Laminated backs and sides?

[k4df4l]

Has anyone developed a specific preference with respect to lam backs/sides?

I've played several solid wood clunkers and some killer lam guitars so I can't say I have. I don't know if I've played a similar enough guitar at any point to a/b solid vs lam :idk:

[Prages]

All I know is that my favorite acoustic guitar has laminated back, sides...and top. :o

I've got an all solid wood guitar, and one that's a solid top with laminated back and sides, and neither of them sounds as good as the old beater. :idk:

[Denverdave]

I've played some really nice guitars that are solid top and lam back/sides. In fact my main stage guitar (Takamine ef341sc) has a solid cedar top and laminate maple B/S. It sounds pretty nice. The top is the most important piece of wood in the equation. Prages all lam beater is a great sounding guitar, but it is also the exception. I have no clue how that ugly brute sounds so good (the guitar, not Prages....).

I will add though that without exception, all of the best acoustics I have played have been solid wood all around. And I have played some solid wood clunkers as well. The maker is a huge part of the equation. A lot of Seagull guitars (except for their top end models) are laminate B/S and those are nice guitars. A well made all solid wood guitar is hard to beat, but you usually pay a lot more for one of those as well.

I really like my Takamine, but it is not as nice as my Larrivee - which is solid wood. But it probably makes for a better stage guitar. The lam B/S tend to have less sensitivity to the temperature/humidity so it stays in tune really well.

[k4df4l]

IA lot of Seagull guitars (except for their top end models) are laminate B/S and those are nice guitars.

Truth.

I have a S6 w/ solid cedar top and lam b&s that sounds great.

[micwalt]

All my Alvarez acoustics are solid spruce top w/ lam back and sides. They all sound great.

[Tralfaz]

Solid wood should resonate better. However, most people play acoustic with the guitar on their lap and/or the back pressed up against their belly, in which case it really doesn't matter if its laminated or not -- your body is damping the vibrations.

[Aahzz]

I had a Martin DM, which is lam b/s, that sounded fantastic. The major difference I noticed between it and my solid wood guitars is it didn't open as much over time. The solid guitars seem to age better, the DM still sounded new.

And Prages' beater guitar defies explanation.