Body wood recommendations

[The New Guy]

Hey all, I am starting my first Warmoth project and I need some real world advise from you.

The knowns: Maple / maple strat style neck w/stainless frets.
two humbuckers,
fixed bridge of some sort.
soloist style body shape.


I am looking to make this guitar fairly versitile, I don't want it too dark sounding but want a good "punch" also I don't want an overly bright / brittle sound either. Just a good all around middle of the road sound.

I realize the maple / maple neck tends to add a bright quality to a guitar, what wood should I consider for the body?

Thanks for your help on this!

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Alder may be a good wood to consider. Both my guitars have alder bodies and I love them. Ash is another good one. Are you going to have a translucent or solid paint job? If it's going to be translucent, you'll want to get a nice looking wood, too.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Alder is much darker, and I find it great for riffing, but I think my maple guitars are more versatile.

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Jackson: Actually I was thinking of just leaving the wood raw and unfinished. I'm really not all that concerned with a "work of art" as far as looks are concerned, as a matter of fact I got this idea from a guitar that Jason Becker once used which was just all natural wood.

Hey Twilight, I always thought that an all maple body / neck would be REALLY bright, is this not so? also what makes alder good for riffing?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Hey Twilight, I always thought that an all maple body / neck would be REALLY bright, is this not so? also what makes alder good for riffing?

Not true ... I have 2 guitars that are 1 piece maple bodies with maple neck/fingerboard, and they don't sound overly bright at all. They do have buttloads of attack, tho, so if you're one of those guys that doesn't like to hear pick attack, then it's not the guitar for you!!

The alder has a huge midrange, and the bottom end of it is very soft, which gives is a really giant sound. Maple is very tight, and it sounds slightly smaller and more focused, at least to these ears.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Body wood recommendations

You should see my Peavy, then. I've got to post a pic. It's alder finished with only clear polyurethane and accented with all black hardware. Twilight's probably right (he usually is) about the alder. The reason it isn't as dark on my Jackson is the Floyd. That's something to consider, too.

 

[Sozos]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Just use Mahogany body with 1/4" maple top. It should be a good balance

 

[FretFire]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Jackson: Actually I was thinking of just leaving the wood raw and unfinished.

I might be wrong but I believe maple requires a hard finish of some sort.

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Body wood recommendations

The alder has a huge midrange, and the bottom end of it is very soft, which gives is a really giant sound.

Does this mean that it lacks articulation in the low end?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Body wood recommendations

Does this mean that it lacks articulation in the low end?

It can if you're not careful. I use very little low end for that very reason.