Quartersawn vs flat-sawn tonewoods: why the cut matters for acoustic guitar builds

Quartersawn tonewoods are cut with their growth rings running near perpendicular to the face of the board. This results in the straighter grain lines/truer dimensional stability/more rigid widthwise of Quartersawn Tone Wood that create the acoustic guitar's tops (or backs and sides) as well as necks. Flat-sawn tonewoods are less expensive and exhibit a cathedral grain pattern; however, they suffer from greater movement due to humidity fluctuation than quartersawn wood does, therefore making it the preferred material for high-end acoustic guitar production when used with both tops and necks.

Every guitar luthier knows that wood choice defines tone. However, in addition to selecting the correct species, the method in which the wood is harvested from the log will determine its stability, its resonance, and how long it will survive once constructed into the finished product. No matter if it is your first acoustic guitar or an expensive custom guitar made from rare exotic woods, understanding quartersawn versus flat-sawn will prove to be one of the more useful things you will learn. At Exotic Wood Zone, our guitar tonewoods, guitar neck blanks, and acoustic guitar back and side sets are selected with this in mind here is what every builder needs to know.

What the cuts actually mean

Flat-sawing is by far the most widely used and economical process. The tree trunk is just sliced through, yielding boards whose growth rings are parallel to the board surface. The unique characteristic of the cathedral arch grain pattern is thus achieved.

With quartersawn lumber, logs are first split into quarters, and then planks are cut out such that the growth rings are at an angle of 70-90 degrees to the face of the board.

Rift-sawn sits between the two rings at around 45 degrees and is less common in lutheries. For most instrumental parts and parts of a string instrument, the choice comes down to quartersawn or flat-sawn.

Why it matters for the guitar top

The guitar top is the most tonally sensitive part of any string instrument. It vibrates, projects, and shapes almost every aspect of how the instrument sounds. The cut of the wood for the guitar top directly affects all three of the following:

• Stiffness across the grain - quarter-sawn tops have lateral stiffness, which results in better soundboard translation because vibration transfer is improved through the wood grain.

• Stability - quartersawn tops move less as humidity rises and falls, reducing the risk of cracking or bellying around the bridge over years of use.

• Visual consistency - the tight straight grain lines that define a premium acoustic top are only achievable with quartersawn wood.

This is why virtually every production acoustic guitar top, whether Sitka Spruce, German Spruce, Adirondack Spruce or Spanish Cedar is quartersawn. Our guitar top and carved top guitar wood collection at Exotic Wood Zone includes quartersawn-selected tops across all major species. The same principle applies to guitar drop top wood and carved top guitar pieces used in archtop and semi-hollow builds.

Why it matters for backs and sides

For acoustic guitar back and side sets, quartersawn wood offers better long-term dimensional stability. Backs and sides do not drive tone as directly as the top does, they are important for reflecting the sound within the body and must be able to withstand the changing humid conditions for many years without developing cracks.

On highly figured species like Maple and Koa, quartersawn cutting can also bring out medullary ray fleck and ribbon figures that flat-sawing would not reveal. That said, flat-sawn guitar back and side sets are standard practice on many production instruments and work well when the wood has been properly kiln-dried and acclimated. Our guitar set options at Exotic Wood Zone are available across species including Rosewood, Mahogany, Maple, Ziricote, and Koa.

Why it matters most for guitar necks

The constant tension from the strings and stress from the annual variations in humidity place constant tension on the guitar neck. Of all the guitar parts used in making an acoustic guitar, the neck requires the highest structural integrity of its wood.

Quarter-sawn guitar necks are much better suited to resist bending and twisting compared to flat-sawn ones. Since there are more vertical grain lines due to their orientation, quartersawn guitar necks can be easily controlled using a truss rod to avoid any potential warping of the neck. That is why most experienced luthiers use quartersawn Maple and Mahogany for making guitar necks.

The Exotic Wood Zone offers quartersawn guitar necks, which come in Flame Maple, Maple, Black Limba, and Bloodwood blends. All are kiln dried and carefully selected for grain quality.

Quartersawn vs flat-sawn: side-by-side comparison

Does the cut actually affect tone?

This is one of the most controversial issues among luthiers specializing in guitars. There have been many arguments from luthiers who say that using a quartersawn guitar top gives even vibration, making for improved sustain and projection. Others point out that the tonal difference between a quartersawn and flat-sawn top of identical species and thickness is subtle at best and nearly impossible to isolate in a controlled build.

The honest answer is the structural advantage stability and stiffness is real and measurable. The tonal advantage is probable but harder to quantify. For guitar tonewoods and all other stringed instruments, the longevity argument alone makes quartersawn the safer and more defensible choice on tops and necks.

Frequently asked questions

1. What does quartersawn mean in guitar building?
   It means that the wood is quarter-cut initially, and subsequently, the logs are sawn to create a situation where the annual growth rings of the tree intersect the board’s surface at about 70-90 degrees. The end result is very straight grain lines on the board.
2. What is rift-sawn and how does it differ?
   Rift-sawn sits sort of between quartersawn and flat-sawn, like the growth rings are at about 45 degrees to the face. It’s not something that’s often specified for acoustic guitar parts, but still you can see it used in furniture and flooring applications, from time to time.
3. Is quartersawn always better than flat-sawn for guitar tops?
   On acoustic guitar tops, quartersawn is sort of strongly preferred, mainly because it brings better stiffness and more stability overall. For the backs and sides, flat-sawn is pretty common and it works fine too, especially when figured species are involved, because the looks and aesthetics are, well, kind of the main priority.
4. Does the cut affect tone in electric guitars?
   As far as tone goes, it does not matter nearly as much with electric guitars. While still preferred for the same reasons in the neck of an electric guitar, quartersawn boards are totally acceptable in flat-sawn bodies.
5. Can you tell the difference visually?
   Yes, quartersawn has straight parallel lines of grain. Flat-sawn wood has either a cathedral or an oval-shaped arch. On species like Oak or Maple, quartersawn also reveals medullary ray fleck.

Shop quartersawn tonewoods at Exotic Wood Zone

Every guitar top, acoustic guitar back and sides, and guitar neck blank found in our Exotic Wood Zone has been carefully selected for its consistent grain, density, and tone qualities. Be it for your first ever acoustic guitar or a custom built masterpiece, we know what luthiers need. Check out our entire selection of guitar tonewoods, and see the perfect wood to be the next masterpiece!