Favorite Wood - Body
- Thread starter treyhaislip
- Start date
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Because it was cheap. No other reason. He wasn't a guitar player, he was a guitar builder.
Because it was cheap. No other reason. He wasn't a guitar player, he was a guitar builder.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Thank you. A number of decisions made about guitars, even vintage ones, have nothing to do with tone quality. There's no reason to assume everything Leo and Ted did was based on a commandment from on high. Both made their share of bad calls too. Cost reduction, simplifying production, and competition were probably behind more decisions than anything else. They made business decisions based on what they had to work with at the time, and I'm sure there were plenty of compromises. Other things turned out right by accident.
Thank you. A number of decisions made about guitars, even vintage ones, have nothing to do with tone quality. There's no reason to assume everything Leo and Ted did was based on a commandment from on high. Both made their share of bad calls too. Cost reduction, simplifying production, and competition were probably behind more decisions than anything else. They made business decisions based on what they had to work with at the time, and I'm sure there were plenty of compromises. Other things turned out right by accident.
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Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
"African Rosewood"
not related to rosewood at all but hard wearing and close in tone. I prefer it... Probably because its more readily available to me.
"African Rosewood"
not related to rosewood at all but hard wearing and close in tone. I prefer it... Probably because its more readily available to me.
Justin Read
Member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I wouldn't have a clue what it sounds like BUT... Zebra wood is so beautiful
Here is a custom Ibanez with a sustainer that a recently found online with Blackouts.
I wouldn't have a clue what it sounds like BUT... Zebra wood is so beautiful
Here is a custom Ibanez with a sustainer that a recently found online with Blackouts.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Zebrawood is very pretty but I don't have any experience with it either. I saw a zebra wood fretboard and it was beautiful--just don't know how it sounds.
Zebrawood is very pretty but I don't have any experience with it either. I saw a zebra wood fretboard and it was beautiful--just don't know how it sounds.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I'm a Swamp Ash convert, but not heavy ash. I think I may actually hate heavy ash. Ironic isn't it?
I'm a Swamp Ash convert, but not heavy ash. I think I may actually hate heavy ash. Ironic isn't it?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I had one swamp ash tele and wish I hadn't sold it. I've never played a "heavy ash"...all of the ash guitars I've played have been light...
I had one swamp ash tele and wish I hadn't sold it. I've never played a "heavy ash"...all of the ash guitars I've played have been light...
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Well I like it for base ball bats.
Heavy ash and swamp ash are totally different tone wise.
Well I like it for base ball bats.
Heavy ash and swamp ash are totally different tone wise.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
ridiculous about the comment about Leo Fender chooising ALder casuie it was cheap and nothing more. Nothing could be further form the truth. He selected high grade old growth choice premium Alder wood, not like the junk they use today. Leo chose it cause his master luthiers realized it was the perfect tonewood for a Strat. STOP denigrating The Master Leo Fender! You have no idea what you are talking about!!
ridiculous about the comment about Leo Fender chooising ALder casuie it was cheap and nothing more. Nothing could be further form the truth. He selected high grade old growth choice premium Alder wood, not like the junk they use today. Leo chose it cause his master luthiers realized it was the perfect tonewood for a Strat. STOP denigrating The Master Leo Fender! You have no idea what you are talking about!!
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Nothing beats the tone of some really good Chinese grade mdf,.
A vote for plywood is a vote for awesome.
Nothing beats the tone of some really good Chinese grade mdf,
.A vote for plywood is a vote for awesome.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
vinta9e
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
Alder. That's because when I'm given a multiple choice, I have a subconscious tendency to gravitate towards the average.
I just like alder's tonal and dynamic balance. It can work very well for different tones, instruments and circumstances. Strat, tele, pointy, bolt-on, neck-through, floyd, tremolo, hardtail, guitar, baritone or bass, standard or low tuning. From bright and cutting tones, to dark and growling, crystal clean to hairy, crunchy to over the top gain. Sparkly funk to crushing death metal.
It's almost as if it were hard to make bad sounding instrument out of this wood. One note though - I don't fancy featherweight alder or basswood bodies. To my ears, they tend to lose tightness and projection below certain density.
Mine have always been floyded, so not really anything close to an orthodox stratocaster.
Of course, that's not to say that I don't love basswood, ash, maple, walnut or mahogany. I do but for different reasons.
Alder. That's because when I'm given a multiple choice, I have a subconscious tendency to gravitate towards the average.
I just like alder's tonal and dynamic balance. It can work very well for different tones, instruments and circumstances. Strat, tele, pointy, bolt-on, neck-through, floyd, tremolo, hardtail, guitar, baritone or bass, standard or low tuning. From bright and cutting tones, to dark and growling, crystal clean to hairy, crunchy to over the top gain. Sparkly funk to crushing death metal.
It's almost as if it were hard to make bad sounding instrument out of this wood. One note though - I don't fancy featherweight alder or basswood bodies. To my ears, they tend to lose tightness and projection below certain density.
Mine have always been floyded, so not really anything close to an orthodox stratocaster.
Of course, that's not to say that I don't love basswood, ash, maple, walnut or mahogany. I do but for different reasons.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I voted Swamp ash. Real swamp Ash is a simply fantastic tone wood that is super light resonate and sings like crazy. However most ash you see is not true swamp ash but hard northern ash that is HEAVY and harsh.
Real swap Ash if you can find it is the BOMB!
I voted Swamp ash. Real swamp Ash is a simply fantastic tone wood that is super light resonate and sings like crazy. However most ash you see is not true swamp ash but hard northern ash that is HEAVY and harsh.
Real swap Ash if you can find it is the BOMB!
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I'm surprised to see the amount of alder love here.
I chose alder. Everybody has their own tastes, but my favorite Fender guitars have always had alder bodies and maple/rosewood necks. I've tried the swamp ash body and maple neck thing and hated it and all maple necks never seemed to give me anything, but a snap to the tone. I always thought that using alder on guitars was going to be dull and the high end was going to suffer, but after playing and owning enough stuff, alder is the perfect body wood. The balance of the tone makes it work so well in a variety of applications.
I'm with the folks that have mentioned that mahogany really needs a maple cap to add in that brightness. By itself, I've found it to be dark and muddy when used in thicker applications (aka Les Paul) and a bit more balanced when using a thinner body like an SG. I did own an Explorer at one time that was surprisingly clear for an all mahogany guitar, but that seemed to be the exception more than the rule (guitars like the G&L Skyhawk I've had were kinda dull sounding).
I'm surprised to see the amount of alder love here.
I chose alder. Everybody has their own tastes, but my favorite Fender guitars have always had alder bodies and maple/rosewood necks. I've tried the swamp ash body and maple neck thing and hated it and all maple necks never seemed to give me anything, but a snap to the tone. I always thought that using alder on guitars was going to be dull and the high end was going to suffer, but after playing and owning enough stuff, alder is the perfect body wood. The balance of the tone makes it work so well in a variety of applications.
I'm with the folks that have mentioned that mahogany really needs a maple cap to add in that brightness. By itself, I've found it to be dark and muddy when used in thicker applications (aka Les Paul) and a bit more balanced when using a thinner body like an SG. I did own an Explorer at one time that was surprisingly clear for an all mahogany guitar, but that seemed to be the exception more than the rule (guitars like the G&L Skyhawk I've had were kinda dull sounding).
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
I dont have a favourite body wood. I have played guitars made of all sorts of materials (including one made of laminated hockey sticks) that have been incredible.
I dont have a favourite body wood. I have played guitars made of all sorts of materials (including one made of laminated hockey sticks) that have been incredible.
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Favorite Wood - Body
The best sounding guitars I have ever used had basswood bodies with maple tops.
The best sounding guitars I have ever used had basswood bodies with maple tops.
