Is Ash brighter sounding than Alder

[51501984]

I`ve got a ash bodied Strat and a alder bodied Strat . The ash bodied is natural with a clear finish and the alder bodied is the Highway 1 satin type finish , both have maple necks. The ash bodied with a Blues Trembucker sounds brighter than alder bodied with a 59b. They were played under medium gain with the same rig with the settings the same on the amp(Trademark 10 and 2x12 cab with Celestion Greenbacks). I was thinking the 59 would have sounded brighter than the Blues Trembucker but it was the other way around. Which leads to my question , is brighter sounding than alder?

 

[big_black]

Re: Is Ash brighter sounding than Alder

My experience with swamp ash (don't know if yours is) is that it had pronounced highs and lows with suppressed mids...alder is mid range to upper-mid range. Most people say swamp ash is brighter, which it is, but acoustically there is also a bunch of low end. Maybe it's not as noticeable.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Is Ash brighter sounding than Alder

Generally speaking, Ash has much highs& lows, but not so much mids, while Alder seems to be more balanced (though a bit more middy)... Swamp Ash is a bit more tamed than Northern Hard Ash or how it's called...

 

[tone?]

Re: Is Ash brighter sounding than Alder

which do you think is better sounding for early Van Halen?

i saw your avatar and figured you are a VH fan

 

[taphappy]

Re: Is Ash brighter sounding than Alder

Vh1 is brighter than the rest of the albums (partly due to the mixing) so ash is the best choice.