sound character of wood

[dani]

got this from an esp catalog. thought it may prove useful.

alder
highs: 6
mids: 7
lows: 6

mahogany
highs: 5
mids: 7
lows: 8

ash
highs:8
mids: 5
lows: 7

swamp ash
highs: 8
mids: 4
lows: 6

hard/soft maple
highs: 7
mids: 6
lows: 5

paduak
highs: 8
mids: 5
lows: 5

bubinga
highs: 6
mids: 7
lows: 9

walnut
highs: 7
mids: 8
lows: 6

koa
highs: 6
mids: 8
lows: 7

rosewood
highs: 5
mids: 8
lows: 6

ebony
highs: 7
mids: 7
lows: 6

basswood
highs: 6
mids: 6
lows: 5

 

[Neeradj]

Re: sound character of wood

I don't think it's that accurate, I believe Alder has less lows, or more highs than stated there. Also Mahogany has more mids and Basswood has less lows. That's from my experience anyway

 

[dani]

Re: sound character of wood

that's the reason why i said i took it from an esp catalog. everyone's ears are different therefore, these are just ballpark figures. feel free to amend the numbers to your liking.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: sound character of wood

I don't think that's accurate either. Alder can be either brighter or warmer than Swamp Ash...and vice versa. Depends on the individual pieces of wood.

People think alder is warmer than it really is because you so often see swamp ash bodies and a one piece maple neck (pre '59 Teles) ...whereas alder is often used in guitars with a maple neck but rosewood fingerboard, (SRV's '63 Strat).

Often, it's the rosewood fingerboard giving a Strat a warmer, more complex midrange...not just the alder body.

Lew

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: sound character of wood

cool info, and UNHOLY AVATAR

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: sound character of wood

when the density of the wood changes all the numbers you have there will change too. That is why you can have 100 different alder bodies that will sound different.