Timberline guitars are all made of solid wood. Why is solid wood better than laminated wood, cardboard or galvanized iron?
Over the centuries some types of woods have become known to builders as better ‘tone woods’ than others. These generally have specific characteristics like high strength to weight ratios, durability, and of course an ability to produce a pleasing tone and good volume. Tone character changes from species to species, for instance there are clearly audible differences between the several types of spruce used for tops, and between materials like rosewood, mahogany, maple, etc. which are more commonly used for backs and sides. The best results for fine guitars come from the careful selection of high quality materials, and all-solid timbers are at the heart of the worlds’ finest instruments. Many high production instruments are built with laminated tops, backs and sides in an attempt to reduce costs and speed manufacturing. While many of these can be quite handsome and can produce a pleasant tone, they should be thought of as only a ‘reasonable facsimile’ of a first-class instrument. Laminat
