Quote:
Originally Posted by RossM
I keep reading about how some guitars mature and sweeten over time and some guitars seem to be consistent from the get-go.
My question is about how you find that “one” guitar if the tone you hear in the shop from the new guitar is different than what the guitar will sound like 2-5 to 15 years down the road? Seems especially true when you talk about high end guitars. I heard this big-time when I picked up a Adirondack Spruce and Koa guitar. I'm not planning on buying that guitar but if I was how would I know whether or not I'd like the way it sounds years later? What I’m most likely to get is a Bear Claw Spruce (‘cuz I like the look) and solid Indian Rosewood guitar. How do you know or predict what way the guitar will mature? Will it get deeper and darker or lighter and brighter? Is it a guessing game? Does it have anything to do with how I play it?
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I agree with Barry. Buy for the hear and now and just enjoy it while you can.
The reason some guitars change tonally has to do with the impact of the vibrations over time combined with the natural effects of wood aging. As wood ages it looses moisture and becomes lighter and stronger. Builders know this and try to dry out the wood as best they can prior to building (the wood Martin, Taylor and Gibson are building with today has likely been drying for years) they produce guitars that will sound consistently good for decades, but still over time they continue to loose moisture and change. It happens with all products made of solid wood which is why the process of artificially aging wood (torrefication) came about.... I guess you could buy a guitar with a torrefied top and leave Tonerite on it for a few months.