Zak Kiesel's Favorite Top Woods of 2024

10. Quilted Purple/Pink Solo

Looking at the instrument, we assume that the top wood is classified as a high-quality 4A, though I would not be surprised if it ends up being 5A. The quilted pattern gives off a unique look. Rather than the typical large pockets, the grain is tighter and smaller, resembling a cheetah pattern.

The Pink-to-Purple fade also lends itself very well to this particular quilted top. The lower half, finished in purple, accentuates the surrounding pockets of the grain, while the upper half, the pink, brings out the natural maple base, resulting in an effective contrast.

9. Zebrawood CT

Rather than getting the creamy hues accompanying a Zebrawood top, the designer opted for a translucent aqua finish, bringing out the wood's unique grain pattern while still having a blue guitar.

What draws me to this particular build is the simplicity of the top; not to say it's boring, but exactly the opposite. A lot of Zebrawood comes off as intense and busier, which gives it its differentiating and unique features from the other woods. This top goes against the grain and stands out in the sea of Zebrawood.

8. Buckeye Burl Aries

Buckeye's biggest draw is the exciting, unexpected placement of the dark, cream, and grey. This wood species is probably the best route if you want a natural top that almost guarantees a one-of-a-kind look.

This particular top breaks up the features into sectors, displaying the various aspects of Buckeye into identifiable areas. The bottom takes on a more traditional appearance, the upper middle exhibits a nice branching of brown enveloped by cream, and the upper horns have a nice, simplistic design. Note the juxtaposition in the headstock as well.

7. Spalted Maple DC

When searching for "Spalted Maple Kiesel Guitars," most examples are natural tops. This is by no means a bad look, but it seems very common.

This particular DC employs a Moss Green Cali Burst, mimicking a tree deep in the forest. Analyzing the top itself, a V-pattern starts at the bottom and works its way up so that the intense grain splits off to the sides with an open pocket in the middle.

6. Figured Walnut Holdsworth

I think extra-figured tops are among the best aesthetics for a Kiesel, and there is no shortage of them in The Custom Shop. This HH2 may not fall into that category, but it doesn't need to.

There is so much contrast between the "fla-quilt"-like pattern that it animates the top. In my eyes, the lighter wood acts as a base, while the darker grain appears to lie on top of it. Again, in my opinion, this 3D-esque look makes this Holdsworth one of the most unique walnut tops to pass through the factory.

5. Metal-Flake-Infused Buckeye Aries

I have to admit, I am partial to metal-flake infusions. My father, Jeff, developed them, and I see how much time goes into each one. While you can imagine the labor, I don't know how many people realize the process's full scope. Regardless, I am a big fan of metal-flake infusion.

There are a few types of infusions you can get. This particular one has Cosmic Flake, which ties Gold as my favorite of the bunch. While Gold would've looked cool, Cosmic gives a stark disparity rather than blending in. The center of the top, filled with flake, is completely isolated by the only substantial cream on this Buckeye.

Can you tell I'm a big fan of contrasting looks?

4. Flamed Maple K-Series

When you think of K-Series, the wildest woods in the Kiesel vault immediately come to mind. Highly figured Koa, unique Buckeye patterns, and Royal Ebony tops are just a few examples.

The K-Series pictured here has a Flamed Maple top that shows off deep grain and a "wing" pattern in the middle. Because of the nature of our sourced woods, no two tops, besides those from the same billet, will have the same "design." It's clear to see that this particular piece was chosen due to the unfettered grain, not conforming to the stereotypical horizontality of Flamed Maple.

3. Color-Stabilized DC

Regarding public engagement on social media, Color-Stabilized Tops are among the most eye-catching woods at the Custom Shop. This is partially due to its scarcity, exclusivity, and the way the color is seemingly ingrained into the wood.

Here, we have a dark purple with hints of green and natural Buckeye. We've seen purple/green/pink and teal/aqua roll through, but from what I can tell, this was the only one to roll through the Custom Shop in 2024, automatically giving it a place on this list.

Typically, they're not offered too often. You may catch one on a Pick Your Top live, but you can also contact a Custom Shop Expert to see if we have any for your next order!

2. Swamp Ash Vader

The number two pick may be a surprising one; a few people at Kiesel initially didn't understand it. However, I assure you that there is sound reasoning behind it.

Swamp Ash is one of the few tops that we don't grade. For many woods, we use a four-tier system that includes 4A, 5A, 7A, and K-Top. There isn't enough variation among Swamp Ash to charge more and justify a grading system. Here is one of the rare moments where this species displays a heightened, unique pattern.

Swamp Ash tops usually have a linear pattern, whether vertical, horizontal, or "squiggly." What drew me to this specific top is its relative unconventionality. The bottom features winding horizontal patterns that clash in the middle and take a vertical route. On the sides, a "wing" pattern flares towards the center of the guitar.

1. Crotch K-Series

In number one, we have a Flamed Crotch Top. K-Series guitars have Mastergrade tops by default, so it's no surprise that the model took the top spot. However, that's not to say that this top doesn't shine among the others.

With another pink-to-purple finish, the latter color darkens the curving flamed grain itself, while the former color highlights the base wood. Similar to the effects shown on the walnut Holdsworth ranked at #6, a 2D-to-3D image from top to bottom materializes, complementing all of the unique properties of the wood, from the crotching pattern to the deep veins of grain to the halcyonic maple foundation.