Editing Steel-string acoustic guitar (section)

=== Tonewoods ===
Traditionally, steel-string guitars have been made of a combination of various ''[[tonewood]]s'', or woods considered to have pleasing resonant qualities when used in instrument-making. The term is ill-defined and the wood species that are considered tonewoods have evolved throughout history.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mottola |first1=R.M. |title=Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms |date=1 January 2020 |publisher=LiutaioMottola.com |isbn=978-1-7341256-0-3 |page=165 |url=https://www.liutaiomottola.com/books/dictionary.htm |ref=Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms}}</ref> Foremost for making steel-string guitar tops are [[Sitka spruce]], the most common, and Alpine and Adirondack spruce. The back and sides of a particular guitar are typically made of the same wood; [[Dalbergia nigra|Brazilian rosewood]], [[Dalbergia latifolia|East Indian rosewood]], and [[Swietenia macrophylla|Honduras mahogany]] are traditional choices, however, [[maple]] has been prized for the figuring that can be seen when it is cut in a certain way (such as ''flame'' and ''quilt'' patterns). A common non-traditional wood gaining popularity is [[sapele]], which is tonally similar to mahogany but slightly lighter in color and possessing a deep grain structure that is visually appealing.

Due to decreasing availability and rising prices of premium-quality traditional tonewoods, many manufacturers have begun experimenting with alternative species of woods or more commonly available variations on the standard species. For example, some makers have begun producing models with [[Thuja plicata|red cedar]] or mahogany tops, or with [[spruce]] variants other than Sitka. Cedar is also common in the back and sides, as is [[basswood]]. Entry-level models, especially those made in East Asia, often use [[nato wood]], which is again tonally similar to mahogany but is cheap to acquire. Some have also begun using non-wood materials, such as [[plastic]] or [[graphite]]. Carbon-fiber and phenolic composite materials have become desirable for building necks, and some high-end luthiers produce all-carbon-fiber guitars.