Plain maple top

[Open lane]

Hey guys, i'm looking into custom building a solid body/ solid color tele style guitar. I noticed an option for a plain maple top. With the solid color paint, however, it looks identical cosmetically. In general opinion are there any tonal or egonomic advantages to adding a plain maple top to the design or would it be recomended that i just keep the whole body as swamp ash?


Any insight would be appreciated!
Ty!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Plain maple top

Well, a maple top might add some snap to the sound, but swamp ash is plenty snappy, so if it is more expensive with the maple top, I don't know if I'd spring for it. As far as an ergonomic advantage, some swamp ash is very light (I have a chambered swamp ash body that is 3.5lbs). and maple is denser and can help the balance of the body and the neck (only if the maple is a thicker piece).

 

[Open lane]

Re: Plain maple top

Thanks for the info, man. Based on that, i think i'm gonna skip the maple top and spring on the matching headstock instead. Ty for the info, brother!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Plain maple top

My Les Paul in my signature is chambered swamp ash
The grain is awesome

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Plain maple top

I've got several guitars that I made from the same board of swamp ash. They are all very warm and full sounding. Some ash can be bright, but be careful making that a universal statement.

For a Tele, I'd go for the maple cap to make sure you've got a good snap to your tone...like a Tele should have.