Designing A Metal Guitar.....

[darkshadow54321]

What would be the best woods for a metal guitar?

It would be tuned one step down and would be used for shredding and general metally things. Not sure about the pickups yet, but that's for another thread...

It has to have an ebony fretboard... But what about the neck and body woods? Maple neck seems to be used a lot, and what about a korina body?

Thankees. :saeek:

 

[casblah]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

Mahogany is a good starting point. Affordable, as well. You'll pay out the a$$ for a Korina body.

 

[Warheart]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

I'd say an Alder body, with a maple neck. That with an ebony fretboard should give you plenty of bite and attack.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

Anything really.

Plenty of metal guys use everything from mahogany to alder. Pick the one with the shape you like and buy it.

Personally, I like alder w/maple neck for detuned guitars, as it adds some brightness and snap to the detuned sound. I tried detuning my LP once and it sounded kinda muddy.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

El Shameless Bumpo

 

[philthis]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

alder with maple neck will give you a lot of bite and sizzleing gain on notes. it can be very bright so be carefull. I still really like it with a vintage humbucker, like a 59 or pearly gates. if you use a lot of gain it will sing on top of every note on a bend or harmonic. Cleans really sparkle but can sound brittle with too much treble so be carefull. Personally If you have half a brain you can manage and really exploit this wood combo to give your self some great crunchy tone, think early Van Halen, Dokken. :beerchug:

 

[philthis]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

ash with maple neck and floyd Rose tremolo is the king of bite, your leads will be searing but again this will be bright, if you know how to manage it you can get some fantastic tone with a high gain amp or crystal clean fender type vibroto stuff with the floyd :beerchug:

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

Hmm..... I think the alder, maple and ebony combo may be a bit too bright. I'd rather be on the safe side I think... what could I use instead of maple for the neck wood? Or alternatively, whatn is slightly darker than alder?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

Hmm..... I think the alder, maple and ebony combo may be a bit too bright. I'd rather be on the safe side I think... what could I use instead of maple for the neck wood? Or alternatively, whatn is slightly darker than alder?

Why not ditch the ebony fretboard for a rosewood one?

Or do a basswood body with a maple neck and ebony fretboard.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Designing A Metal Guitar.....

Why not ditch the ebony fretboard for a rosewood one?

Or do a basswood body with a maple neck and ebony fretboard.

I really like the ebony fretboard look.... so it's a keeper