A Question about Tonewood

[Diane Kauffmds]

Hi,

I'm leaning toward a 000/OM steel string acoustic, and I'm thinking about walnut sides and back. What are the tonal qualities of walnut and specifically, how would it affect the tone of a smaller 000 guitar vs. a dreadnaught?

I like the deep, rich tone of a dread, but I'm leaning toward the smaller size of OM for physical easy of playing and traveling. I love the look of walnut, especially burled, but I want a deep tone, without too much brightness.

Will walnut fit the bill?

[tippie53]

Walnut is a nice wood tone . What top wood ? Carpathian is a good match for walnut

[B. Howard]

Just worked on a Walnut guitar with a Euro top, very nice sound, well balanced and even tone.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I did an OM (about the same as the OOO) with walnut and redwood top. The buyer loved it! I would not say it had a deep tone as in a lot of bass, but it was resonant, responsive, and sweet.

Kevin

[Diane Kauffmds]

Walnut is a nice wood tone . What top wood ? Carpathian is a good match for walnut

I haven't chosen a top wood yet and I definitely need suggestions. I thought about cedar for it's warmth, because I figured the walnut would be a bit bright. I'll check out the Carpathian spruce.

BTW, by "walnut", specifically I mean Peruvian Walnut. I found a back and sides that I've fallen in love with.

[JLT]

Can't speak for guitars, but I built an octave mandolin with a spruce top and walnut back and sides, and was very happy with it.

[johnnparchem]

Diane,

I like a 12 fret to the body 00 or 000 guitar for a finger style guitar. I think the 12 fret to the body adds a bit of the bass sound back (may be not as loud as a dred). I also think the smaller guitars have a more even sound across the strings. I always feel the dred sound punches the base and the trebles really well. Perfect for flat picking bluegrass.

I am not sure I have gotten to the point where the wood I use for the back and sides changes the sound all that much. At least relative to my ability to tune the top. The Peruvian Walnut will make a good looking guitar.