Adirondack (red spruce) opening up?

[bluepen]

I've got a Tacoma D-50 that I got last year. I've seen conflicting accounts of adi tops and their "opening up"...what are your thoughts? Do they take longer than sitka? How long?
I know that "opening up" is highly debated, some say two days, some two months and some say two years. But any comparative experience is appreciated.

Also how about Guild tops versus others? I played my first Martin D-18GE (new, on the shelf) and it didn't sound nearly as "tight" as my D-50.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[cuthbert]

I think that on the various guitar boards on the net discussions about the tree species used in the construction of musical instruments have gone way too far.

I challenge anybody to hear the difference between "generic" red spruce, adirondak, sitka and italian spruce (that is always red spruce...) on a guitar keeping all the other border conditions the same...

 

[Tunes]

Cuthbert has an interesting viewpoint.

It occurs to me as I have my morning coffee (from Kona, Hawaii), it's like saying we can tell the difference between coffee that is grown at one plantation versus another. While there is undeniably some difference, and we can taste that difference in the extremes (dark roasted vs. light roasted for example), in most cases we really can't.

I expect in a blind "ear" test most of us could not tell the difference between a sitka spruce top vs. an adirondack spruce top - given the same body type and tonewood and strings. You would need a hell of a trained ear.

IMHO, sound is far more than just the woods involved - body shape, bracing, and even the glues involved will all affect the sound of a guitar. Even the type of pick you use on the same guitar will affect the sound. Sound is a crazy thing.

I will wade in with my 2 pennies worth on opening up. All guitars open up gradually over time - a little each day. I do not believe there is a majic date (2 mos, 2 years) when you can say a guitar is now open. Guitars will continue to change and mellow for 10, 20 and even 30 years. It's a slow natural process, and like fine wine, friggin' with it by adding some kinda vibronic device is just messin with nature as far as I am concerned. And we all know what happens when you mess with nature!

 

[Brad Little]

I will wade in with my 2 pennies worth on opening up. All guitars open up gradually over time - a little each day. I do not believe there is a majic date (2 mos, 2 years) when you can say a guitar is now open. Guitars will continue to change and mellow for 10, 20 and even 30 years. It's a slow natural process,

I agree that it is a gradual process taking years. I also think that even after a guitar is broken in, if it sits in a case for several years, the wood will tighten up and need to be broken in again.

Brad

 

[fab467]

And we all know what happens when you mess with nature!

Yes, I remember...

 

[capnjuan]

And we all know what happens when you mess with nature!

Yes, I remember...

So Do I ...