Body wood combinations

[Benjy_26]

Hey all

I have been thinking about ordering a body to go with an old Jackson strathead neck with a maple fingerboard. In the past couple of months, I went from thinking I wanted a strat to a tele, then to a fat tele, but now I have decided that I will build a thinline tele with a Hipshot hartail bridge and a pair of Duncan Firebird style mini humbuckers. Now I can't decide what woods to have the body built from. Should I go with ash? Alder? Mahogany? One of these woods with a maple or walnut cap? Something I'm not thinking of? I will mostly play blues, rock, and pretend to play jazz with this thing. Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments. :burnout:

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Body wood combinations

mahogany with either for a cap sounds nice to me with some antiquity firebird pickups.

 

[Curly]

Re: Body wood combinations

mahogany sounds great to me with that combo

you're probably talking about using the hardtail bridge ... I like the Hipshot Baby Grand bridge for a little different look, although I haven't used one

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Body wood combinations

THanks for the replies guys! I appreciate it.

So mahogany would be best, huh? :smoker:

Do you think that the maple or walnut top (1/4") would have a significant impact on the sound of the instrument?

Which finish would you guys choose for a mahogany back and a walnut top? Probably some kind of transparent finish for the back, right?

I want to use this bridge.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges...non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html

I like the way the Baby Grand looks and I like the idea behind it (kinda like Epi's old Frequensator tailpieces), but my neck isn't angled for use with stud type bridges. I'm stuck with either using tele or strat style bridges/tailpieces and since I plan on using a minihumbucker at the bridge, the Hipshot seems like a good choice.

 

[Curly]

Re: Body wood combinations

Benjy,
I'm sure the hardtail is fine, but you could also use a stop tailpiece, like Seymour does:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Body wood combinations

How do you get a proper neck angle in a tele when using a tuno-o-matic? That bridge setup would rock. It would make it much more familiar for me to play (I've been spending a lot of time with the LP.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Body wood combinations

Hi Benjy -

I've heard nothing but good things about that Hipshot strat bridge and want to try one myself.

Does the maple fingerboard have much figure in the wood? If it does, a walnut top finished with TruOil or Tung Oil plus black binding might look really cool. Just an idea.

Forgive me for asking what's probably a stupid question, but do you know that the neck heel of a strat is shaped differently from the heel of a tele? Is the heel of the Jackson neck identical to a Fender Strat? I'm only asking 'coz the fit of the neck into the neck pocket is critical for getting good tone.

Depending on who you order a body from, it may not be a problem to get a Strat neck pocket cut in a Tele-style body. Just be aware of the difference

Chip

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Body wood combinations

if you have someone like warmoth make the body, they have a way to angle the neck pocket for a tune o matic style bridge and tail piece. I am sure usa custom would be able to do the same thing. also i would suggest sending the neck to whomever makes the body as they can accurately fit the neck to the body for a better sounding and playing guitar.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Body wood combinations

Yeah, the Jackson neck is exactly the same as a strat at the heel. I already contacted Warmoth and they said that making a tele body with a rout for a strat nekc is not a problem. As far as figuring on the neck, it's very slight. it has a really nice tint to it, though, since it was made in the 80's and has a real nitro lacquer finish on it.

I might end up sending Warmoth my neck like you suggested too, just to be sure the pocket and angle come out perfect.


How about a Schaller tune-o-matic with rolling saddles and a B5 Bigsby? :32:


So many choices. :burnout:

 

[Blueline]

Re: Body wood combinations

if you insist on using a tune-o-matic bridge with a tele you ahve 2 options
1) neck angle of about 2-3 degrees
or 2) recess the bridge into the guitar to relief the need for the neck angle
btw - i dont' mean to be glib, but i dont' think warmoht will let you send them your neck - i dont' think they're that kind of a place

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Body wood combinations

if you insist on using a tune-o-matic bridge with a tele you ahve 2 options
1) neck angle of about 2-3 degrees
or 2) recess the bridge into the guitar to relief the need for the neck angle
btw - i dont' mean to be glib, but i dont' think warmoht will let you send them your neck - i dont' think they're that kind of a place

:33:

I see. I was aware of the angle of the neck (like in LP's and 335's, right? ), that's why I thought of the Hipshot Hardtail bridge for this project. I played a recessed tune-o-matic on a Peavey Fierenza and didn't like it, so that option is out.

You may be right about Warmoth. I'll give them a call and ask about this aspect of their operation.