E-minor7 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) Been looking a bit into this lately. Not really sure what to think or which logic to follow - and it seems there's specific consensus or rule hammered in granit. It was one of sweet'n'stunning Molly Tuttle's PRE-WAR dreads that me wonder. Been sleep-walking around thinking tight was preferred, but her top is wider than wide. So what do you think - W or T or T or W ? ? , , , , and why ? Of course the topic has been up before. Was about to revive this old thread, but it would have prevented the poll. Edited January 31, 2020 by E-minor7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) I play my guitars and don't analyze every nuance of them to the n'th degree. I like it, it sounds good, I buy it. It's that simple. Edited January 31, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul14 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 16 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I play my guitars and don't analyze every nuance of them to the n'th degree. I like it, it sounds good, I buy it. It's that simple. Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvi Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 nice in sitka, not as relevant in other woods, MEDULARRY effect is transfixing, and a bonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcntryblues Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 This thread is as wacky as a trial without witnesses. I'm voting tight. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) tight or wide? We are talking about wood grain on a guitar’s top, yes? . . . Tight for the strummers, wide for hard pickin’ Edited January 31, 2020 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 I voted wide . I always go “against the grain” 😂😂😂😂 JC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted January 31, 2020 Author Share Posted January 31, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, nrthcountryblue said: I'm voting tight. Plus a little silking. . ? Edited January 31, 2020 by E-minor7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 So glad to see you with us JC. Visually I prefer wider grain patterns. It also just so happens that tonally, some of my favorite guitars have had wide grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 7 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Been looking a bit into this lately. Not really sure what to think or which logic to follow - and it seems there's specific consensus or rule hammered in granit. It was one of sweet'n'stunning Molly Tuttle's PRE-WAR dreads that me wonder. Been sleep-walking around thinking tight was preferred, but her top is wider than wide. So what do you think - W or T or T or W ? ? , , , , and why ? Of course the topic has been up before. Was about to revive this old thread, but it would have prevented the poll. I voted for tight but that is for Sitka spruce tops.......the Pre War Guitar Company used NEW growth Adirondack tops. These are wide grain because they are newer growth trees because as I have read and correct me if I am wrong, most of old growth Adi was felled for the World War II war effort....mostly for planes, I believe. So the Adi in for example, Pre War Guitar Company guitars is quite new growth, for a spruce tree and probably grown fairly quickly on the sunny side of a hill - hence the wide grain. The old growth Adi is a big part of the sound of early Martins, no idea about Gibson. BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozz Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I voted tight. If choosing between two otherwise equal guitars, I 'd go with a tight grained top over a wide grained one all day long. To my eye there is nothing like tight grained spruce with a little silking. I have nice sounding guitars with both wide and tight grained Spruce tops, and the two that sound best to my ear are both tight grained. But in all honesty, I don't believe grain width has much to do with sound quality. There are many other build factors with greater influence on tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I would vote "Yes". Whenever given the choice between two guitars of the same model, one with a top featuring tight grain and the other with a top featuring wide grain, I would always choose the one that sounds the best to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holiday Hoser Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Being vegan I voted whole grain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Is one stronger or weaker? is one louder or softer? finally is one warmer or brighter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Salfromchatham said: Is one stronger or weaker? is one louder or softer? finally is one warmer or brighter? Relevant Q's, , , couldn't tell you. But if you investigate the attached 2013 thread, Nick claims it has to do with stiffness. Tight being stiffer is my guess. But do we want 'stiff' and why - does stiff vibrate better or differently. Something tells me flexible (wide) would be preferred vibers, , , or is the other way around. Admit being confused. 5 hours ago, Guth said: I would vote "Yes". Whenever given the choice between two guitars of the same model, one with a top featuring tight grain and the other with a top featuring wide grain, I would always choose the one that sounds the best to me. Yes, agree, , , and it's what most of the responses say. Perhaps this was a hotter topic earlier on when the big collective acoustic epiphany happened in the 90's and 00s. The era when every aspect of acoustic guitars was sat under (theoretical) looking-glass, analyzed and discussed. Some even claimed that the ideal pattern is wide goin' to tight towards the seam. Now a days the scientists may not be that certain and Bozz obviously has a strong point by mentioning the many factors involved. "A good guitar is lucky a combination of components". Interesting thoughts, BK777 ^ - as said. Molly's hog dread is wide, , , and P-W btw. would never have brought her a weaker instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I'm voting twide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 (edited) I've found tighty-whities show bear claws. Edited February 1, 2020 by fortyearspickn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Exactly how tight is tight and how wide is wide. All mine look pretty tight. Are you guys measuring with a machinist rule? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Murph said: I'm voting twide. Okay - I'm kind of caught on the island of wight. . Spruce with clues and enigma from Engelmann to old sitka and Adirondack o lala I looked at wood this way So did you have it quarter-sawn or was it plywood and forlorn I wonder how your top was born and just have this to say I looked a grain from both sides now from tight and wide and still somehow it's grain's illusion I recall I really don't know grain at all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 If I had to choose between two guitars without hearing or playing them, I'd chose the one with the widest grain top. All my guitars with wide grain tops seem to have a little something extra. Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 E- Good to add some music from Joni. . . how she, and others, can do an intimate song before such a large crowd, with microscopes pointing in from all angles, and still have the ability to conjure the muse. Also good to be reminded in your reply to Guth about how builders will prefer to put the tight grain towards the center seam, and the wider grain to the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 23 hours ago, nrthcountryblue said: This thread is as wacky as a trial without witnesses. I'm voting tight. Yeah but its not a real court of law, just a bunch of old windbags with each side having their own agenda (ok enough depression). Not sure what grain I have. They look really close. Can someone explain the difference to me how tight is tight and how wide is wide? Any one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Yeah but its not a real court of law, just a bunch of old windbags with each side having their own agenda (ok enough depression). Not sure what grain I have. They look really close. Can someone explain the difference to me how tight is tight and how wide is wide? Any one? Google is your friend. Not really, but have a search and a look at some images. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 11 minutes ago, 62burst said: Google is your friend. Not really, but have a search and a look at some images. Yeah I know but that is the reason I am on the forum to learn from others. I could look up anything all day long, but then what is the point of being of the forum I'll look it up myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Take a deep breath, put down the Tone Wood Kool Aid, and step back from the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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