Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

personally, I like all maple necks with ash, and either type neck with alder.

with ash, I like alnico 2, 3, or slightly degaussed alnico 5 bridge pickups in order to knock a little of the treble edge off, and alnico 3 or 5 neck pickups

with an alder tele, I'd prefer alnico 5 pickups, or an alnico 2 with bite like the JD. I have an MIA Fender (alder body/ rosewood fretboard) with a Broadcaster/ vintage rhythm set, and that works very well in that guitar. I think that guitar also has the stock value cap, .02.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

I've never played an ash Tele, I'm quite fond of the alder body on my MIM though. The guitar is bright, but without having a harsh high end. Would an Ash tele be brighter, or warmer than an alder body?
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

I have never played swamp ash yet. I hear it is different than regular ash, as it suppose to be lighter in weight.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Hey guys. Hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna bumpy this one.
Would really appreciate a few more comments & the top is the spot.
Thank you.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

I think ash just plain old looks cool!

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Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

I think ash just plain old looks cool!

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IMG_0846.jpg

Beautiful millkbone, gorgeous color. Care to elaborate on the tonal qualaities of the maple neck with the ash body. Is that hard ash or swamp? Thanks.

Peace.

Darrin
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Thanks Bro! Well,, I hate to say this but I really don't have enough time on this one to give you a good honest opinion. I picked this up when I was going through my Tele stage. All I can tell you is it is classic Tele. Spanky but with a nice, full ringing body tone. I did email ESP and they said S. Ash. Here's here sister:

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Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Good ash is lighter than alder and hard to get. Alder is always the safe bet tonewise. I wouldn't buy ash as a body wood unless you've played with it and are sure you want it.

Ash is truly a phenomenal looking wood. Fender issued some strats with an ash veneer on the front and back. My dream stratocaster has an ash veneer and a set neck. I don't think such a beast was ever issued.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Good ash is lighter than alder and hard to get. Alder is always the safe bet tonewise. I wouldn't buy ash as a body wood unless you've played with it and are sure you want it.

Ash is truly a phenomenal looking wood. Fender issued some strats with an ash veneer on the front and back. My dream stratocaster has an ash veneer and a set neck. I don't think such a beast was ever issued.

Never hurts to dream, though. Pehaps you could custom order you perfect "beast". Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Hard to say....I like the tone of ash a bit better but that alder wood is nice and light! :approve:

Took me a few tries to get the right pickups in my Ash Tele. But it sounds great... Probably better than two of my three Strats.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Thanks Bro! Well,, I hate to say this but I really don't have enough time on this one to give you a good honest opinion. I picked this up when I was going through my Tele stage. All I can tell you is it is classic Tele. Spanky but with a nice, full ringing body tone. I did email ESP and they said S. Ash. Here's here sister:

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IMG_0836.jpg

That is absolutely stunning
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Northern Ash is heavy. I think Swamp ash is lighter.

Nobody uses northern ash in an American made guitar - if anybody does it's on those Korean junk jobs that I doubt the OP is even considering.

Not all swamp ash is created equal. If it hasn't soaked long enough it will give you harsh high end.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Here's my Swamp Ash Tele build. Light too. 6lbs even.
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

I'm giving this a bump also. I'm interested in getting a tele build started and I'd like to know what's the best wood choice for teles with alder. Alder w/Maple or Alder w/Rosewood?
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

A piece of good ash is hard to find!

A great piece of ash is always a keeper.





We're talking about guitar body wood, guys....
 
Re: Tele wood. Alder Vs. Swamp Ash w/Maple neck

Alder w/Maple or Alder w/Rosewood?

The only great rosewood is Brazillian rosewood, which is really hard to obtain and REALLY expensive, unless you are just using it for a fingerboard. As the wood hasn't been legally exported from Brazil for a quarter century, I'm not sure how it still shows up. Another great exotic topwood is claro walnut.

You can always have alder with an ash top. I don't think many offer the veneer I mentioned.

Ed Roman Guitars says that Pao Ferro, a Brazillian rosewood substitute, which is sometimes marketed and priced as God's gift to mankind, is no such thing. It's good, but not great.
 
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