Do you think the sound of an acoustic guitar changes over time and as it gets played? Do they get better with age/wear?

Your damned straight they do! (but they need a little help from their friends)

RIP Breeze.

https://youtu.be/IaHxPi9dM7o

I think it depends on the wood and construction. I think a guitar well-constructed from solid wood will definitely sound better with age, but a guitar made from laminated woods will be more hit-or-miss. That's part of the reason why vintage guitars are so desirable.

Sure, it's possible, but not necessarily a given.

I have my doubts. As they age the wood tends to dry out which makes them less flexible to vibrations (sound). Just guessing, so don't go off on me.

My wife's Martin D28 that I bought her a couple of years ago sure sounds good!

I think w well made instrument can improve with age and use.

RMD

My late 80's Washburn laminated has improved.

quote:

Originally posted by beltfed21:
I have my doubts. As they age the wood tends to dry out which makes them less flexible to vibrations (sound). Just guessing, so don't go off on me.

The way I understand it, as the wood dries out, it results in hollow spaces the resins used to fill. The result is better resonance, which can translate into a better sounding instrument. The epoxies/glues used in laminated woods restrict resonance, which is why solid woods are generally better than laminated woods in acoustic guitar construction. Of course, in practical terms, I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes.

I probably shouldn't have been so definitive in my earlier post, as there can be a lot of other factors that can affect a guitar's sound, but I do think a well-constructed guitar made from solid woods will more than likely sound better as it ages.

Assuming a guitar is similar in aging to a violin, then it seems reasonable it might improve. Check out the desirability of an original Stratavarius (sp?). The claim is they have an excellent voice.

"Better" is subjective.

Martin guitars are known for the way they "mellow" over time. They tend to bright and loud from the factory but really develop beautiful mid range and bass tones as they grow old. But they pretty much always sound great (not necessarily their budget models.)

I believe it does. However, the caveat that a lot of acoustic players will say is don't expect a dog to get that much better. If it sounds good now, it could sound great later.

The believe is that the combination of it being played (vibration of the guitar) and age gives it more volume and definition. I personally believe this to be true with 2 of my 3 Martins. The 3rd one hasn't been with me long enough or played enough for me to notice it.

My 2003 D-28 is well broken in, has thousands of hours of playing time. While the D-28 is known for being a loud guitar as it is, I believe mine has opened up considerably since I bought it new in 2004. Volume wise it can hold its own against any acoustic, IMO.

The most common top for Martins, in terms of sales volume, is possibly sitka spruce. Another popular top is adirondack. I'm not a wood expert but from what I've read, the adi is stiffer than the spruce so it takes longer for those guitars to open up.

My most recent Martin is a 2014 D-18 with an adi top. It does feel quite still, not as loose as the other guitars were when they were brand new.

Many will say it's the vibrations that help open the guitar up and some guys will even go as far to artificially speed that process up by using something called a ToneRite:

https://www.tonerite.com/colle...ucts/guitar-tonerite

well, in most cases yes, but it depends on a lot of variables - how well it was made in the first place, what kinds of woods and glues were used, whether or not it has been kept in a relatively stable humidified environment...

in general I think my Martin sounds better now than when I bought it - it seems richer, more mellow...

A well made guitar such as Martin can improve with age. As nhtagmember stated, use a humidifier during the winter months to keep the wood from drying out, In the summer it is good to keep your guitar out of the case especially when it is very humid. There are inexpensive ways to make your own humidifier with a sponge and cup that will keep the wood from drying out and cracking.

In my experience virtually all guitars sound better with age; but I don't think it is the "age" itself, but the drying out of the wood. Wood is more resonant and has both deeper and higher frequency response when BONE DRY.
So it is the drying out that does it.

Many people try to "preserve" their instruments with humidity control. But that is to prevent cracking and warping. It doesnt really help the tone.

I live in Utah, which is of course very dry. I one purchased a very expensive guitar and left it out on the guitar stand for one day. The very next day it was split right up the middle of the back. Fortunately, the manufacturer (and almost all of them) will accept returns in a reasonable time. I leave all my guitars out on stands rather than in the cases because dry really does sound better. If they survive a few years in Utah, then they are "good".

Having said all that, "good tone" is subjective, and I have heard very expensive instruments that sound very 'ordinary' and very cheap, plywood guitars that sound 'very interesting....and good.'

I think so.

The Tale of Trigger

I believe that the gibson j50 I bought in 64 when I was 16 sounds better . My 72 Martin D35 was used when I bought it in the mid 90s and sounded pretty good when I got it. Hard for me to judge as I wear a hearind aid now.

Trigger is an iconic guitar. There are some guitars so distinct that they're forever linked to certain players:

-McCartney's Hofner bass
-Lennon's Epiphone Casino
-Harrison's rosewood Telecaster
-Page's Les Paul
-Hendrix's white Strat
-SRV's Strat with the SRV pickguard
-BB King's Lucille
-Bo Diddley's Box
-Page's double neck
-May's Red Special

I happen to know the sound of an acoustic guitar gets better the more you drink.

It certainly seems that way but the only way to know for sure would be to go back in time, get a still new 1940 D28 and compare it side by side with its older self. Realistically though, I think that a good sounding guitar is likely to get better with age but not necessarily so with one that never sounded good.

quote:

Originally posted by Cliff:
I happen to know the sound of an acoustic guitar gets better the more you drink.