Swimming pool route on strats and tone

[sanXp]

Will a swimming pool route on a strat affect tone? If so, how much? I have a strat which I want to overhaul (the floyd system especially) but it has a swimming pool route, and I'm wondering if it's actually worth plonking money into it?

 

[detroit_red]

If it sounds good to you, it doesn't really matter i guess ...

 

[aaroncheong]

a swimming pool route would definitely make your guitar lose quite alot of tonewood IMO.

what are the configs that u wanna have on your guitar?

 

[unsane]

so many myths about...in a perfect A/B test most people probably cant tell a difference. if the guitar feels and sounds good to you go for it... in my opinion the trem change would probably have more of an effect... especially if its blocked.

 

[Timex]

only obvious difference is the price unless u are able to sonically differentiate the 2

 

[penta-tonic]

hahaha. everyone always talks abt loss of their precious tonewood. but hell most cant even hear out the difference in pedals or pickups let alone the tone coming from wood.

sanXp i say go ahead with the overhaul. esp if u like the feel of the guitar. all that banter about loss of tonewood IMO is as hollow as the swimming pool route.

 

[aaroncheong]

quite diff to hide the sound, because its about warmth. dunno how to say. IMO i feel that that tonal thing is pretty important. its probably why fender dif individual pickup cavities and not just do swimming pools for all their guitars. They probably have that sound factor in their mind.

thus, IMO, think twice first, if you are really gonna do it, its your choice man . Who knows, it may sound better than before.

or if you wanna put more humbuckers in your guitar i suggest u try the stacked humbuckers.

 

[aaroncheong]

my floyd rose is actually blocked with a piece of wood i sawn off another huge plank bought from Daiso!

 

[thor666]

imo a swimming pool cavity does not contribute to the loss of tone. I have a American fender that's swimming pool routed that sounds better than a lot of other strats I've tried.

The main reason for swimming pool routing is not because of the sound, but rather, to cut cost.

 

[jeremyrozario]

i once had a strat, that had a swimming pool cavity, and it felt ridiculously light, didn't feel solid, noe wad i mean?

but some juz feel right, lyk mi new aria stg

 

[subversion]

swimming pool or otherwise, it will matter tone-wise if it manifests a difference in mass. more massive- more low end response.

A/B the weight difference with another guitar that has an SSH/ HSH cavity.

 

[ShredCow]

swimming pool or otherwise, it will matter tone-wise if it manifests a difference in mass. more massive- more low end response.

+1

Its not about which tone you prefer, its about what loss of tone will there be?

 

[thor666]

Its not about which tone you prefer, its about what loss of tone will there be?

I think you're referring to loss of frequencies, not so much tone.

Again, this discussion is purely academic since we always discuss it with "all else equals". My strat being swimming pool routed, is heavier than quite a few strats I've tried. The density of the wood matters as well - not all alder woods are planted and grown equal.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, my swimming pool route strat weighs a lot heavier than most other strats I've come across.

Wouldn't changing from a standard strat trem to a locking FR type term have a more significant effect on the tone?

 

[ShredCow]

Ah, yeap, raymond you got that right. Thats what I think Sansxp wanted to know. Its all on paper/theory as what you said. There can never be a true a/b test with guitars, UNLESS... a normal routed guitar was recorded, the re-reouted to SP route.

babelfish, sansxp's strat already has a FR on it.

 

[Timex]

As a testament that i have indeed learnt something from NTU

resonance frequency x 2pi = sq root(equivilent stiffness/object mass)

therefore with a reduction in mass,resonance frequency actually increases

 

[LimpPisskit]

As a testament that i have indeed learnt something from NTU

resonance frequency x 2pi = sq root(equivilent stiffness/object mass)

therefore with a reduction in mass,resonance frequency actually increases

great....now you need a BSc to play guitar!?!?!!

maybe swimming pool = mini sound hole therefore it will sound more acoustic!!

I will let you after I get my James Tyler Studio Elite hollow with swimming pool... which is after I win the big sweep :wink:

 

[jeremyrozario]

as an engineering student, and im sure most secondary school students know, paper does not = practical, espescialy physics

but most importantly is feel and tone, if you like it, then go with it

 

[Timex]

no mah i told him that unless he can sonically differeentiate he should go with cost and feel wat. I dun see how i am saying that u need a paper to play guitar.I merely placed something that i learnt as a point of information.u think i am Ant81 meh?

 

[mikemann]

As a testament that i have indeed learnt something from NTU

resonance frequency x 2pi = sq root(equivilent stiffness/object mass)

therefore with a reduction in mass,resonance frequency actually increases

Timex, timex...... I tot on the amp tread I stated clearly already.... I really dun know what they are teaching in schools these days. That if you got theory knowledge, you have the whole deal??

My days, even the teachers always emphasize that learning and applying is 2 different things. Most of what is taught is best kept in your own brains, cause when the situation arises, there are plenty of other factors which makes the theory insignificant sometimes.

That's why in layman's world, how often do you find people tongue wagging scientific terms, equations or names??

If I want someone to nail some wood, I just say "wack it in!!!". Applied science become non relavent.