Re: Hard Ash Vs Swamp Ash - Tonal differences??
The trees are basically the same genetically. They just develop differently due to growing in different regions. Northern ash tends to grow denser (i.e. heavier), but there is wide variability in all kinds of ash. There can be heavy southern ash and light northern ash. It's a highly variable wood in terms of weight, IME.
I prefer lighter weight woods in general, because the guitars made from it are easier to handle.
As for a tonal difference, there might be one, but nobody ever has, or ever will, prove it beyond a doubt using the proper testing, objective analysis, and review that are needed to prove a theory. It'd be near impossible, due to the scope and the cost of such testing as would be required. Even coming up with a test procedure that would actually prove something would be difficult, given the enormous lack of consistency from one wood blank to the other. I've played good and bad sounding instruments of any kind of common guitar wood. Who knows what makes one sound good and the other sound bad. I don't bother with generalizing the characteristics of "tone wood" any more. If a guitar sounds good, then it sounds good. That's all I need to know. I go for woods based on looks and weight. And when I say looks, it doesn't necessarily mean figuring. I actually prefer more understated wood grain, like plain-top Les Pauls, sunbursts over alder, or a nice, straight mahogany grain.
