Sitka Spruce

• This wood from Alaskan-grown spruce trees has all the characteristics guitar builders want in wood for the guitar's top. It is strong, lightweight and consistently very stiff; this makes for a very resonant guitar top that will resist warping.
  
  

Red Spruce

• Red Spruce was used in Martin guitars in the first half of the 20th Century, and it has retained its reputation as one of the premiere topwoods. Unfortunately, it has become rare and is now used in only the most expensive guitars.
  
  

East Indian Rosewood

• For the back and sides of the guitar, builders want a wood that will reflect the right range of frequencies back to the front of the guitar. East Indian rosewood is universally prized for projecting rich bass tones and clean high-end notes.
  
  

Madigascar Rosewood

• Another rosewood that reflects the full range of tones that luthiers want to hear is Madigascar Rosewood. It is said to have many of the tonal attributes of Brazilian rosewood, a classic tonewood that is now endangered and almost impossible to get.