Body shapes and tone

[FretFire]

Re: Body shapes and tone

Well, in a live band context, one could play a 2x4 with EMGs nailed to it for that matter.

And yes, I'm well aware of the various factors that determine the final sound aside from pickups and wood and scale. I'm saying that a V and a Les Paul (same wood and scale) do not sound alike, thus negating the notion that the reason for different body shapes has anything to do with cosmetics, but instead it is about how a given shape affects tone.

There are a ton of differences between a V and LP, as Edgecrusher pointed out. One has a maple cap, probably different fretboard woods, and neck thickness (which can have one of the largets effects IMO). Plus since we're talking amplified tone, the pickups are probably different too. We can agree to disagree

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

This is ridiculous. It's like saying the shape of the bread affects the taste of your sandwich.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Body shapes and tone

There's enough BS in this thread to fertilize a farm.

Who here has actual, real experience with this specific topic?

Not guessing, not making assumptions ... actual experience?

Unless you can remove ALL OTHER FACTORS from the equation, anything you post about what the differences would be is a guess. Most likely it's a guess based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever.

There is so much variability between two pieces of wood, even two pieces of the same species, that it's pretty much impossible to answer this definitively.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Body shapes and tone

There is so much variability between two pieces of wood, even two pieces of the same species, that it's pretty much impossible to answer this definitively.

+1

 

[FretFire]

Re: Body shapes and tone

Unless you can remove ALL OTHER FACTORS from the equation, anything you post about what the differences would be is a guess. Most likely it's a guess based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever.

There is so much variability between two pieces of wood, even two pieces of the same species, that it's pretty much impossible to answer this definitively.

Pretty much.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I think you would hear quite a bit of difference between a Strat style body and a Tele style body, even if they use the same bridge.

Play your Strat and put your chin on the upper horn. Feel how much it vibrates? That free-floating horn up there oscillating on it's own will have a major impact.

Also, I think that strengthening the neck pocket by lack of the upper cutaway will be a factor, and that is even if the neck pocket is loose.

A strat is very floppy in every respect. Just using a fixed bridge only removes one factor.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Body shapes and tone

:reporter:This is my Jake-caster. Ash body. Added a maple neck from my strat this week. Sounds exactly like a tele. Even with the wrong headstock.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Body shapes and tone

here's some maple.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Body shapes and tone

@tubecrunch: That's a very cool, unique-looking guitar.

Of course body shape affects tone... As previously stated, you couldn't even swap one piece of mahogany for another without affecting tone to some degree. The resonant frequency of any structure is determined in large part by its physical size. It's basic physics.

But shape is only one variable in the tone equation. Individual pieces of wood used in construction, pickups, strings, wiring, setting of any tone/vol/phase/split controls, amplifier eq and gain, and (perhaps most importantly) the player him/herself are all part of this dynamic tone generation system.

To the OP, sure you will get somewhat different tone if you change the body. But you are unlikely to succeed in predicting what that change will be. Best to just do the body swap and then tweak the other more easily modified variables to get the tone you want.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I do not believe in the thought that a jaguar shaped guitar and a telecaster shaped guitar are acoustically identical. The Jaguar has slightly more mass, that has to count for something.

 

[0v3nm4n]

Re: Body shapes and tone

well...tap tone does change when the materials thickness changes..but that's really in the realm of acoustic guitars


I think a hunk of wood on a SOLID body electric guitar means little next to nothing when it comes to shape.

Most people agree that the tone comes from the neck, and the body/ If anything the bodies impact on the instruments sound is like seasoning on a steak. So with that being said, no. Your body shape means nothing.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I think that the most noticeable difference is between single cutaway and double cutaway models, assuming everything else is equal.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I think the difference has more to do with the neck joint (bolt or set? Single cut or double cut) than the body shape. My V's sound quite a lot like my SG. My old Jr sounds compeltey different than the SG or the V's. I think it is because of the single cut and the fact that the neck has more contact with the body.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I think the difference has more to do with the neck joint (bolt or set? Single cut or double cut) than the body shape. My V's sound quite a lot like my SG. My old Jr sounds compeltey different than the SG or the V's. I think it is because of the single cut and the fact that the neck has more contact with the body.

Quoted because it took 2 pages, though Jeremy hinted at it. The neck joint is critical. Whether a bolt or set neck (neck through not as much) if the wood around the joint is thin and/or sculpted away, the neck is quivering more.

If everything is the same at the neck area (pretty much true between jazz master and Tele) then you're 99% the same. No difference should be noticed. Aside from that, the overall mass, and yes the shape do have an effect. It's about reflections, rigidity, and vibration transfer back to the neck (somewhat of a recoil) and bridge. Don't believe everything you see on the interwebz, especially some nut job thinking that touching his guitar to his house proves the body wood can't change the electric tone.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

There's enough BS in this thread to fertilize a farm.

Who here has actual, real experience with this specific topic?

Not guessing, not making assumptions ... actual experience?

Unless you can remove ALL OTHER FACTORS from the equation, anything you post about what the differences would be is a guess. Most likely it's a guess based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever.

There is so much variability between two pieces of wood, even two pieces of the same species, that it's pretty much impossible to answer this definitively.

I refer you all back to this post. I hear lots of assumptions and guesses but no empirical data or evidence.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Body shapes and tone

Aside from that, the overall mass, and yes the shape do have an effect. It's about reflections, rigidity, and vibration transfer back to the neck (somewhat of a recoil) and bridge.

I hadn't thought of it in those terms, but that makes sense. Vibrations move thru the wood, shape impacts how they travel.

I would think that neck bulk and shape also plays a part.

 

[AniML]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I refer you all back to this post. I hear lots of assumptions and guesses but no empirical data or evidence.

So are we assuming nothing contributes to tone unless and until it is scientifically proven?

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Body shapes and tone

I'm claiming I went empirically scientific all over your asses. My lesquire telepaul jr. Sounds exactly like a telecaster. It is assumption free proof. But seriously, Les Paul and Leo fender would be the first people to encourage you to do whatever you have to and make that guitar sound like you.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

So are we assuming nothing contributes to tone unless and until it is scientifically proven?

Some of the claims here are silly. For example, the upper horn shape and the "more wood contact" theory. On a bolt on neck, the only direct and secure contact is on the base of the neck in between where it is bolted to the body. Most Fender style guitars, even those with nicely fitted neck pockets still could slide a piece of paper or playing card into that gap. Therefore it doesn't matter if you have an entire tree of wood on the upper route, it's not going to affect the tone of a bolt on neck.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

I'm claiming I went empirically scientific all over your asses. My lesquire telepaul jr. Sounds exactly like a telecaster. It is assumption free proof. But seriously, Les Paul and Leo fender would be the first people to encourage you to do whatever you have to and make that guitar sound like you.

You're the lone exception. Notice how everyone just ignored your statement that your guitar sounds exactly like a Tele?