The first scenario is more common, and the majority of people who approach us know what kind of wood they want to use and what kind of sound they want to achieve. For beginners, here’s some easy advice: if you fancy a mellow, rich sound, go for a cedar top. Spruce is the answer if you want a direct, distinctive, and clear sound. Swiss and Dolomite spruce can be a little “closed” initially, but it gets better and better while playing and keeps maturating over years. But if you’re looking for something in the middle, thermo-treated spruce could satisfy your needs.

Choosing the back and side material for your guitar is typically an easier decision, as you can quickly determine whether you like the color and pattern or not. The most common choices for back and side materials are Cocobolo, well, because it is Cocobolo and it is freakin’ beautiful, premium Indian Rosewood, or Macacuaba and Granadillo, which are popular among those who appreciate wood with wild grains. However, we have also made some super classy guitars using traditional guitar materials such as mahogany too. People often ask about the effect that back and side materials have on the sound of a guitar, and it’s a super interesting topic. At our company, we’ve tried to cover this topic in our R&D section on wood, as well as in other blogs that focus on tonewoods. My personal favourite is Madagascar Rosewood as it resonates in a way no other available wood does. But that’s just my opinion, of course. Some consider it even too resonant.

Another great way to personalize your guitar is by adding a symbol, writing, or picture on the fingerboard or headstock. Although this option can be more expensive since we need to spend significant time designing it in a usable form, creating codes for CNC/laser, it’s worth it if it has a special meaning for you. A more affordable alternative is to create a vignette with your own name or unique design

The worst case scenario is to mix everything together in a way that makes no sense. As long as the guitar is the idea, everything works ok, but then when you bring the material on, you can find out very quickly that it doesn’t work together and evaluation is needed.

And it actually happens quite often in the early stages of design, so don’t panic, take your time and think about the features that are important to you. And don’t hesitate to contact us:)

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Spruce is a versatile tonewood that is commonly used for guitar top plates. But when we talk about spruce we mean Swiss or Dolomite spruce from local European sources. These are characterized by their bright, clear tone and quick response, making them ideal for a wide range of playing styles. Good Spruce is also very lightweight and resonant, allowing for good projection and sustain. It is a popular choice for many steel-string acoustic guitars, as well as classical guitars.

Cedar, on the other hand, is a softwood that is known for its warm, resonant tone. It is often favored by fingerstyle guitarists, as it produces a rich, warm sound that is ideal for delicate playing techniques. Cedar is also lighter than spruce, which makes is good for smaller-bodied guitars, and it responds well to lighter playing styles, producing a delicate, nuanced tone.

Sitka spruce is another type of spruce that is commonly used for guitar top plates. It is characterized by its tight, focused sound and quick response, making it ideal for flatpicking and other aggressive playing styles. Sitka spruce is a dense wood, which gives it a bright, punchy tone, and it is a popular choice for many steel-string acoustic guitars.

Thermo-treated spruce, also known as torrefied spruce, is a type of spruce that has been subjected to a specialized heat treatment process. This process changes the molecular structure of the wood, making it denser and more resonant. Thermo-treated spruce is known for its warm, responsive tone and excellent projection, making it ideal for a wide range of playing styles.

In conclusion, the choice of tonewood for the top plate of a guitar will depend on a number of factors, including the playing style, the desired tone, and the type of guitar. Whether you choose spruce, cedar, sitka spruce, or thermo-treated spruce, each type of wood offers its own unique advantages and tonal characteristics, so choose wisely and get ready to experience the full potential of your instrument!

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When selecting the tonewood for your guitar, you should consider a number of factors, including the type of music you play, the sound you want to achieve, and your personal preferences. Each type of wood has its own unique properties that will influence the tone of the guitar. For example, rosewood is often used for its warm and rich tone, while maple is prized for its bright and articulate sound.

Once you’ve selected the tonewood for the back and sides and top, the next step is to choose the specific pieces to use on fingerboard, head plate and bridge. This is where the personalization of your guitar really can pick up momentum.

Another important factor in the tonewood selection process is the way the wood is treated. Different techniques, such as torrification, can be used to enhance the tonal properties of the wood, giving you even more control over the final sound of your guitar. Some like the wood “to age ” with her/him and some want the guitar to have a full rich tone from the beginning.

In conclusion, the tonewood selection is a crucial aspect of the custom-made guitar design process. Whether you’re a professional musician or just a beginner, the right tonewood can help you achieve the sound you’re after. So take your time, do your research, feel free to contact us and choose the right wood for your custom guitar.

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It’s important to note that musical instruments have both sonically active and sonically passive parts. The active parts radiate sound, while the passive parts hold everything together or are simply aesthetic. For example, in an acoustic guitar, the active parts are the top plate and the strings. All the other parts are necessary for various reasons, but they can also be a hindrance to the soundboard’s resonance. The braces, fingerboard, and bridge plate, for instance, all have to be dragged along with the soundboard’s wild oscillations.

Tonewood, on the other hand, refers to woods that are ideal for making individual parts of musical instruments, perform their function reliably, and look aesthetically pleasing. They don’t have to resonate wildly to play well. Tonewoods are typically exceptional woods, often exotic, that possess specific properties perfect for their intended use. For instance, maple is frequently used for guitar necks because it’s strong, stable, and has a beautiful grain pattern.

It’s worth noting that while good tone wood is essential for instruments like xylophones, where multiple tones must resonate together, resonance wood tend to excel at producing a single tone, but with great strength and clarity.

Next time whether the wood really “breathes.”

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We usually spend 2 to 3 working days every 3 months to get the wood we need. However, we can’t use the wood immediately, so it’s crucial to have a nicely stocked inventory in advance. Many woods need to undergo vacuum drying if they’re freshly cut, and then they need to rest for months before they can actually be used in guitar production. So, we have to think way ahead of time. At Dowina workshop, the wood undergoes a special process called “wood conditioning” in a hot room or vacuum oven with multiple cycles.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of selecting the back plates. Some American walnut plates can leave you breathless, and don’t get me started on cocobolo! I remember the first time our supplier Toni showed us a piece of super old Bois de Rose. I was so captivated that I literally held at him, “I want that now!” Toni just laughed and assured me that we would be one of the first to approach him when it was ready.

Unfortunately, sometimes the most beautiful plates are too weak and soft, and there’s nothing we can do but let them go with a sad tear in our eye. But don’t worry, we’re not standing over a pile of plates crying. In fact, we love our wood selection trips because they’re a lot of fun. We get to chat with people who love tonewoods just as much as we do, discussing news and discovering old stocked sources. Sometimes, it can feel like entering the Tutankhamun tomb – it’s that exciting! I think that’s why my dad loves it so much, and we hope that you can feel the love in your Dowina guitar too.

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