Dogwood Guitars

  • Home
  • About
  • Guitars
    • Dogwood Models
    • Guitar Galleries
    • Ordering your Dogwood Guitar
    • FAQ’s
  • Services
  • Lutherie Classes
  • Pictorials
    • Repairs
    • How to Correctly String a Guitar
    • Building A Monarch
    • Making a Spalted Maple Rosette
    • Pearl and Abalone Inlay
  • Articles
    • Technical
    • Viewpoint
  • Testimonials
  • YouTube
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Articles / Technical / Baking Tops

Baking Tops

A number of guitar builders (including a couple of well-known factory-made brands) follow the practice of baking the Spruce tops in an oven at low heat prior to using them in the construction of an instrument.

This practice has caused a lot of discussion among luthiers and more than a little skepticism. According to some, baking Spruce increases its tonal qualities by affecting the resin in the cellular structure of the wood. Baking also supposedly accomplishes other structural changes that add to the musicality of the top. Some builders swear by this technique; many others dismiss it as sales hype and myth.

I bake all my tops, but for a different reason and one that I suspect is the true motivation for many who do so: Baking reduces the moisture content of the wood to near zero. The wood then stabilizes at equilibrium with the relative humidity of the shop, which is maintained at 45-50% year round. This in effect is like pre-shrinking a pair of jeans. The wood, having been taken to as a low a moisture content as it will ever be again along with the resulting shrinkage, is much less likely to cause the guitar owner problems in the future due to seasonal wood movement caused by fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Wood treated in this way also has the best possible preparation for glue adhesion.

All wood is subject to this seasonal movement, and the majority of acoustic guitar players I know are unaware of just how much the thin wood used in stringed instruments can shrink and swell. They are also unaware of the importance of keeping their guitars humidified to the correct level, and the deleterious affects that failing to do so will have on the guitars. Excessive drying can cause cracks, sharp fret ends, and soundboard shrinkage that affects the action and playability. Baking guitar woods prior to construction helps to minimize the potential for damage should the guitar be subject to incorrect conditions.

Any tonal benefits that come from “setting the resins” or other structural changes are merely a side benefit. Of course, I’ll gladly accept them if in fact they occur! But the bottom line is that there is no substitute for the wonderful things that the aging process does to stringed instruments and their tone. But baking guitar wood can help your instrument live to a ripe old age.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Shop Tour

The original Dogwood Guitars shop, located in rural central Ohio. The Dogwood Guitars shop is located in Mount Vernon, OH, having relocated back to central Ohio in August of 2017 after operating for five years in Kansas City. The shop is fully … [Read More...]

Customer Testimonial: Vintage Fender Jazz Bass

"Greg you are the man! This 1968 Jazz bass plays like butter. Greg has to be the premier luthier in Ohio, I wouldn't go anywhere else. I use to go to Columbus but not any more. Unlike going to the big city, Greg is most personable. And his shop is … [Read More...]

Pearl and Abalone Inlay

One of the most beautiful customizations to a musical instrument is the addition of shell inlay. Typically this might include peghead decorations, fretboard position markers or more elaborate motifs such as vines and flowers, and body purflings. … [Read More...]

Blog: Jumbo Neck Set

It is always exciting to arrive at neck setting day when working on a new build. Several weeks of careful work precede setting the neck: Rosette making; bending and boxing; bindings and purflings; inlay work; voicing and tuning; all separate skills … [Read More...]

Mastery of Craft

As a high end artisan woodworker of over 30 years, Greg's passion for excellence is a hallmark of his instruments. Every Dogwood guitar reflects this dedication to fine craftsmanship. All the skills required to make exceptional high end guitars- … [Read More...]

Guitar Build Class: Tom S.

"I recently completed a rewarding two week twelve day deep dive into guitar building. The course was taught by Greg Maxwell of Dogwood Guitars in Mt. Vernon Ohio. “Course” is inadequate to describe this skill and technique refining experience.  … [Read More...]

Visit us on YouTube…

Follow Dogwood Guitars

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Technical Articles

Humidity, Temperature, and Your Guitar

Maintaining your wooden instruments at an appropriate level of humidity year round is vital to their health and well-being. It is surprising how many owners of expensive instruments are unaware of this. I suppose that the primary reason is a lack … [Read More...]

More Technical Articles

Viewpoint Articles

Why Buy a Handmade Guitar?

There are a lot of choices out there for the prospective buyer of a fine guitar. It's no secret; a handmade instrument can cost a lot. For that matter, any of the better guitars purchased from a quality manufacturer is going to command what most … [Read More...]

More Viewpoint Articles

Copyright © 2025 Dogwood Guitars