Laminate wood in the hands of an experienced well established guitar maker will sound better than solid wood in a poorly manufactured guitar.
What is laminated wood guitar.
Laminate wood is manufactured not milled like traditional wood.
The resulting wood appears like a sheet rather than a solid piece and it s ideal in a cheaper guitar with an attractive looking natural grain surface.
Laminate wood is made by bonding several thin layers of wood together.
Not all laminate wood is equal.
Laminate guitars on the other hand can be made to accentuate certain color variations and grain patterns in the wood that are not only pleasing to the eye but are far more cost effective as well.
Martin guitars in particular have a line made partially or almost completely from hpls.
Laminated wood is economical but it s also strong and stable and can withstand a little more abuse than a higher quality instrument.
As a guitar construction material there are a lot of advantages.
Laminate acoustic guitars have a body of laminate wood which is pressed plywood that s held together with glue and given a veneer coat.
These layers are usually glued together to form a thicker surface.
Laminate wood simply means money and wood was saved by using thinly veneered layers of wood combined to create your guitar.
In an effort to offer customers other more affordable options many builders also make guitars featuring laminate back and sides.
Laminated wood as the name suggests is made from multiple thin layers of wood that are meshed together by a luthier using adhesive and pressure.
Many times these guitars are stained in such a way that an otherwise plain cut of maple or cherry wood for example can be made to look just as.
Laminate wood does not make for the best tone especially for tops.
Using solid wood for the top is still preferred by most builders because the top plays a major role in translating the initial energy of vibrating guitar strings into rich acoustic sound.
Hpl or high pressure laminate materials are becoming more commonplace in guitar construction.
It s not as dense as solid wood but still delivers a rich sound depending on the manufacturing process of the guitar maker.
Acoustic guitar tops are made either of solid pieces of wood or of laminated wood with several thin plies of wood glued together.
Many low end acoustic guitars are made of laminated wood rather than solid wood.
As you re determining whether or not to buy a laminate or solid wood guitar consider this.
Laminate back and sides.
Even in furniture all solid wood parts are less common these days and much easier to spot than in a guitar.
