treyhaislip
Well-known member
What is your favorite wood for a guitar body and why?
1. Alder
2. Basswood
3. Poplar
4. Mahogany
5. Swamp Ash
6. Other
1. Alder
2. Basswood
3. Poplar
4. Mahogany
5. Swamp Ash
6. Other
Favorite Wood - Body
- Thread starter treyhaislip
- Start date
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
My favourite guitar body wood is Redwood. I would vote Rob Option but you have not included it.
My favourite guitar body wood is Redwood. I would vote Rob Option but you have not included it.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Sorry, there was a max of 10 options and I tried to think of the most common and left choice 6 as other...there are SO many different woods used for guitar bodies. I am interested in making a strat by ordering a Warmoth rosewood body because rosewood is my favorite wood for acoustic guitars--I love the tone and response of the wood.
Sorry, there was a max of 10 options and I tried to think of the most common and left choice 6 as other...there are SO many different woods used for guitar bodies. I am interested in making a strat by ordering a Warmoth rosewood body because rosewood is my favorite wood for acoustic guitars--I love the tone and response of the wood.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Haha! I would agree with you on that! The Gibson Les Paul I had was Mahogany and it sounded amazing...I went with Alder just because I feel it is a little more balanced in tone and sustain.
The nicest electric guitars I've played have either Alder or Mahogany bodies. I voted both . . .
Haha! I would agree with you on that! The Gibson Les Paul I had was Mahogany and it sounded amazing...I went with Alder just because I feel it is a little more balanced in tone and sustain.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
treyhaislip
Well-known member
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Haha! Me too--I thought Swamp Ash was highly soft after...but looks like Mahogany and Alder are the two favs...
Haha! Me too--I thought Swamp Ash was highly soft after...but looks like Mahogany and Alder are the two favs...
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I'm partial to mahogany in my guitars and ash in my basses.
I'm partial to mahogany in my guitars and ash in my basses.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I've even played some great sounding plywoods..... woot woot, I vote Mahogany because I think they sound best.
I've even played some great sounding plywoods..... woot woot, I vote Mahogany because I think they sound best.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Oak + Maple for me.
Oak + Maple for me.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I prefer the body to be made of wood, yes. That way you always know it weighs the same as a duck.
I prefer the body to be made of wood, yes. That way you always know it weighs the same as a duck.
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Depends on the type of guitar. I like alder, ash, mahogany, and korina.....generally.
Depends on the type of guitar. I like alder, ash, mahogany, and korina.....generally.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
The thing about swamp ash is its gotta be really really light, and ya just dont find pieces like that too much more. I just sold a Warmoth Swap ash Strat body that was 3 lbs 15 oz, and also has a lttle age on it cause I felt it was too heavy. Anyway, most of the new "Ash" guitars over 5 pounds are really junky furniture Ash. If you can't get a super light peice ofSwamp Ash, it isnt gonna sound much diefrent than Alder.
Maple can be a very good wood if its Soft Maple- I think they call it 'big leaf' or somthing like that, as found on higher end guitars ,and age help trmeendously t take the bright edge off Soft Maple. Traditonal Hard Maple and Oak are furniture woods and terrible choices for a guitar, although some people ilike the older Peavey T-series guitars- they are boat anchors and although the age has helped open up the sound some , they still sound pretty bad. Of all the "furniture woods" ( Hard Ash, Maple, Oak), I like American Black Walnut by far more than the others - its more balanced and expansive sounding, especially after it ages awhile- the old Walnut Gibsons sound very good- and thats more than I can say for the old maple Gibsons which just way to hard and bright.
Alder is a great choice for Strat. Very balanced, and the lighter the better, but a heavier body is'nt a deal breaker. Poplar is like Alder for the most part, a little harder sounding, but still sounds great after its aged awhile.
Honduran Mahogany is the best wood for a Les Paul. African Mahogany sounds closed and hard compared to Honduran, unfortuately, thats about all there is these days. That and new growth Honduran which is probably about the same as African Mahogany in in tone.Ive no experiecne with Limba (Korina),but Ive heard a Koa guitar, and its a premium tonewood- very like a Honduran Mahogany- its a richer sound than either new growth Honduran or African Mahogany .
Some people use Roseood for guitar bodies. Its too ehavy, and needs to be chambered, and I doubt it sounds that great, unless you are talking about Harisons old Brazillian Tele.
EDIT- I've thought about it, and I shouldnt discount Hard Ash ( or Oak, since I consider it about the same). Eddie Van halen cobbled together a certin guitar made of hard Ash ( which is the same tree as Swamp Ash, only higher up,( harder and i guess denser), above the water line. Eddies Frankie, well, with a great pickup known as the '78, just made history with its amazing sound. So for a higher ain Hot marsha;ll sound, with the right pickups, obviosuly hard Ash is worht a look.although I don't think Ed uses hard Ash any longer.
The thing about swamp ash is its gotta be really really light, and ya just dont find pieces like that too much more. I just sold a Warmoth Swap ash Strat body that was 3 lbs 15 oz, and also has a lttle age on it cause I felt it was too heavy. Anyway, most of the new "Ash" guitars over 5 pounds are really junky furniture Ash. If you can't get a super light peice ofSwamp Ash, it isnt gonna sound much diefrent than Alder.
Maple can be a very good wood if its Soft Maple- I think they call it 'big leaf' or somthing like that, as found on higher end guitars ,and age help trmeendously t take the bright edge off Soft Maple. Traditonal Hard Maple and Oak are furniture woods and terrible choices for a guitar, although some people ilike the older Peavey T-series guitars- they are boat anchors and although the age has helped open up the sound some , they still sound pretty bad. Of all the "furniture woods" ( Hard Ash, Maple, Oak), I like American Black Walnut by far more than the others - its more balanced and expansive sounding, especially after it ages awhile- the old Walnut Gibsons sound very good- and thats more than I can say for the old maple Gibsons which just way to hard and bright.
Alder is a great choice for Strat. Very balanced, and the lighter the better, but a heavier body is'nt a deal breaker. Poplar is like Alder for the most part, a little harder sounding, but still sounds great after its aged awhile.
Honduran Mahogany is the best wood for a Les Paul. African Mahogany sounds closed and hard compared to Honduran, unfortuately, thats about all there is these days. That and new growth Honduran which is probably about the same as African Mahogany in in tone.Ive no experiecne with Limba (Korina),but Ive heard a Koa guitar, and its a premium tonewood- very like a Honduran Mahogany- its a richer sound than either new growth Honduran or African Mahogany .
Some people use Roseood for guitar bodies. Its too ehavy, and needs to be chambered, and I doubt it sounds that great, unless you are talking about Harisons old Brazillian Tele.
EDIT- I've thought about it, and I shouldnt discount Hard Ash ( or Oak, since I consider it about the same). Eddie Van halen cobbled together a certin guitar made of hard Ash ( which is the same tree as Swamp Ash, only higher up,( harder and i guess denser), above the water line. Eddies Frankie, well, with a great pickup known as the '78, just made history with its amazing sound. So for a higher ain Hot marsha;ll sound, with the right pickups, obviosuly hard Ash is worht a look.although I don't think Ed uses hard Ash any longer.
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Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
My favorite guitar right now is swamp ash... and generally I think it is a good sounding wood. I think they all can sound good though so I don't really have a preference.
My favorite guitar right now is swamp ash... and generally I think it is a good sounding wood. I think they all can sound good though so I don't really have a preference.
