Method of improving the acoustic characteristics of resonant wood for musical instruments, characterised in that during a limited period of treatment the resonant wood is exposed to the action of a type of fungus which decomposes wood, wherein the type of fungus and the period of treatment are chosen in such a way that by the treatment on the one hand an increase in the ratio of velocity of sound of the wood to bulk density of the wood is achieved and on the other hand strength values of the resonant wood do not fall below predetermined minimum values. The invention also relates to a resonant wood for musical instruments, with predetermined minimum strength values of the resonant wood, wherein treatment over a limited time by means of a type of fungus which decomposes wood treatment increases the ratio of velocity of sound of the wood to bulk density of the wood.