Anyone built a maple topped acoustic?

[Mark McLean]

Of course, softwoods are traditional for soundboards but hardwood tops of mahogany, koa or walnut are also seen fairly frequently. A couple of years ago Taylor released a solid maple topped model, which is the only example of a maple soundboard that I am aware of (apart from some maple veneer ply-top guitars). In a few youtube video reviews they don't sound bad. Have any of you tried a solid maple top? Any thoughts about how thin you would go and how you would brace it? I am asking because I have a dreadnought that needs retopping and have some spare maple sets that I could devote to an experiment. If nothing else it could look pretty with a burst finish.

[Alan Carruth]

Hardwoods are not usually used for tops because they are denser, but generally no stiffer at a given thickness, than hardwoods. Curly maple also loses some stiffness because of the run out in the curl. The heavier top is harder to drive with the limited horsepower in the strings, and especially at higher frequencies. You end up with an instrument that is not as powerful, and has a more 'fundamental' sound, which can be quite pleasant.

I made one maple-topped guitar a few years back. It was an archtop electro-acoustic, with a small, shallow body. The pickups were mounted to a bar that ran the length of the body inside without touching the top or back. The idea was to have a more or less normal acoustic response, but at a lower level, to minimize feedback. It actually worked pretty well, but UPS took the liberty of modifying it in shipping. Sic transit...

[Mark McLean]

Thanks Alan. I was hoping you might offer a perspective and even lived experience with this! What you have said makes good sense. It is a shame about the shipping coda to that story. Very disappointing to have your good work undone in that way!

[Dale Penrose]

Years ago, I built a wild cherry with a silver maple top. Not tremendously loud, but had a nice tone and pleasant look.