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Question: Disadvantages of laminate side and back wood for guitar!?
I am planning on buying a Yamaha CGX171CCA!. It has a solid top but the back and sides are laminate!. How will laminate sides and back affect the sound!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Laminate back and sides don't vibrate and resonate with the sound like a solid piece would!. This has a little bearing on the overall sound but I would say a solid top will still get you a very good sound, far more than a laminated top would!. I even have a Martin DX1 with a solid spruce top and laminate back and sides (it's almost pretty much like formica or counter-top material) and it still sounds gorgeous!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Luthier-made guitars are all solid wood (all around)
I only know of two luthiers in California that suggest
for most non-professional players to not dwell too much on the sides and back of the instrument
as long as the top is of solid wood!.

The main reason is cost-
A luthier-made guitar may start at $3000 or more!.

The sound is not going to be affected gravely by having laminated wood sides- and the laminated
shield can actually be more "protective" of the instrument if by chance is dropped(ouch!)!.

Lastly it could save you a lot of $$$ by just going
for a solid-top with laminated sides!.

Remember most professional guitar players (concert quaility players) do play all-solid wood instruments
but their name recognition is enough for a Luthier to make them an instrument (probably at "cost") just to make a name for themselves!.

There is a story that one great (still active)
classical guitarist made a luthier famous after
he was presented just before a concert by
the young luthier with a guitar made by him!.
The artist did use the guitar and loved it!.

Siince that time the artist only uses the makers instrument and the maker now has a long waiting
list of prospective buyers of his instruments!.


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Not too much from what i can tell, as long as the top itself is solid the guitar should sound fairly good!.Www@QuestionHome@Com