Maple

The timber of the Acer genus, a hard and stiff pale hardwood used for necks and, in figured pieces, for caps and backs and sides.

Plain maple is chosen for structural work because it stays straight under string tension, while the flamed, quilted and birdseye pieces are chosen for appearance and sliced thin as a cap over a warmer body. Tonally the family is bright and articulate with a pronounced upper midrange, so it adds cut and definition wherever it is used. Different species vary considerably in hardness, and the hardest are reserved for necks.

Example: a flamed maple cap over a mahogany body gives a bright top end over a warm base, which is the classic recipe for a high-end single-cut.

typical use: Necks and fretboards, laminate tops, and acoustic backs and sides.

Maple

See also