The wood configuration, particularly when it comes to the body of the guitar, isn’t as vital for electric guitars. Its timbre is a bit more of a fundamental tone with fewer overtones than the more traditional body woods. Richlite is more expensive to produce, but the results are much superior than any organic wood. Since Leo Fender first used them in the 1950’s, Alder and Ash have become the most popular tonewoods for construction of solid-body bolt-on guitars. We did ash versus alder to hear the differences. Alder is tiny bit more rounder and smoother. The resonance is dark and complex, and there are rich overtones you can’t find in other woods. There are some warmth and tons of brightness. Ash is another wood type favored by Fender besides Alder. However, the price is often worth it. Fender Thinline Telecaster Vs. I took my 1980 Strat and swapped out the old and very heavy ash body for a Warmoth alder body. However, it’s much easier to finish and highly durable. Hard maple is tough on factory equipment though, which makes it commonly only used for slim guitars. However, maple offers better sustainability. Two of the most common materials used are alder and ash. On Alder, the grain is closed, making it a good candidate for amateurs and budding luthiers. This means you won’t find any deep, breathy sub-low tones. It also tends to stain easily in the natural growing habitat, so the color of the wood can become unsightly. A maple fretboard comes with a tremendous amount of high overtones. It’s very warm. The color is distinctive. The process works much the same way as if you played the guitar in a small room, then in a large room. He's also got an unhealthy obsession with vintage VW Campervans. Ebony boards are rare in machine-made guitars. Basswood/Maple produces a very rich, full sound with great low, middle and high end. The result is an overall better tone with sustain. The traditional wood used for Fender necks, maple is ideal because it’s strong, hard, and dense. It is often considered as the other "traditional" Stratocaster body wood. The reason for such is because different materials, like the variety of woods used to make the guitar body, will give away different sound or tone qualities. Does it make any difference to the sound? However, swamp ash is more difficult to find than alder or new ash. The scooped middle frequencies are bright and balanced, and the sound has more balance at the top. Since owning the original '60 Jazzmaster (neck date 9/60) i've always known to play a guitar unplugged/acoustically for its tone/sound quality because basically this is whats amplified. Basswood tends to soften the high notes, on the other hand. Sound-wise, maple guitars offer ideal sustainability and plenty of bite. The open pores are more responsive than maple necks and remain much less dense. Basswood tends to soften the high notes, on the other hand. Finally, fingerboard woods are located on the fretboard. Sonically, Alder will produce more attack and presence with its emphasised upper-mids, resulting in it sounding a little bit punchier than Ash. Those who play ash-bodied Teles say that it makes a difference and ash sounds better. You can find them in both electric and acoustic guitars, and the tonewood is highly resilient against wood rot or warping over time. Walnut also appears excellent when you use oil finishes on the wood, providing players with a beautiful instrument. Mahogany first became a popular material for guitars due to the attractive appearance and the fact that it was cheaper than rosewood, according to the World Resources Institute. Ash is the brighter of the two woods, and on average is lighter weight, it also has a more distinct and prominent grain pattern to it. Ash was my tonal preference, it has a little more of a scoop in the mids. The result is a guitar with a complexity of tones. Swamp ash tonewood comes from trees with roots below the water level in Southern swamps, so the wood is lightweight and porous. The sound is better, however, when it comes to the upper mid-range. I used to prefer ash in past, now I'm more on alder side. Side by Side comparison of Sire V7 4ST Bass - Alder vs Ash. Taylor is one of the few manufacturers to carry koa on many of their models. Rosewood is one of the most popular choices in acoustic guitars. A sustainable wood, Pau Perro is increasing in popularity after the regulations restricted the use of some wood types – like rosewood and Bubinga. However, mahogany is more common because it’s widely available in large quantities and available inside the United States. The denser the wood, the less room the sound has to move around among the grain. The rich appearance is dark and proven popular among guitarists. 1 decade ago. Many of the classical or vintage guitars use a mahogany type of wood. When it comes to building an acoustic guitar, there are many ways to arrange and utilize wood. Solid wood comes with bonuses over laminated wood in terms of durability. The best part about koa is the stunning appearance, which makes it highly sought-after. Fingerboards come in three common natural wood options: ebony, maple, and rosewood. Each plant, and each piece of wood, displays inconsistencies and imperfections in varying shapes and sizes. But what guitarists are more concerned about is the type of material used to make the guitar itself. Chapter 1: Ash Vs Alder! As well as affecting tone, the choice can also significantly change the look of your guitar (which for many is even more important than tone!). However, it’s noticeably lighter in color than rosewood. On the other hand, the prominent grain figures of Ash lend themselves better to translucent colors, which allow the grain to show through and enhance the beauty of the guitar. Ash is often finished in bursts as well. Today, expect to see korina as a body wood in Reverend Guitars’ electric models. Color and variety alter from piece to piece, but all types of rosewood are highly attractive. In contrast, Ash is a light cream color, with much darker and more pronounced grain figuring. The attack is crisp and the density is similar to maple. It’s a gem and icon of the golden era in guitar making when manufacturers took bold steps. For example, the Classic Vibe Thinline features a mahogany body, while most solid body telecasters use ash or alder wood. Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster: Ash vs. Alder - YouTube It’s truly a beautiful and highly versatile instrument. However, the highs are more omnipresent rather than glass shattering. A comparison of tone with Ash vs Alder made with the 2 guitars mentioned above would be completely invalid. However, rosewood is a very hard wood that’s much harder than maple, and the porous nature allows the tone to become warmer. This makes achieving a nice-looking finish a much more difficult project for the average Joe. With a less dense wood, the sound offers more sustain and a darker resonance. Perhaps the most common comparison to consider is between laminated and solid wood. I have this secret trick I use if my guitar is sounding "too bright" or something - I move these knobs on my amp called "treble" and "bass" around till it sounds better. Ash used for building guitar bodies is categorized into two types: Northern Ash or hard Ash, and southern Ash or swamp Ash, with the latter more commonly used. It’s a medium-weight wood, although quality cuts of alder used for guitar bodies will often weigh less than denser cuts of ash. A place where you can find your hopes and dreams and make them reality. Alder Vs Ash. The percussive overtones during the pick attack are tremendous and can sustain a long time. The tone difference from those 2 things alone can be huge. A man-made synthetic material, Richlite is a wood substitute when a more durable, harder wood is required. Solid Strat® bodies of Northern Hard Ash usually weigh 5 pounds or more. However, unlike basswood, alder can retain high notes and provide space for low tones. The wood drains quickly, making it very susceptible to splitting during the drying process. It offers a bright tone with a moderate weight and highly characteristic grain patterns. Ash bodies look really good with a natural finish instead of painted. It works really well with single-coil pickups, producing a clean, transparent sound that’s easily tweakable. The grain pattern takes on a swirl, where the larger rings and sections around the outside enhance the strength of the body. It’s not too warm or too bright but lies somewhere in the middle range. The wood is perfect for bass necks with warm lows and strong midrange tones. Ash is one of the most common tonewoods for electric guitar bodies. Guru; Members; 1 11,390 posts; Members; Share; Posted October 18, 2009. There are spaces between wood grains, where the density of the wood (and amount of space between the grains) varies in different wood types. Guitar bodies made from a single piece of wood tend to come with a higher price tag. Laminated wood, as the name suggests, is made from multiple thin layers of wood that are meshed together by a luthier using adhesive and pressure. Messages: 7,683. Tbh you need one of each! Some guitar models divide a solid piece of wood into two mirroring sections, which is often used for guitar tops. The sound offers more percussion and perfect tonal combination. dlcyh55, Jun 29, 2011 #1. Alder and Ash are fairly easy to differentiate by sight. In guitars, poplar comes with a similar tone to alder as well. Why Do Tonewoods Sound Different From Each Other. Dagan8, Apr 28, 2011 #25. It’s stain, heat, and scratch-resistant. It won’t wear out over time. The sound dies faster but sounds more clear in the small room, while the large room creates more echoes. Poplar tonewoods are understated and minimalistic in appearance. There are even manufacturers who saw a single piece of wood in half and glue it back together for this reason! Solid Body Telecaster: Available Options . It’s one of the most expensive and heaviest woods in guitar creation today. While some people argue that using two tonewoods won’t make a huge negative difference compared to a single wood, others believe that the gluing process in guitar manufacturing among multiple pieces leads to a stronger, more durable instrument. Members; Angry Tele 1 Posted October 18, 2009. Ash is one of the most common tonewoods for electric guitar bodies. Solid wood is another popular approach. Ash. The Main Reasons Explained, How Many Frets on a Guitar? He's a multi-instrumentalist and loves researching, writing, and geeking out about music. The instrument is still heavy. For a brighter tone and more sustainability than rosewood, Pau Ferro is an excellent alternative. The two varieties also both sound bright and clear, with fairly even frequency response. Alder has a strong, clear, full-bodied sound, with beefy mids and excellent lows. When you are playing with a band and need to cut through, the alder has a better peak and allows you to claim more space in the song. Compared to basswood, an alder body comes with a wider scope of tones overall as well as fewer mid-notes than basswood. Like rosewood, Bubinga is a tropical wood. Brazilian rosewood is hard and dense, with ideal articulation in tone, awesome clarity, and a smooth feel. The top end is often brighter as a result. Rosewood is rare and highly expensive, so creating a guitar out of classic rosewood would be nearly impossible due to the price. The wood’s qualities make it stable and highly sustainable while offering a bright tone. It offers a rich variety of both purple and brown colors, and the material has been used to create guitars for decades. If the specs on the website are correct, this negates all the comments about pine vs alder as both bodies are alder." Wood is an organic material, which means the shape and density change as the plant grows. The sound has plenty of bite, brightness, and ideal sustainability. However, the open grain wood does require more work during production to fill the open pores and finish the guitar. All Rights Reserved Registered Address – Dramatik, c/o Wesley Offices, 74 Silver Street, Bristol, BS48 2DS. Some guitarists prefer a single piece of wood for both the neck or body of the guitar for purity sake, however. This is by far the most popular body wood combination for all of our Drop Top models. How are the tones in your Tone-O-Meter measured? The resulting wood appears like a sheet rather than a solid piece, and it’s ideal in a cheaper guitar with an attractive-looking natural grain surface. Feb 19, 2005 #16. calibre2001 Tele-Meister. Swamp Ash is usually light, lighter than alder. I like both, depends on needs. Up in the northern eara lies a stadium that at this moment was full of people cheering, waiting for the battle to become champion to begin. Soft ash is also commonly called ‘swamp ash’. Anonymous. A popular wood choice for necks and fretboards, maple is highly recognizable due to the grain patterns, moderate weight, and bright tone. Different types of wood may sway toward a particular imperfection as a part of their genetic makeup or characteristics, and this distinguishes the sound each wood type creates from the other. “I would say ash has a great sound, especially when you are jamming at home by yourself. 0 0. It can sound similar to Ash but without the complexity in overtones. Ash can be difficult to work with, though; the pores must be filled before finishes are applied, and two swamp ash guitar bodies are more likely to differ from one another tonally than two bodies made of alder, which has a tighter, more consistent grain. However, the Brazilian type is expensive. The Answer Might Surprise You, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases It’s ideal for warmer, fatter guitar tones. The lower outer frequencies mean the mid-tones become more pronounced. If you are a do-it-yourselfer interested in finishing your own guitar body, there are some very important differences between Alder and Ash. Compared to maple, walnut tonewood is slightly warmer. A type of black hardwood, wenge is stiff and strong. Laminated wood can warp quickly, depending on the environment around you. Appearance-wise, maple is light and typically configured in a beautiful way. Some tonewoods are more popular among electric or acoustic models. Although, it’s lighter than maple and the tone is very bright. The bright highs can really pop, and it has a strong upper midrange. Like basswood, alder is a lightweight type of body wood with soft and condensed pores. Bill said: After years of analysis of thousands of players' observations, the following two definitive facts have emerged: 1. On Alder, the grain is closed, making it a good candidate for amateurs and budding luthiers. However, maple is an easier wood to finish because it has tight and highly durable grains. The result is a compressed attack and slightly compressed highs. The most popular wood used in fretboards and necks, maple is an easy-to-identify wood. Those who play alder-bodied Teles say that it makes no real difference. It’s easy to: The softwood offers tight grains that often dampen and soften sharp hight tones, which can level out thin sounds like a knife-edged tremolo. However, bolt-on maple guitar necks produce less of a factor in the overall tone. Expect your guitar to sound twangier, but not quite as big sounding. Like hard ash, maple is dense. The midrange is much more similar to rosewood or mahogany though. Ash, on the other hand, has an open grain that absorbs a lot of finish. However, keep in mind that everyone has a different preference. I'm sure ash or alder would sound great, also, but the basswood and the slightly strong ('62-ish) pickups give it a wonderfully warm sound. This tonewood is durable, attractive, resonant, easy to work with, and relatively economical. Colored fillers or lacquer is set inside the grain to create a smooth clearing surface. The wood offers strong grain markings, making the appearance stunning. The only downside is the steep price. I have heard ash is brighter and that alder wood in suitable grain and quality is getting harder to come by and that ash is actually a better choice. There are so many ways to personalize your instrument to suit you! Swamp Ash is typically lighter, with Strat® bodies under 5 pounds. Does anyone have a preference/opinion as to the sound of and ash body compared to an alder body? 4 years ago. Guitars have different types. The result is a bright and clear sound. The most common material used for a guitar fretboard, rosewood sounds rich. Body wood, or the types of wood used to create the back and sides of a guitar, does more than look pretty. lighter pieces are usually more sought after for resonance, and by no means lesser quality Basswood is lightweight, but due to a low overall mass rather than large wood pores. Because rosewood is naturally oily, stray overtones are quickly absorbed into the wood’s pores and the sound comes out much richer than maple. Fender claims to use swamp ash in many of their guitars in the 1950s. Single woods are also more likely to warp over time and can show more imperfections in the wood. Various manufacturers typically favor a type of wood, but there are tons of different options available in both exotic and alternative kinds of wood. However, it’s a bit more on the warm side. Alder vs. Ash, if it matters at all, is so far down the list of things that influence your tone it's not even funny. It’s also stronger than maple. There are also two synthetic materials to choose from. The sound is bass-friendly and warm, ideal for sweet and responsive mid-range tones. In general, mahogany should absorb a bit of the string vibration as you play – much more than maple or some other neck wood types. It’s also ideal to combine with an ebony fretboard to add brightness. Let’s check ’em out. The boards have a brittle grain that requires the skill of a professional to hand fret the guitar. Messages: 8,303. Finish. Tonewoods either eliminate or amplify the frequencies your strings produce, affecting the overall tone of the instrument. Alder has more of a peak. Maple Top on Basswood. Joined: Feb 17, 2005. The guitar sound is warm and rich, with plenty of volume and resonance. It’s so similar to rosewood, in fact, that companies like Fender even started using it as a replacement for rosewood fretboards in their Mexican-made models.
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