Wood for Strat Bodies and Necks
- Thread starter japheth
- Start date
Chrom@ticism
New member
Explanation to types of wood
Hi there, you should check this website out. It gives an explanation of what you are asking for. Hope that helps
Cheers, Chroma.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx
Hi there, you should check this website out. It gives an explanation of what you are asking for. Hope that helps
Cheers, Chroma.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx
Strats are usually Alder traditionally. Ash is also common, poplar not as much but still around.
You will find that most that you find around are Alder.
Necks are usually confined to Maple & Rosewood, with solid one piece maple or maple on maple laminated neck. Rosewood's are rosewood on maple. Then there are Pau Ferro or Cocobloco or whatever the new mexican rosewood derivative is called. I'm sure there are ebony ones too.
But do note manufacturers and models do differ so you may have Strats of all kinds, basswood, Koa, maybe even mahogany or walnut bodies. Plywood also have.
Alder sounds the most 'Stratty', but honestly I don't think many people can hear the difference between 3 different Alder or 3 different Ash bodied Strats. Blindfold yourself I don't think most people could.
So basically what I'm trying to say is, your wood options are practically endless.
Now maple necks are more bell like and twangy/treble focused, while rosewood gives a more dark, rounded sound more for blues and rock. Do note Clapton still uses a maple neck anyway. And Jazz players do sometimes use a bright maple neck seemingly contrary to a mellow jazz sound. A easy way to think about this is yellow wood, bright, dark wood, darker. This holds true for Pau Ferro and Ebony and 'brown' woods as they sound in the same ball park as a normal rosewood.
So again what I'm trying to say is, many options, endless possibilities for you and your playing.
It's all in your ears and what you think will give you your mojo.
There is not much difference between an Alder Telecaster and a Ash Tele, given a blindfold test. But I will take an Ash, cause it was originally made that way, and that's what I feel happy about and what I want.
You will find that most that you find around are Alder.
Necks are usually confined to Maple & Rosewood, with solid one piece maple or maple on maple laminated neck. Rosewood's are rosewood on maple. Then there are Pau Ferro or Cocobloco or whatever the new mexican rosewood derivative is called. I'm sure there are ebony ones too.
But do note manufacturers and models do differ so you may have Strats of all kinds, basswood, Koa, maybe even mahogany or walnut bodies. Plywood also have.
Alder sounds the most 'Stratty', but honestly I don't think many people can hear the difference between 3 different Alder or 3 different Ash bodied Strats. Blindfold yourself I don't think most people could.
So basically what I'm trying to say is, your wood options are practically endless.
Now maple necks are more bell like and twangy/treble focused, while rosewood gives a more dark, rounded sound more for blues and rock. Do note Clapton still uses a maple neck anyway. And Jazz players do sometimes use a bright maple neck seemingly contrary to a mellow jazz sound. A easy way to think about this is yellow wood, bright, dark wood, darker. This holds true for Pau Ferro and Ebony and 'brown' woods as they sound in the same ball park as a normal rosewood.
So again what I'm trying to say is, many options, endless possibilities for you and your playing.
It's all in your ears and what you think will give you your mojo.
There is not much difference between an Alder Telecaster and a Ash Tele, given a blindfold test. But I will take an Ash, cause it was originally made that way, and that's what I feel happy about and what I want.
also note that certain woods like basswood are EXTREMELY WEAK. really. i've worked with them before. if you were to tap your finger nails on the bare body, you can see the marks already.
of course, not too hard to solve with a little of sand paper and a clear coat. but that would mean even with three layers of protective stuff and the like, the body itself could still be damaged with slight knocks and drops.
but to be on topic. i hardly think the wood type affects tone as much as the other hardware do.
i mean you should only be troubled about the wood type if:
1)you have a body made of cheap plywood that has really bad acoustic properties.
2)the rest of your hardware: meaning your pickups, bridge, neck, amplifier (THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOUR TONE) are already the best they can be and you can't obtain any better hardware out there.
then yes, you should be concerned about wood type.
otherwise, i dont see why a guitarist should ponder and waste time thinking "oh my... which is better? basswood or alder? which is warmer? which is richer? which is brighter??" if his amp is a crappy 15 watt marshall solid state
ps:not directed at the TS. im referring to just some people out there
of course, not too hard to solve with a little of sand paper and a clear coat. but that would mean even with three layers of protective stuff and the like, the body itself could still be damaged with slight knocks and drops.
but to be on topic. i hardly think the wood type affects tone as much as the other hardware do.
i mean you should only be troubled about the wood type if:
1)you have a body made of cheap plywood that has really bad acoustic properties.
2)the rest of your hardware: meaning your pickups, bridge, neck, amplifier (THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOUR TONE) are already the best they can be and you can't obtain any better hardware out there.
then yes, you should be concerned about wood type.
otherwise, i dont see why a guitarist should ponder and waste time thinking "oh my... which is better? basswood or alder? which is warmer? which is richer? which is brighter??" if his amp is a crappy 15 watt marshall solid state
ps:not directed at the TS. im referring to just some people out there
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Basswood are good tonewood, despite prejudices of some tone snobs. Many good MIJ Fenders and famous 80's superstrats are made of basswood. Even Ibanez's endorsee JS and Vai use basswood. Do a blindfold test with an alder and basswood strat, and you can't even hear the difference.