Has anyone ever made an acoustic with a hog top and rosewood back and sides?

[Norrissey]

This question crossed my mind yesterday when I was playing my '71 all hog flatback D25. I've never seen a guitar with a hog top and rosewood back and sides.
Maybe they don't work together. Curious if anyone has ever seen/played such a guitar by any maker.

 

[SFIV1967]

Well, there was the 1996 Martin MTV-1 model, which was half rosewood and hog...The treble side of the back and the side is mahogany; the bass side is rosewood. But the top was still spruce...







By the way, the MTV-2 was maple/Rosewood!




Taylor actually offers various models with mahogany tops with Tasmanian Blackwood back and sides, one example:
"Featuring back and sides of solid Tasmanian blackwood paired with a mahogany top, the 324e serves up a punchy, focused midrange with a warm character and minimal ringing overtones, making it a versatile option for players who dabble in different styles."

Taylor Guitars

Taylor Guitars is a leading manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars. As well you can build to order via our custom guitar program. Taylor guitars are widely considered among the best-sounding and easiest to play guitars in the world.

www.taylorguitars.com

Nowland Guitars in Clearfield, UT builds some true mahogany top and rosewood sides and back guitars!

"The first Concert Smooch baritone model and first baritone with a mahogany soundboard. The mahogany top combined with rosewood back & sides gives this guitar a uniquely deep, rich full and bright tone.
I am very pleasantly surprised at how well the mahogany soundboard responds to the longer scale length.
-Mahogany soundboard.
-Indian rosewood back & sides.
-Bocote fingerboard, bridge, head plate & bindings.
-Mahogany neck with laminated Bocote center.
-Gotoh gold 510 Delta tuners."



Ralf

 

[chazmo]

Took a double-take on that Nowland, Ralf. Tell me that doesn't look like an Olson at first sight...

Yeah, Norrisey, I can't see any reason why a mahogany soundboard on a rosewood body wouldn't work. I don't think Guild ever built one.

 

[Norrissey]

Nowland Guitars in Clearfield, UT builds some true mahogany top and rosewood sides and back guitars!

Thanks for that info Ralf! My all hog D25 has a very nice rich low end with nice sparkle at the high end. I imagine a hog top with rosewood back and sides would also have a rich low end but perhaps with more punch or volume than an all hog guitar. I'm puzzled it hasn't been done more often. I'd be very curious to try one of those Nowland guitars.

 

[Norrissey]

Well, there was the 1996 Martin MTV-1 model, which was half rosewood and hog

Ralf, that MTV-1 reminded me of an F312 I saw a while back that appeared to have Brazilian rosewood on one side of the back and Indian rosewood on the other. Link to that guitar below. Perhaps the wood is just non-matching Brazilian but I've never seen totally unmatching wood on the back of a Guild like that before. Curious what you think of it.

1967 Guild F312 12-String | mikes-music

1967 Guild F-312 String. Spruce top with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. A rare guitar in excellent condition.

www.mikesmusicohio.com

 

[SFIV1967]

...an F312 I saw a while back that appeared to have Brazilian rosewood on one side of the back and Indian rosewood on the other.

That looks interesting. Yes, two completely different pieces of rosewood. Maybe all they had on that day when they built that body? Maybe just that one half of Braz left and they wanted to use it? No idea really.

Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

I"ve never seen a mismatched back like that! Except when it was a 3-piece back like on a Martin D-35.

 

[chazmo]

I'm not sure at all, but I think what we're looking at here is an extreme case of grain runout. I think it's bookmatched from the same flitch. Another possibility is that they cut a bigger log and the two slices that make up the back are from different depths in the log. To me, it looks like Brazilian, as it likely from that era.

In any case, that is fascinating. I've never seen that on a Guild either.

 

[Norrissey]

In any case, that is fascinating. I've never seen that on a Guild either.

I wonder if the original back was severely damaged on one side and the owner took the guitar back to the Guild factory for a repair and all they had at that time was Indian Rosewood so that's what they used.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm not sure at all, but I think what we're looking at here is an extreme case of grain runout. I think it's bookmatched from the same flitch.

No, those are clearly total different pieces of wood to me.

Ralf

 

[chazmo]

No, those are clearly total different pieces of wood to me.

Ralf

I think you're probably right, Ralf. Still I see some similarity to the shape of the grain and the dark areas. If I didn't know this was a Guild, I would surely believe it's separate pieces of wood.