What kind of wood is sycamore?

[journo]

Hi,

I'm just browsing the Ibanez Artcore series on their web site and some models use sycamore instead of maple.

Any experiences of this wood?
What kind of wood is it?

Cheers,

Mats N

 

[aleclee]

I have an Aria solidbody made from sycamore. Tonally, I'd say it's along the lines of basswood: lightweight with focus on the fundamental but not too much depth like that of mahogany.

 

[gururyan]

I have a sycamore, a huge sycamore, in my front yard. That tree dumps limps every storm or breezy day. It's not a very strong wood while living, and brittle when dead. I love the color though. Never heard it used for guitar, maybe it will become a hot item and I can chop mine down and sell it.

 

[Jack Briggs]

Most sycamore is a denser wood like maple. I happened upon an old piece of spalted sycamore which is the top on one of my NAMM guitars. Take a look..............

This stuff's about 45 yrs. old and very light. Almost spruce-like, but with less stiffness.

 

[sleepingtiger]

Sycamore is a wood very commonly used for the back & sides of flamenco guitars, along with cypress. they typically have a spruce top. These guitars have a sharp attack & bright tone, compared to classical guitars with their rosewood sides & cedar tops.

 

[fractal]

Most sycamore is a denser wood like maple. I happened upon an old piece of spalted sycamore which is the top on one of my NAMM guitars. Take a look..............

This stuff's about 45 yrs. old and very light. Almost spruce-like, but with less stiffness.

That's very pretty wood! I know that Santa Cruz ran across some insanely old sycamore that they used in a number of guitars a while back. I haven't gotten a chance to play the wood, but it does sure look nice.