Official Luthiers Forum!

I have just started building again after many years. I have some Indian Rosewood backs and sides (which I always used in the past) am thinking about trying maple for my next classical guitar. Does anyone have any experience with maple for classical in terms of tone?

Thanks

Welcome Allan

I don't build classicals yet, but I have played maple nylon string guitars and they sounded good. I have heard of some builders using it. Maybe someone with some more experience can chime in.

Josh

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Maple tends to have less 'color' of its own in the tone than rosewood, all else equal, and maybe a little more 'forward' sound. Rosewood instruments tend to have a 'complex' and 'rich' sound all the time, while with maple you have to work a little get that. On the other hand, it doesn't make you play everything with schmaltz either.

All the maple classicals I've built have had Europan back and side wood: I don't know how rock maple would work.