Spruce vs. Mahogany | Taylor Guitars

A Taylor 314ce with a spruce top and a 324ce with a mahogany top played side-by-side.

While the woods used for the back and sides of a guitar typically get more attention, the instrument’s top is a major contributor to its overall sound. Taylor offers the popular 300-series Grand Auditorium with both spruce (314ce) and mahogany (324ce) tops, and since both feature sapele backs and sides and similar construction, these models make great candidates for determining the tonal qualities of the tops alone. In this video, San Diego-based guitarist Joshua Taylor demonstrates the latest Next Generation versions of of the two models side-by-side.

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