wood for single coils

[nepalnt21]

what kind of wood do u prefer for a single coil guitar and why?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: wood for single coils

5 ply maple with a mahogany center block, hollow wings, and a pair of P-90's.

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: wood for single coils

o gee that helps narrow it down to 2, thanks, lol

 

[Sprinter]

Re: wood for single coils

I voted for alder, but my personal preference is mahogany.


Sprinter

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: wood for single coils

do u use mahogany with single coils?(if u do what does it sound like?)

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: wood for single coils

o gee that helps narrow it down to 2, thanks, lol

You asked. :burnout:

 

[big_black]

Re: wood for single coils

I think it depends on what kind of single coils you are talking about, P-90s or Fender style. I think both alder and swamp ash do well with Fender singles. I have never played an alder guitar with P-90s, but I've got a swamp ash and it's killer. Alder is a good mid-range wood, swamp ash is bright, and mahogany is warm and dark. Mahogany does very well with P-90s as well (of course). What kind of singles are you looking at?

Here's a good reference, the old standby:

Body wood:http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm

Neck wood:http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/necks.cfm?fuseaction=guitar_neckwoods

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: wood for single coils

I always liked the "pop" that swamp ash gives single coils. However, I'm really digging mahogany with single coils. It adds a bit of warmth to the tone and the maple neck that's on it adds to the bite and typical characteristics of fender singles.

As far as p90s, nothing beats good 'ole mahogany.

 

[Biu]

Re: wood for single coils

do u use mahogany with single coils?(if u do what does it sound like?)

I do. It adds to the richness of the tone. So divine! But you have to make sure the single-coils you use are fairly bright, so it doesn't muddy up.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: wood for single coils

alder

fender has been doin it for years, and it STILL meets today's standards

 

[B2D]

Re: wood for single coils

I prefer alder... it just seems like it's such a well-rounded wood that it will work with anything. However Fender's new Lite Ash Strat is loaded with Duncan Alnico II singles and sounds GREAT! It's a pretty close draw but I'd pick alder.

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: wood for single coils

I think it depends on what kind of single coils you are talking about, P-90s or Fender style. What kind of singles are you looking at?

i'm talking about fender strat style single coils

 

[MattPete]

Re: wood for single coils

I have a swamp ash Warmoth strat and an alder Kramer Pacer. The swamp ash strat has some cool sounds that I really enjoy, but if I had to have just one single coil strat, it would be made out of alder.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: wood for single coils

Don't forget about basswood. A lot of people look down on it, but if it's good enough for Tom Anderson... :burnout:

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: wood for single coils

Don't forget about basswood. A lot of people look down on it, but if it's good enough for Tom Anderson... :burnout:

Basswood is great, but not as a stand-alone wood. Anderson and other boutique guitar companies use it for it's bass and lower end presence while using a top like maple to add brightness and top-end to the mix.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: wood for single coils

I prefer alder... it just seems like it's such a well-rounded wood that it will work with anything. However Fender's new Lite Ash Strat is loaded with Duncan Alnico II singles and sounds GREAT! It's a pretty close draw but I'd pick alder.

I found that guitar to be painfully bright and icepicky. Almost unusable tone, but I didn't give it that much of a chance either, I might try it again.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: wood for single coils

Basswood is great, but not as a stand-alone wood. Anderson and other boutique guitar companies use it for it's bass and lower end presence while using a top like maple to add brightness and top-end to the mix.

not necessarily, i have an all basswood guitar (asian basswood, which is a lot better) and it sounds great. Then again i got a '59 in it, which is a pretty bright pickup

 

[B2D]

Re: wood for single coils

I found that guitar to be painfully bright and icepicky. Almost unusable tone, but I didn't give it that much of a chance either, I might try it again.

I used it with a freshly retubed Bassman RI... that might've had something to do with it. I found it to be a very balanced guitar overall that smoothed up with overdrive.

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: wood for single coils

bump

 

[Sprinter]

Re: wood for single coils

do u use mahogany with single coils?(if u do what does it sound like?)

Awesome! That's the best way to describe a G&L single coil pickup matched up with a mahogany body. G&L's, MFD single coil pickups are the only single coil pickups I like, or will use.

Sprinter