Acoustic Guitars – Solid Top or Select Top?
One fine day you are standing in the local guitar shop ogling the different guitars. Whether you have been playing guitar for a year or a decade you may looking at the different guitars and the prices and trying figure out what the important differences are. One very important thing to know is what exactly is the difference between a Solid top and a Select top. I learned this the hard way by buying several select top guitars before I understood.
The core difference lies in the construction of the wood used for the guitar’s soundboard or the top of the guitar.
Construction and Wood Quality
•Solid Top: Made from a single piece of natural wood split down the middle and glued together.
•Select Top: Made from laminated wood, which consists of multiple thin layers of less expensive wood pressed together with a cosmetic veneer on top.
Sound and Tone
• Solid Top: Vibrates freely, creating a richer, louder, and more resonant tone.
• Select Top: Stiffer construction restricts vibration, resulting in a quieter, thinner, and less dynamic sound.
Aging and Longevity
• Solid Top: The wood matures over time, causing the guitar to sound better the more it is played.
• Select Top: The tone remains exactly the same throughout its lifespan and will never improve.
Price and Durability
• Solid Top: More expensive to produce and highly sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. Usually a solid Top adds $100 to $300 to the cost of the guitar.
• Select Top: Highly affordable and physically resilient against cracking caused by weather changes.
The most important thing you need to do is play the two different types of guitars and compare the difference sound. You will notice the guitar with the solid top sound more rich and full like you hear on your favorite recordings. The guitar with the solid top will sound thin and hollow. You have to hear the difference yourself to appreciate it.
Conclusion
I would only buy a select top when buying a beginner or student guitar. A select top will typically cost $100 to 200 dollars less than a solid top. Another consideration is the look of the guitar. Manufacturers have figured out that putting fancy inlays and flower designs on a less expensive selct top guitar will make them sell. But be wary. You get what you pay for.
Look for the “solid top” and you will be happier with the sound.
Keep on Rockin!
JohnnyO
