When guitars are produced some have better quality wood than others.  High quality wood makes all the difference in the world for producing a great sounding instrument.  Everyone will tell you to look for a guitar with good wood, here’s how to tell.

Very straight, tight grain pattern.  The grain should go straight up and down the guitar neck, straight up and down the top, and straight down the back.  It should be perfectly straight all around the sides.  The closer together the growth lines are the better.  Fine, desirable wood will have a grain pattern going perpendicular to the growth ring pattern.  It is referred to as tiger-stripe, fiddle-back, or bear-claw.   A knot or wave in the pattern is not good.  The grain pattern should be uniform.