Got Wood?

[suaveymcsuave]

Anyhow, aside from the immature :banana: wood comment I do have a serious question concerning wood. I haven't really dealt much with Alder I've had more Mahogany and Basswood guitars. So you Alder lovers teach me a lesson or two about what makes Alder great as opposed to the latter two (not that there is anything wrong with the others, I'm just curious about Alder) and what pickups (HH) would go great with the aforementioned wood? I like it warm and chunky, albeit punchy. Thanks for your upcoming input...this forum is the best I've been to.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Got Wood?

I think a Custom Custom might be for you. It's got an A2 magnet, which is warmer than an A5 magnet. It's a bit hot, if that's your thing. I think a Pearly Gates in the neck would be a good match. If you're not into hot pickups, dual Pearly Gates might be for you.

 

[Osensei]

Re: Got Wood?

Well from what I understand from ppl who manufacture guitar bodies (Warmoth and such), alder is supposed to be extremely versatile. By that I mean that it's reportedly easy to play different styles of music. Jazz one night, Classic Rock the next and Death Metal the night after that. So if you need a good multi-purpose axe then alder is recommended by those who are "supposedly" in the know.

There is a tendency to use this particular wood in Strat type constructions. I personally haven't seen it used much in Les Pauls or hollow body types. My uneducated guess would be that since it is used for Stratish guitar bodies then it is probably on the bright side of the tone spectrum. I highly recommend contacting some of the builders to discuss the woods tone quality to be sure. They're glad to help.

If it turns out that the tone is on the bright side as I suspect then I would proceed as if I where selecting humbuckers for a strat. That would be to pick out pickups that aren't so bright on the treble side of the EQ. You can get this information from your pickup designers tone charts. Then make sure you use the right value pots for your tone knobs.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Got Wood?

Alder's just another flavor. Most of my guitars are mahogony, but I've got an alder ernie ball music man. I really like having a JB in there, though admittedly the JB is a love it or hate it pickup.

I find that alder is typically a tad bit brighter and more "open" sounding than mahogony, and doesn't have as much in the lower-mids department.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Got Wood?

Alder's just another flavor. Most of my guitars are mahogony, but I've got an alder ernie ball music man. I really like having a JB in there, though admittedly the JB is a love it or hate it pickup.

I find that alder is typically a tad bit brighter and more "open" sounding than mahogony, and doesn't have as much in the lower-mids department.

So...I would need to find a pup that has more bass and the mids that I might like to balance it out is that what you are implying? Also get certain tone pots to mellow out the highs if need be?

 

[Osensei]

Re: Got Wood?

For a thin alder body guitar similar to a strat, I would say darker pickups with 250k pots. A thicker body might change the tone somewhat to the darker side, but I can't say how much.

Neck and fretboard woods also have thier impacts. All maple necks are the brightest. Ebony fingerboards are bright as well. A maple neck w/ rosewood is more balanced on a bright guitar. To me that makes sense. But I've never used any of these combos. That's why I say ask some of the builders like the ppl at Warmoth or USA Guitar. A professional opinion can't hurt.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Got Wood?

Fenders first used swamp ash. Strats up through early 1957 were ash. Through the 60's they switched to alder. During the 70's it was back to ash, but this time it was heavy ash. During the 80's, there was a back lash against the brittler sounding, heavier, 70's guitars, and alder was reestablished.

Sonically, alder usually falls in between S ash and basswood. Alder usually isn't too bright or too dark, with smooth mids, so a wide variety of pickup flavors, and neck wood flavors will work with it.

Unlike basswood (that probably has fatter mids) alder doesn't sometimes get too fat, or possibly muddy, in the bass. Alder is also usually more articulate in the bass compared to mohogony.

Alder is fairly tough, and it doesn't dent or splinter easily compared to some other woods.

Alder produces a fairly light weight solid body guitar, and that's always a plus.

Despite the lighter weight, it usually doesn't sound too thin or lack sustain.

Factor in the facts, that alder is relatively cheap, and it's comparitively easy to finish, and it's great wood for solid body guitars.

 

[theodie]

Re: Got Wood?

Custom Custom gets my vote for warm and chunky.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Got Wood?

I'm beginning to believe that Alder is pretty versatile.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Got Wood?

Moving away from Alder for a moment (doesn't mean I'm done hearing about more opinions welcome) what about an all Maple body?

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Got Wood?

Maple Pros:

*Sustain for days...and days...and days...and days....
*Really, really pretty
*Fairly bright with a upper mids focus
*Tight articulate bass
*Fast pick attack

Cons:
*Bright with a upper mids focus: It can get ice picky.
*Fast (hard at times) pick attack
*Weighs a ton

 

[ronsws6]

Re: Got Wood?

Maple is the BRIGHTEST sounding wood I have ever come across. I love having a neck through for the sake of no heel, but maple neck through guitars are soooo bright that sound like grinder in my hands. SCREECH!

 

[2taall]

Re: Got Wood?

While we are on wood, how does everyone like poplar?