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The mate, sanded down. This demonstrates the variability of ping tone with thickness.
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B-Grade Adirondack. The tone is a little bit muddy, but the footprint of a smaller guitar will tighten it up. Variable grain spacing and a small knot make this a $7 top.
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German spruce with extremely tight grain, moderately stiff. $180.
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This Adirondack top has a lot of interference, or motion other than the fundamental.
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Adirondack. Color streaks reduce the cost to $100. This wood is unique in that it’s both relatively soft and very stiff. This guitar will be crisp and clean, but also warm.
Four grades of Adirondack tops demonstrate that price is not always indicative of tonal properties. In Greven’s view, the middle grades are the best of the bunch:
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This ugly $65 top is stiff as steel, and coupled with moderate bracing would make a killer 000-18 or D-18.
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This $85 top has color streaks and variable grain.
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This $200 top is very pretty, but has a pitch pocket that can be located in the sound hole.
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22:04: $250 top, very pretty, very stiff, no discoloration.
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50-60-year-old Sitka spruce. Good for Gibson reproductions. Nasty, edgy quality.
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These two Sitka tops have little lateral stiffness, and can practically be bent into a tube. Relatively articulate, but with little sustain.
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These two 00-18 guitars are identical but for the Sitka tops; the first has a top with little lateral stiffness. The guitarist is Duffy Calloway.
Identical Lutz-topped guitars with different back and sides:
