There were several of the same brand and model in the store at the time. I spent over an hour playing, picking, and strumming each guitar, intently listening to whatever subtle differences these beautiful instruments were "talking" to me. There was one that had a punchiness, brightness, crispness that sounded better, if only slightly, over it's mates. I knew that each and every one of these guitars had not become fully "awakened" at this stage in their young lives and that over time, and being played regularly, this one particular guitar would blossom into a very good sounding and playing instrument. I didn't know what the action was supposed to be, but I took it to a guitar technician to have him look at the set up features that might need adjustments, if any. I ended up walking out of this store, 250 bucks lighter, but the proud owner of a phenomenal guitar which I keep and played for many decades into the future. Yes, it did wake up several months later to become a very highly prized possession, a good friend, and an instrument that I could develop the type of music I was interested in playing, which at the time was folk/ bluegrass. In the mid '80s I had more than one offer from folks wishing I would consider selling it to them. Of course I refused their offers of 4 figures, near the 2 grand range. Later on during the Dubya Bush era and due to extreme financial hardships, I was forced to sell my J-50, which had been with me since a "baby". I got a decent price, but it cut my heart out ! It's never been replaced to this day, by any other guitar, sadly for me. That's my story about buying a good guitar out of a music store. Bob

It stuns me to discover a 3000 year old buried spruce trunk could be fashioned into parts of a contemporary musical instrument. Sir, your videos , which I discovered serendipitously, are a fascinating revelation in so many ways.

I have just learned more in 33 minutes about the art of woods being chosen for guitar construction than I've learned in the past 40 years! Super thanks, sir!

Fascinating! Subbed! I have a hand built 12 string. The luthier kept the two book matched sound boards in a humidity controlled environment for 3 months before matching them. He said he would match them according to the natural curve they developed. The guitar is needless to say, still absolutely perfect after 36 years.

How about a video on bracing, the affect radius plays in the tone of a top, gluing the radiused brace by forcing it flat the way Martin does or using a radiused gluing board like Santa Cruz or Huss and Dalton.

Thanks for being a dedicated teacher about tonality. Subscribed and looking forward to learning much more.

Wonderful video! Thank you for taking the time to make this.

Fantastic information and presentation. I just recently discovered your channel and I'm loving it.

Interesting about factory builds running pre selected thicknesses for mass top quantities. This is what I believe the result of that is. Out of 10 Martins, Taylor’s, or Gibsons, you play at the store 2 will sound open and 8 will not. It’s the law of averages!!!

Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and advice in a clearly understandable way. Very generous of you to do so. Very appreciated by us on our journey enjoying guitars- both playing and building.

My love for wanting to learn and enjoy playing a musical instrument, did not come by how it was made, or the looks or the sound that I made for the first time, but by hearing someone who could actually play it and make it sound good! My Love of the instrument and attachment came by learning to play it and making sounds that is good to my ear.

Thank you for making us more aware of the woods that are used to make such wonderful music.

Great history about the bridge wood - I never thought about that. Thank you!

Thanks so much for all the info. I have lots to consider now for my first build.

So informative - thanks for taking the time for this presentation!

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of soundboard qualities !

Very well done video, extremely interesting. Many things I knew, other things I did not think to consider. Thank you! Will be looking out for more and look for some of your finished guitars. Greetings from the beautiful Austrian Alps!

Thanks that was great information just found you on KZfaq I’ll be watching for more videos thanks again

Your talking about overbuilding guitars prioritizing stability over efficiency. Every added mass counteracts the ability of the machine to flex and thus resonate. I get lost when woodworkers use magical language to describe their intuition based on years of experience. I believe most look at the top desired flexibility as being a physical touch and listening response rather than, "i just know when its ready or it speaks to me" which isnt what you said exactly but i,ve heard it said many times. Ive seen some builders use a more accurate/scientific approach. I forget the name but using a weight to show elastisity or movement under pressure. Overall very clear. One question though, how does one tell over time when the desired top is where it's most efficient. And how could we judge it to be so after the guitar is all together. How can we pinpoint it being the top that needs a change.

A super interesting insight into wood and tone. Thanks for sharing.

Man, this was just a glimps of your extensive knowledge with these woods. you are incredibly talented.

Your shop is absolutely stunning. They layout, the windows, all of it. Kudos!

Nice to see someone who REALLY knows the nature of wood......respect.

Love you videos explaing in detail about different woods

Wow, a fantastic video.!! I learned more from your video than dozens of others combined together.! Thank you, for making it

Very interesting stuff here. Thank you. I've built a couple instruments but it's a skill I'm still working on. Love watching this kind of stuff

I’ve got some port orford that I can’t wait to use, the smell is very unique

So informative. As a Luthier in London I hope to one day actually start to build an acoustic. I enjoyed watching this very much :)

This is very illuminating and I love this builders approach & mindset.

Thank you 🙏obviously it was one of the most helpful video I've ever seen on building instruments, very valuable honest informations. I learned and enjoyed a lot. 🌹

I really enjoyed this video. I like the educational aspect. Very informative for luthier and player alike. More videos like this would be cool.

Amazing video! I had no idea about these concepts until today. Thank you.

Very interesting,I like your way of explaining things, very clear and concise.

Thanks for explaining the tone woods in detail, very interesting

I'm checking out as much sitka information as possible for sound boards. You have a wealth of knowledge ! Thanks ! I subscribed.

Yeah, really enjoyed your video and the depth of knowledge you articulately shared. I am fascinated by tonewoods and how the build approach and construction impacts the finished sound quality. Looking forward to more of the same my friend… cheers. K.

That 3000 years old spruce its just awesome, great video

That was great! I learned more about tone wood and soundboards in this video than all others combined. Thank you!

I recently discovered your channel. Really great stuff. I found this discussion fascinating. I am so interested to understand more about why particular instruments (pre-war Martins, Lloyd Loar mandolins) are so coveted for their tonal qualities and the physics behind it. There was an interesting article in a recent Fretboard journal about this topic (regarding Taylor's investigations into this area), which maybe you have seen. Thanks for this!

Great and honest information about wood and how different it is going to influence each instrument

Well done. Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! Very insightful and an eye-opener, so to speak. I learnt so much from this video.

Chris, thank you so much. This video is outstanding and there is nothing comparable among all the videos posted on KZfaq. I really appreciate your work and craftmanship/knowledge!!!!! I hope I can try some of your guitars soon. And you really have talent for these kind of videos because you have so many things to say and you come across as very easy-going, kind and competent. It is really relaxing to watch your videos and share your passion for guitars. Greetings from Germany, Joe

Hey ! You are a guitar scientist man ! Thank GOD for guys like you. Thanks for sharing. You gave me such a profound understanding of guitars and wood. Next time I am going to spend lots of time listening to different guitars. Love from Mumbai, India.

Well done, Chris... I can share this with some of the folks who fail to understand why the guitars that I have had you make for me are so exceptional when compared with some of the big name instruments in my collection. Keep on, keeping on... and Merry Christmas to you.

Superb presentation, especially breaking down the tonal characteristics of the more common top tonewoods in class terms.

Wonderful video. You seem very genuine and knowledgeable . Subscribed!

There are lots of videos that cover the building process of a guitar, but you provide in-depth knowledge and insight that goes deeper than the "how to" that I don't get from other channels. I've learned quite a bit from your videos - thanks and keep it up!

You have a great knack for making good analogies to make your point! Love this video.

I love this- and your taking the time to explain all this

Thank you! Great information and very interesting.

I love your videos!! Very informative and educational!!! I'm looking forward to the video when it comes to the wood for back and side.😬😬😬

Just so interesting. I am so glad that I stumbled on your website. I am subscribed and plan on spending hours in your company. Thanks so much.

Truly excellent video. Back jn the late 1980's I acquired a dozen or more 1x12x1"(3/4" thick) Kiln Dried Quarter Sawn clear Douglas Fir shelving boards. Not a "soundboard wood" but very fine straight grain that when I resawed it into top wood and joined it the tops are truly excellent. The stiffness allowed me to make very thin tops with radically scalloped bracing. So far I have built two Drednaught Body guitars (1988 &.1990) with Black Walnut back, sides and neck with French Lilac fingerboards and bridges cut from 50 year old extremely dense tight grained boards. I air dried those logs for 5+ years. The neck and tail blocks are also Black Walnut. They were my first two acoustic builds. Both have cosmetic issues but play well and sound great. I learned by disassemblibg an old Guild D-40 that had been seriously abused. Found it in a pawn shop in NYC for $5. Those first two builds taught me a lit about building acoustic instruments. Now that I am retired from my "daycjov" I want to tackle building my most favorite stringed instrument... The Baroque Cello.

I am not musically inclined; but I do have "garage style" woodworking ability. Cabinets, cutting boards and toy boxes. What you describe regarding the wood is exactly what I go through with my projects; the backstory for each piece of wood and the possibility it will give me. Even though your skills are completely different then mine; I appreciate your wisdom.

Awesome segment- very interesting!!!

Fascinating! Would love to get your guitar

Love to hear a knowledgeable artist talk about their work. Great video production and sound as well. Will be looking at more of your work.Thanks. An easy sub.

Very cool and informative! I'd love to build a guitar one day.

Very instructive video. Thank you!!

I don’t even play the guitar I actually make electronic music , but I love watching these videos of people making guitars ... out of the hundreds I’ve watch none have ever explained the tone wood like you have here 🤘

Wonderful sir, the way you explain, it makes us feel more about the wood...more than what its basic function is being a guitar top. Keep making more videos to guide us more.thanks

I love hearing people talk about things they are super passionate about. Thank you!

This is the best wood info I've seen, I love the way you combine precise measurement with tactile, visual, and audio clues. I'm an old dude who's new to guitar building, and your description of factory built vs hand built reminds me of the difference between a custom built race bike and a touring bike from a dealership. I digress. Just acquired my first band saw, now to find a home for it in the shop.

Excellent video! Fascinating

Very insightful! Thank you.

Very awesome and informative video. Thank you. Could you please do a Sitka vs Adirondack top woods tone test and the history of the two 🙏

Wow i just checked out your website. You build some of the most beautiful instruments ive every laid my eyes on. Im sure they play and sound like a dream as well

Very good, super important information explained simply. Thank you.

Your wonderful! You explain things and the vidio length is perfect! Wow a 3000 year old piece of spruce! Wow hopefully it is now stable. I'm primarily a violinist but have some classical training and folk training. I'm not immediately in the market right now but love your vidios and they are educational. My grandfather played a Martin ukulele and I played it. If I had the workshop and tools I would be making violins and guitars but I just stick with carving violin bridges and making violin sound posts. Please keep making vidios I learn so much from you. Thank you!😅

What a great find this channel turned out to be. Amazing content.

Super informative!! Thanks! (that glacier wood ... whoa...)

Very nicely done! Thank you.

Wonderful, thoughtful discussion. You appreciate "quantifiable" factors, and yet so much comes down to your experience. That's exactly what anyone would desire in a custom instrument builder.

That was a Awesome video of explaining soundboard and bracing .

This is very interesting about the wood used for guitars. I learned a lot.

Thanks, nicely done, informative.

I like your reference to the top being happy!

Great Job!!! Ive listened to many versions of the top discussion and they are mostly general and also similar. YOURS was that and much more. Much more insight into the wood itself and how its true that acoustic guitars all have character that goes beyond just the wood species and the approach a builder must take when making those magical instruments that stand above and feel and sound and resonate. What you hear and what others hear you make from it. More please- body woods yes. I have s custom build that went very wrong due to the builders lack of sensitivity here. I hope to make it right some day but it will take tearing it back down again and starting over

Thanks for the video! The last part about the users decission is so true, for every self respecting person. I was going to ask if you go any thicker for the top, but you answered that, and also confirms that the feel is so important. It must be nice to get the woods you prefer. Your body designs look neat.

this was well done very informative thank you

Phenomenal channel from the handful of vids on Rhett's electric guitar & the dog bone idea to this 1 so far. Music, audio & world needs more of this type of approach to craft & just doing things in general.

WOW! Truly informative. As a teenager I used to salvage spruce and cedar “blanks” that would eventually be used for guitar wood from an old growth logged out area on Haida Gwaii. Your video enlightened me as to what eventually happens to those 95mm X 1000mm blanks.

I have purchased a Martin guitar that ships tomorrow; I get to choose from two; your spectacular video is reassuring to me! Bravo and thank you so much

Great information, thanks for sharing!

i gave assumed much of this but i have learned so much about the instrument that i love. Just wanted to say i appreciate it and im hooked.

Excellent video. Great descriptions and explanations. Just what I was looking for from an independent (non big name) builder. You seem honest and transparent; which are uncommon traits these days.

Amazing video. Thank you!

Thanks for this video. Very informative.

Well done! I kind of thought these things mattered, but I wasn't sure how much. Now I feel like I really understand it so much better! This was such an informative video! I now feel embarrassed about the way I bought my last acoustic guitar, b/c I didn't consider these things. I'm thinking about building one for myself, so now I know many things to consider when selecting the wood. Whether I build or not, any guitars I buy from now on will be more thoughtfully selected! And, I'm now a subscriber!

Very interesting and detailed explanations I will never look at a piece of wood the same way

I just finished a torreified spruce guitar matched with a nice set of sinker mahogany back and sides. It was an awesome sounding guitar, I certainly think torrefaction is a good idea.

Excelente video tienes toda la razón!!!!!!! gracias por tu aporte muy bueno saludos de Buenos Aires

I really appreciated your acoustic guitar sett up video. I had a problem with mine low at the nut high at fret 12. I lowered the saddle and put some relief in the neck. worked out great. love your guitars wish I had the money to order one. Let me know if you ever have a scratch and dent sale.

Love this video. I have a martin that's about 10 years old now and it sounds so good. I played several of the same models at various guitar shops and none of them sound or feel like mine. I even started thinking that they made a mistake in the factory and accidentally used Adirondack for the top. This video explains allot and I got really lucky on my martin. David Wilcox has a video here on KZfaq about his Olson guitar and I highly recommend you watch it. I think you will love it 😀

Wow that glacier wood guitar build is probably the most stunning acoustic guitar i have ever seen i paused the video for a long time looking at how beautiful the wood is and the craftsmanship is absolutely jaw dropping you sir are a master and the story behind the wood its history loved everything about this video thank u for spending your obviously busy schedule to show us your craft 👏👏

I love and admire your attention and care to building these. I just bought a Taylor GS mini and I do love it. It sounds woody and bigger than it is but man... I'd love to buy a handmade guitar from you because as you said the bigger names don't have the time to do things the way you do and they build for the masses. Thanks for great videos and sharing your knowledge

I love Cedar top guitars. Even being a strummer more than a picker, I love the response of the cedar over Sitka spruce. Volume tolerances are easily negligible when PAs, pedals, and amps are included. But that is going on just what I hear from manufactured guitars.

I’m kinda new to this channel. I really like it. Great info. Really like your reviews too.

Beautiful. Thank you