Acoustic Guitar Back and Sides

Premium Acoustic Guitar Back and Side Sets 

What Are Acoustic Guitar Back and Side Sets?

Acoustic guitar back and side sets are pre matched pairs of tonewood cuts , that basically make up the body shell of a handcrafted guitar. The species and grain of these woods really do shape the instrument’s tone, the way it resonates, how it sustains, and the overall visual character too. So, these sets are one of the biggest decisions you make in any luthier build.

Why Choose Exotic Wood Zone?

At Exotic Wood Zone, based in St. Louis, Missouri, we have built a trusted reputation among professional luthiers, hobbyist builders, and guitar enthusiasts across the USA. Our collection features over 3,000 acoustic guitar back and side sets spanning 60+ wood species, one of the largest selections available from a single US-based tonewood supplier.

Which Tonewoods Are Available?

We have all types of woods available, including both common and less common woods, so we can accommodate your tonal objectives and budget:

• East Indian Rosewood - our standard wood for both deep warm sounds and clear high sounds. 

• Flame Mahogany - rich midrange warmth, ideal for fingerstyle and folk builds

• Hard Maple (Flame) - A bright clear sound to go along with its stunning beauty!

• Hawaiian Koa - Another almost perfect balance between tonal characteristics and design/patterns.

• Macassar Ebony, Ziricote and Palemoon Ebony - being excellent high-quality exotic woods for the serious collector or very high-quality build

• Indian Laurel, Lacewood, Purpleheart - affordable alternatives with strong tonal performance

All sets come in a multitude of sizes: Classical,  Dreadnought, Parlor, Jumbo and Ukulele starting with grade BC up to grade AAAA.

Built for Luthiers, Trusted by Builders

Every set is precision-machined for consistent thickness and fitment, which means a lot less prep time at the bench, generally. We also source in a responsible way, with sustainable forestry practices in mind without really sacrificing acoustic quality

Frequently Asked Questions

• What wood is best for acoustic guitar back and sides? 

East Indian Rosewood is the most popular tonewood for warmth and balanced projection. Mahogany works with warm, mid-forward tones. Maple adds brightness and clarity.

• Are the sets bookmatched? 

Yes, side sets are bookmatched pairs for symmetrical grain presentation.

Shop our full collection at Exotic Wood Zone and build your next instrument with confidence.