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I have client who is interested in this combination of tonewood.

Does anyone have experience with this?
I am not finding anything in a simple search of the archives.

Thanks,
Dave

I have played guitars with Flame maple BS and German spruce tops. Those are also really good. Al Petteway is now playing a 000 with that wood combination that sound very good. I do agree with Filippo that the maple and WRC would be a great combo. One of the best Goodalls I have play had that wood combination.

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EddieLee

Tone-wise, it's got as much potential as any other combination, but what about appearance-wise? A dark cedar top against a light-colored maple box may look a bit "odd" to some folks. If you're planning to add color to the maple, then you're golden...!

I've seen a few Maple back cedar guitars that sounded good. If your customer doesn't mind the look (like grumpy says it can look odd compared to what we're used to) than it could be a really nice guitar.

Josh

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Josh House

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I've got a quilted maple with curly redwood in the works. Unfortunately I don't think it will be finished in time to offer you any advice. Sure looks nice wrapped in ebony bindings though.

Ya, tone wise is good.
re; appearances...we don't hear with our eyes
Got it?
Me likes "odd". Odd is good. Is half the binary process no?
Me glad me is not "some folks" ... tell me is dat a race or a religion or a belief system or sumpthin?


blessings
?adma

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I'm putting the French polish on #7, and it's a WRC with ambrosia maple back and sides, but since there is some flame on the sides thought I'd take a few pictures. Not sure what order they will come out in. Have to admit that I haven't disliked any combo I've tried so far, and they've all been different. The binding on #7 is IRW; it's dark, and I like the contrast with the maple. Put a little piece of quilted maple on the end just because.

Dating myself here but I remember when Broadway Joe Nameth was the first to wear white shoes..... No one has to wonder why his knees going bad ended his career since those white shoes became a target for the defense all too often..... Anyway they looked funny to me then but I got used to it in time and others did too as more and more broke with tradition and wore white cleats.

I've never been a fan either of unstained maple and darker tops. Must sound funny coming from a guy who likes black topped instruments I am sure.

One of the best sounding guitars that I have ever played which made no sense to me at all since I am also comparing it with hand made, big name Luthier guitars too was a Taylor of all things with maple sides and a WRC top. It sounded incredible.....

To my ear WRC has more in the way of overtones and less in the way of the fundamental. Headroom is also not what I hear from say Adi or German or Redwood. I use WRC at times for finger stylists but not for flat pickers. And as always my comments are personal preference observations and your milage may vary and likely will.

Anyway that Taylor had stained Maple, quilted sides and looked great too with the sides near the shade of the top. So yes tonewood wise and for a finger style player I like the combo but I would stain the sides as well and agree with Mario. If you don't you could call it the "Broadway Joe" model but don't be surprised if some 300 pounder decides to smash the thing....

Did an OM with WRC top and quilted maple back & sides about 6 years ago. Very nice sound and very good looking. Get a chance to play it every once in awhile and I still like the sound and looks. I'd say do it and I'll bet you will be glad you did - Mike

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Jose Oribe is a big name in classical/flamenco guitars, although he has ventured into steel string. I have seen classical/flamenco guitars by Oribe with bird's eye maple back/sides and cedar top. Oribe prides himself in paying close attention to aesthetics.

Awesome info!
Thanks for sharing.

I still don't know what I am going to do with this one yet.

Michael Chapdelaine plays a cedar/maple Lowden. Not what I'd describe as a warm tone, but a very present one that I find quite attractive. If you look up a few of his clips from the App "On the Music Path," you'll get to hear some really nice clips.


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WRC/European maple is a marriage made in heaven - the string clarity from maple takes away the WRC "muddiness" and the WRC's warmth and bass take away the maples brightness. Looks good:







Sounds great fingerpicked:

"Catherine Kelley's

And loads of headroom with a flatpick:

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Dave White
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". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Here's a link to one I built in 2008 with flamed maple/WRC top. viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16444&hilit=Grace

Just sold it to a local musician.

I love the sound of it. I did make if for finger style, really light on the bracing which doesn't help if one wants to drive the top too hard. Cedar can be driven hard, but you have to brace accordingly.

I think the aesthetic is fine as long as you can keep most other aspects "classic". This is what I tried to do with all the ebony appointments.

Here's a few pictures to add to this post.

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