Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
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Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
I think if the wood is denser, the tone tends to be darker. Take a look at mahogany bodies. Mahogany darkens up a guitar, and is also heavy and dense whereas maple guitars are lighter, but also brighter.
I think if the wood is denser, the tone tends to be darker. Take a look at mahogany bodies. Mahogany darkens up a guitar, and is also heavy and dense whereas maple guitars are lighter, but also brighter.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
Then please explain why maple and ebony are so bright, as they´re MUCH denser than Mahogany. Dense does not necessarily mean heavy, btw. I´ve seen maple bodies that are lighter than mahogany like you say, but maple itself tends to be heavier than Mahogany
Unfortunately, there isn´t really a rule of thumb here, because too many other factors come into play, such as natural oils, how dry the wood is, which tree was it, etc
Then please explain why maple and ebony are so bright, as they´re MUCH denser than Mahogany. Dense does not necessarily mean heavy, btw. I´ve seen maple bodies that are lighter than mahogany like you say, but maple itself tends to be heavier than Mahogany
Unfortunately, there isn´t really a rule of thumb here, because too many other factors come into play, such as natural oils, how dry the wood is, which tree was it, etc
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
Zerberous is right on, Harder, less porous woods are known to be bright, and fast attack. maple, hard ash, ebony etc..
mahogany is porous which would mean LESS dense, and that's why it has a more mellow tone. The porous woods are said to have more of a smoother, softer tone. basswood is also porous.
Zerberous is right on, Harder, less porous woods are known to be bright, and fast attack. maple, hard ash, ebony etc..
mahogany is porous which would mean LESS dense, and that's why it has a more mellow tone. The porous woods are said to have more of a smoother, softer tone. basswood is also porous.
bryvincent
New member
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
denser does mean heavier at the same size. density is weight per volume
Zerberus said:
denser does mean heavier at the same size. density is weight per volume
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
Most of this discussion explains the reason why many guitar makers use either medium density wood for their bodies, like alder, ash, or poplar, while others tend to mate hardwood like maple with softer wood like mahogany. It usually boils down to finding a nice tonal balance. I'm just amazed that there's a lot of different woods out there, yet guitar builders tend to use only 5 or 6 types. I guess we've found which woods are the 'tone woods'. Another thing that gets me is how much difference there can be between two types of the SAME wood. What makes Honduran mahogany and Brazilian Rosewood so desireable? Crazy.
Most of this discussion explains the reason why many guitar makers use either medium density wood for their bodies, like alder, ash, or poplar, while others tend to mate hardwood like maple with softer wood like mahogany. It usually boils down to finding a nice tonal balance. I'm just amazed that there's a lot of different woods out there, yet guitar builders tend to use only 5 or 6 types. I guess we've found which woods are the 'tone woods'. Another thing that gets me is how much difference there can be between two types of the SAME wood. What makes Honduran mahogany and Brazilian Rosewood so desireable? Crazy.
beandip
Frito's Better Half
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
I'm with Zerb. When I think of "Dense" I dont think of a heavy piece of wood, I think of a closed, tight grained slab of lumber. Same as in roofing, pine is refered to as being "dense" because of its closed, tight grain, but it dosnt weigh alot.
I'm with Zerb. When I think of "Dense" I dont think of a heavy piece of wood, I think of a closed, tight grained slab of lumber. Same as in roofing, pine is refered to as being "dense" because of its closed, tight grain, but it dosnt weigh alot.
bryvincent
New member
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
okay i get it. you're using "dense" as an adjective to describe types of wood. kinda confusing when you're talking about being dense and weight at the same time :smack:
okay i get it. you're using "dense" as an adjective to describe types of wood. kinda confusing when you're talking about being dense and weight at the same time :smack:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
I always thought dense just meant stupid? LOL
I always thought dense just meant stupid? LOL
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
I've always wondered why more companies don't use zebrawood, lacewood, spalted maple and all the other beautiful woods as caps over mahogany? Seems like boutique guitar companies would do this more often.
I've always wondered why more companies don't use zebrawood, lacewood, spalted maple and all the other beautiful woods as caps over mahogany? Seems like boutique guitar companies would do this more often.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: Wood density to Tonal Characteristics?
Here's what I've learned from experience and from bugging luthiers over the years.
Heavier (ergo denser) woods tend to sound brighter and harder through the midrange than lighter, less dense woods. Basically, here's what happens:
A guitar string, when plucked, will ring out with a full complement of the frequencies it is capable of. Once plucked, the string then interacts with the guitar, and the wood and hardware of the guitar will allow some frequencies to resonate and will stop others from resonating, depending on what the guitar is built from.
So why do heavy guitars sound bright and light guitars sound warm?
-Denser woods 'sound brighter' because high frequencies resonate with greater ease than lower frequencies, which have trouble negotiating through the dense wood. As a result, guitars that use a lot of dense wood only really help high frequencies get through.
Contrastingly, lower frequencies are damped less by woods that are less dense, hence 'warmer' tone.
Of course, some willl ask 'what about Les Pauls?' -well, the answer there is that the maple top is offset with a very thick mahogany back and neck with a rosewood fingerboard. That helps even out the tonal spectrum. Don't forget that humbuckers and the shorter scale length help round out the tone, too. It's also worth noting that Les Pauls without Maple caps sound fatter, and that the best Les Pauls (standards from 58-60) were made from very light honduras mahogany.
Here's what I've learned from experience and from bugging luthiers over the years.
Heavier (ergo denser) woods tend to sound brighter and harder through the midrange than lighter, less dense woods. Basically, here's what happens:
A guitar string, when plucked, will ring out with a full complement of the frequencies it is capable of. Once plucked, the string then interacts with the guitar, and the wood and hardware of the guitar will allow some frequencies to resonate and will stop others from resonating, depending on what the guitar is built from.
So why do heavy guitars sound bright and light guitars sound warm?
-Denser woods 'sound brighter' because high frequencies resonate with greater ease than lower frequencies, which have trouble negotiating through the dense wood. As a result, guitars that use a lot of dense wood only really help high frequencies get through.
Contrastingly, lower frequencies are damped less by woods that are less dense, hence 'warmer' tone.
Of course, some willl ask 'what about Les Pauls?' -well, the answer there is that the maple top is offset with a very thick mahogany back and neck with a rosewood fingerboard. That helps even out the tonal spectrum. Don't forget that humbuckers and the shorter scale length help round out the tone, too. It's also worth noting that Les Pauls without Maple caps sound fatter, and that the best Les Pauls (standards from 58-60) were made from very light honduras mahogany.
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