Diving into the world of tonewoods is like opening a treasure chest for guitar enthusiasts. At Breedlove, our craftsmen are unabashed tonewood nerds, always seeking to unlock the full potential of these natural materials. Recently, our Custom Shop team took a creative detour into the recording studio to explore how different tonewoods affect the sound of acoustic guitars. The experiment? Recording three high-end custom models crafted for the NAMM Show, each with a red cedar top and unique back-and-side tonewoods. The results? Fascinating—and we’re excited to share them with you.
The Guitars: A Symphony of Tonewood Pairings
- The Premier Concert Shadowburst CE Figured Red Cedar-Figured East Indian Rosewood LTD
The Premier Concert Shadowburst CE is a true masterpiece of tone and craftsmanship. Its figured red cedar top adds stiffness, creating articulate note structure and increased headroom. This makes it perfect for versatile play styles, blending warmth and focus with the rich, rounded bass and clear trebles provided by the figured East Indian rosewood back and sides.
- Oregon Concert CE Red Cedar-Myrtlewood – Earth Day Special Edition
Celebrate sustainability with the Oregon Concert CE Red Cedar-Myrtlewood Earth Day Special Edition. This model pairs a solid one-piece red cedar top with myrtlewood back and sides, offering warm, rich tones complemented by clarity and balance across the tonal spectrum. Each guitar is hand-voiced in the Custom Shop using Breedlove’s Sound Optimization® process, ensuring maximum projection and tonal quality.
- The Legacy Concert Shadowburst E Red Cedar-Bubinga LTD
The Legacy Concert Shadowburst E represents the pinnacle of Breedlove’s craftsmanship. This model pairs a solid red cedar top with exotic bubinga back and sides, producing a warm, rich tone that responds beautifully to even the lightest touch. The concert body shape offers versatility and comfort, making it ideal for a range of playing styles.
Hear the Difference
Recording these three guitars side by side revealed the incredible range of tones that can be achieved by pairing red cedar tops with different tonewoods. The warm, responsive nature of cedar is a constant across all models, but each guitar’s back-and-side tonewood adds its unique flavor:
- Rosewood: Rich, rounded bass with clear trebles.
- Myrtlewood: Balanced clarity with a touch of brightness.
- Bubinga: Warm, rich tone with exceptional responsiveness.
Exploring tonewoods is one of the most rewarding aspects of crafting and playing acoustic guitars. At Breedlove, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, blending artistry and innovation to create instruments that inspire. Whether you’re a tonewood aficionado or just beginning your journey, these guitars offer a glimpse into the magic that happens when craftsmanship meets the natural beauty of wood.
Which one speaks to you? Let us know, and stay tuned for more insights from the Breedlove Custom Shop.
