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Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

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  • #1

    Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

    I have always had the idea of getting a strat in my head, but id probably prefer something a little darker than an alder guitar. And i think i remember something about ash strats being made...is this correct?

    So is the ash more of a heavy darker sounding wood? I was thinking of getting a fat strat to hot up in the bridge and put some nice stratty singles in the neck and middle...one day anyway...ill add it to the long list
    My Soundclick page.
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  • #2
    Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

    Cos i definitely want a strat, but i probably wouldnt use the bridge single much and i could make it into a good all round guitar with a good fat bucker in the bridge and something like custom staggered's or flats in the middle and neck.

    Just thinking out loud.
    My Soundclick page.

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    • #3
      Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

      Ash strats are usually brighter and snappier than Alder. Alder is a warmer, more mid-rangy type wood. I prefer the look of Ash, but all things considered I probably prefer the tone of Alder. That doesn't mean I don't still want an Ash strat though.......
      My Sound Clips

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      • #4
        Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

        If you want a dark strat, get an alder fat strat with a rosewood neck. That's about as dark as you are gonna get with a strat unless you decide to get a Tom DeLonge strat with the invader in the bridge. The invader can be dark in certain guitars I think.

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        • #5
          Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

          If you want a darker wood than alder you should consider basswood and then mahogany. They're not the typical strat woods, but you can get them custom made. Basswood isn't what I'd call dark, more the middle while alder is on the brighter side.

          Another thing that makes strats bright are the maple neck and the bridge design, especially if you have steel or brass bridge saddles. You might be able to tone an alder strat down with saddle and nut replacements. You _definitely_ don't want to buy an ash strat, as they're even more bright and poppy than alder. I can see what you're saying, but IMHO, the strat is best at being a strat - if they're too bright you might be better served just buying an Ibanez or some other strat like guitar that happens to have a mahogany or basswood body.

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          • #6
            Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

            Didn't Eddie Van Halen use ash wood on his early homemade guitars, they definately weren't alder..

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            • #7
              Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

              Ed Van Halen's first frankenstein guitar had an ash body. Probably northern, heavy ash, as that was the fashionable wood at the time.

              Northern ash is heavy, and has a brash upper midrange with harsh treble. I don't recommend it.

              Swamp ash is light, and has a more balanced, musical tone. Still quite bright, though, and the midrange isn't as smooth as other woods. Good tonewood, but perhaps not for what you want.

              I recommend alder for your needs. Smoother through the midrange, with less top end. If you need more bottom end than alder, try basswood. Fender make quite a few guitars with basswood bodies. If you need an even darker tone, go for mahogany.
              Originally posted by Jolly
              ...but then again, I'm so deaf I can't even hear myself fart.

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              • #8
                Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

                Ash is bright and percussive(snappy)sounding with great note articulation...It's not noted for being a dark wood though..Alder is warmer but still not a darker sounding wood like mahagony would be..Basswood is pretty close to alder...Called Japanese Alder because it's so plentiful in Japan I guess?

                John
                Amps: 66 Fender BF Pro Reverb Combo,1973 50 Watt Marshall Head,Marshall 4x12 A/V Cab,Vox ToneLab LE,Vox VTH Valvetronix 120 Head,Vox AD 2x12 Cab,Roland Cube 20X

                Guitars: Several Stratocasters,2 Fender Telecasters,Gibson SG Standard,Tokai Love Rock Les Paul,Dean Acoustic.

                Pickups: SD SSL2,SSL5,Twangbanger,Antiquity Surfers,59N,Seth Lover N/B,Dimarzio Fred,Dimarzio VPAF N,Fender Fat 50s,Fralin SP43 Bridge,Brobucker,Antiquity Texas Hot.

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                • #9
                  Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

                  you can get darker sounding woods at warmoth.com
                  mohogany, korina, and red oak are cool. cedar is pretty low-endy, but t turns to mud easy.
                  :firing: :soapbox: :rocket: :omg:
                  Its the way things are, kill the ones w/ the ideas.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

                    It's not exactly a Strat, but the Brian Moore i9p is one sweet axe. Lots of innovative design features, and the maple cap/mahogany body is warmer than an alder strat would be. (no point in echoing the comments on ash bodies... )

                    Just a thought - and there are less expensive models -

                    Chip
                    Heritage 535 Special, Warmoth frankenstrat, MIM Strat, & Taylor 314C(no E)
                    Amp Builds: Tweed Princeton (5F2-A) variation, 2 BF Princeton Reverb clones, & Super Reverb clone
                    Sometimes use a Blues Jr., Tech 21 Trademark 10 & Power Engine 60
                    SPG modded DS-1, TS-7 & CryBaby; Visual Sounds Rte. 66 & H2O; Guyatone Tremolo
                    SD pickups: SSL-2, APS-2, tapped Quarter Pound, Custom 5 & Antiquity humbuckers

                    "Conan! What are the best things in life?"
                    "Girls, guitars, guns and cars!"

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                    • #11
                      Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

                      Damn those brian moore guitars are sexy things!
                      My Soundclick page.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Do the ash strats sound nice and fat and dark compared to alder ones?

                        Why want a dark sounding Strat??
                        Then the whole idea of one is gone.

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