The wood offers strong grain markings, making the appearance stunning. Some guitarists prefer a single piece of wood for both the neck or body of the guitar for purity sake, however. The creamy color and bold grain pattern are more visually appealing than other wood types, like alder. In contrast, Ash is a light cream color, with much darker and more pronounced grain figuring. The result is a guitar with a complexity of tones. Hard maple is tough on factory equipment though, which makes it commonly only used for slim guitars. In time, the wood develops grains that continuously deepen and change. It also stimulates the weaker end of the instrument. Basswood is lightweight, but due to a low overall mass rather than large wood pores. The wood pieces used to create an acoustic guitar are typically thin enough to manipulate into any design shape. Today, maple is common in electric guitar necks. Side by Side comparison of Sire V7 4ST Bass - Alder vs Ash. Colored fillers or lacquer is set inside the grain to create a smooth clearing surface. The denser the wood, the less room the sound has to move around among the grain. They remain more in the mid-range rather than the high side, which results in a musical sound for a beginner guitarist or a less expressive one for guitarists who play hard picking blues music. A wenge fretboard is normally played raw, with no finish. Angry Tele. I like both, depends on needs. Various manufacturers typically favor a type of wood, but there are tons of different options available in both exotic and alternative kinds of wood. In terms of guitar sound, koa is balanced and warm. 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. The sound is better, however, when it comes to the upper mid-range. The result is a compressed attack and slightly compressed highs. The bright highs can really pop, and it has a strong upper midrange. Many of the classical or vintage guitars use a mahogany type of wood. The only downside is the steep price. Perhaps the most common comparison to consider is between laminated and solid wood. Its timbre is a bit more of a fundamental tone with fewer overtones than the more traditional body woods. Ash is also very porous so will need grain filling whereas it's not essential for alder. Those who play alder-bodied Teles say that it makes no real difference. The Answer Might Surprise You, As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases The solid wood also sounds better because it offers a uniform grain, thickness, and a more resonant tone with better vibration. 4 years ago. You can find them in both electric and acoustic guitars, and the tonewood is highly resilient against wood rot or warping over time. A comparison of tone with Ash vs Alder made with the 2 guitars mentioned above would be completely invalid. I think the wood may make a difference in tone but it would be tiny compared to the difference due to the pickup and string differences. It’s one of the most expensive and heaviest woods in guitar creation today. View In-Stock Alder Strat® replacement bodies, View In-Stock Swamp Ash Strat® replacement bodies. Cosmetically, Ash has a more inconsistent but straight and visible grain that looks great with natural and transparent finishes whereas Alders tight grain is less visible but very consistent and is usually finished in solid colours. Posts: 124. The tone and grain qualities are similar to mahogany, but it’s heavier and more resilient. Using solid wood is more expensive. However, the price is often worth it. Korina is well renowned in the guitar industry as the tonewood of choice for the original Gibson Explorer and Flying-V guitars. Today, expect to see korina as a body wood in Reverend Guitars’ electric models. There are spaces between wood grains, where the density of the wood (and amount of space between the grains) varies in different wood types. Here’s a great video from the guys at Fender talking about different wood combos: You may see guitars made from a single piece of wood sometimes, but they’re often comprised of many tonewoods. Today, according to Thalia, mahogany guitars come in three main varieties of hardwood. A type of black hardwood, wenge is stiff and strong. Joined: Feb 17, 2005. Boris Bubbanov Most Honored Senior Member. Solid Strat® bodies of Northern Hard Ash usually weigh 5 pounds or more. It’s commonly used to create ukuleles, but the pricier wood is also found on special and limited-edition guitars. You can expect the tone to become softer and warmer over time, making walnut the ideal alternative to koa. Ged is editor-in-chief and founder of Zing Instruments. Fingerboards come in three common natural wood options: ebony, maple, and rosewood. Ebony boards are rare in machine-made guitars. Alder is tiny bit more rounder and smoother. You may occasionally find a piece of poplar with a stunning grain pattern if you try. Some manufacturers simply can’t afford to import korina. Northern Hard Ash is the heavier of the two. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a8lFG. It’s also ideal to combine with an ebony fretboard to add brightness. However, soft ash offers a warmer feel. However, the open grain wood does require more work during production to fill the open pores and finish the guitar. Like rosewood, Bubinga is a tropical wood. 0 0. The color is distinctive. The wood is perfect for bass necks with warm lows and strong midrange tones. Chapter 1: Ash Vs Alder! It’s very warm. Swamp Ash is typically lighter, with Strat® bodies under 5 pounds. I had luck to compare ash vs alder on one wood sensitive amp. ©2021 - Zinginstruments.com. Richlite is more expensive to produce, but the results are much superior than any organic wood. The traditional wood used for Fender necks, maple is ideal because it’s strong, hard, and dense. It’s truly a beautiful and highly versatile instrument. Alder: full and rich, with fat low-end, nice cutting mids, and good overall warmth and sustain.Alder is generally considered to be one of the "traditional" Stratocaster body woods. "Welcome one and all to Unova's ultimate battle to become champion. What tones do you want, I think clean sounds are better with ash and overdrive with alder. It also tends to stain easily in the natural growing habitat, so the color of the wood can become unsightly. However, when referring to swamp/hard Ash, we are actually talking about the region where Ash trees grow instead of a particular type of wood. 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. Ash bodies look really good with a natural finish instead of painted. Quote; Link to post Share on other sites. Both types of rosewood require what’s called “pore fill,” where the pores are filled before the lacquer is applied. Lv 4. The top end is often brighter as a result. The manufacturing process can take longer, as it requires closer attention to detail and careful handling of the materials. Mainly found in acoustic guitars, mahogany is the most common hardwood for the sides and back of the instrument. Although, it’s lighter than maple and the tone is very bright. Why Do Tonewoods Sound Different From Each Other. Gibson pioneered fretboards using this hard and consistently sustainable material in the mid-90s. Unlike some other types, maple wood has a uniform grain. I have 3 Swamp Ash guitars, all of which are light, resonant, killer sustain, and sound awesome. If the specs on the website are correct, this negates all the comments about pine vs alder as both bodies are alder." There are many reasons using multiple tonewoods can boost your instrument’s performance. 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. They also feature more wood on the back and sides than the top. DOH! Appearance-wise, maple is light and typically configured in a beautiful way. Alder has more of a peak. It’s stain, heat, and scratch-resistant. Alder is almost always a light tan color, and has a very subtle grain figure. However, it’s primarily used for neck shafts in guitars or a coarse fretboard. Expect to pair multiple kinds of wood for the best results. The tone difference from those 2 things alone can be huge. The sound is bass-friendly and warm, ideal for sweet and responsive mid-range tones. The warmth of this tonewood is like rosewood with the brightness mahogany brings. The grain should be different enough to tell visually. Does it make any difference to the sound? Commonly known as Honduran mahogany, this type of wood is often associated with Gibson guitars. But there’s a warmth to … Feb 19, 2005 #16. calibre2001 Tele-Meister. Messages: 7,683. Single woods are also more likely to warp over time and can show more imperfections in the wood. Ash. The percussive overtones during the pick attack are tremendous and can sustain a long time. The sound dies faster but sounds more clear in the small room, while the large room creates more echoes. We like them both :) 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. 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. You can create a clean, transparent sound with single-coil pickups easily. Ash Vs Alder. The process works much the same way as if you played the guitar in a small room, then in a large room. Anonymous. Soft ash is also commonly called ‘swamp ash’. My 5 cents. 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. The Alder one was the fuller sounding whereas the ash one was the one with the more snap and bite. The two varieties also both sound bright and clear, with fairly even frequency response. Alder’s enduring popularity as a tone-wood is mostly due to the fact that its sound is so well balanced across the entire sonic spectrum. Like Alder, the tone of Ash is musical and well-balanced, with perhaps just a little more “pop”. Finish. Compared to maple, walnut tonewood is slightly warmer. Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a9PrC. Sonically, Alder will produce more attack and presence with its emphasised upper-mids, resulting in it sounding a little bit punchier than Ash. The high overtones are similar to rosewood, but the resonation comes with more fundamental mids and low-mid ranges because of the multi-density stripes. However, mahogany is more common because it’s widely available in large quantities and available inside the United States. Bill said: After years of analysis of thousands of players' observations, the following two definitive facts have emerged: 1. All Rights Reserved Registered Address – Dramatik, c/o Wesley Offices, 74 Silver Street, Bristol, BS48 2DS. 0 0. However, keep in mind that everyone has a different preference. 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. The sound offers more percussion and perfect tonal combination. Swamp Ash is usually light, lighter than alder. Expect your guitar to sound twangier, but not quite as big sounding. Overall, ebony fingerboards sound excellent on a guitar with a long neck (as long as the hardwood isn’t a hardwood like maple or bubinga). A maple fretboard comes with a tremendous amount of high overtones. It won’t wear out over time. I used to prefer ash in past, now I'm more on alder side. The rich appearance is dark and proven popular among guitarists. Fender Thinline Telecaster Vs. However, unlike basswood, alder can retain high notes and provide space for low tones. Combine a koa neck with an ebony fingerboard for the best warm sound. So, what you described is what I'd more or less expect from it to be like. A popular wood choice for necks and fretboards, maple is highly recognizable due to the grain patterns, moderate weight, and bright tone. They last longer and they come with better resonation. Taken on average, Alder is the lighter weight of the two woods, with Strat® bodies usually weighing in at around 4 pounds. Ash comes in two varieties: Northern Hard Ash and Swamp Ash. I took notice at band practice last year - I'd typically been playing a 52RI - Ash & Maple, but for a change of pace I broke out my MIJ Foto Flame - Alder with Basswood Cap, rosewood board, and it had every bit of the same harmonic chime. Most companies offer both solid and laminated wood tops on their acoustic guitars. There are also two synthetic materials to choose from. All rights reserved. The attack is crisp and the density is similar to maple. This means you won’t find any deep, breathy sub-low tones. I have American Pro in Sienna Sunburst and the body is made from Ash, they are now using Roasted Pine I believe. When it comes to building an acoustic guitar, there are many ways to arrange and utilize wood. There are so many ways to personalize your instrument to suit you! Alder is our most popular body wood. Swamp Ash is our second most popular wood. Copyright © 2021 Warmoth Guitar Products. A place where you can find your hopes and dreams and make them reality. The lower outer frequencies mean the mid-tones become more pronounced. On Alder, the grain is closed, making it a good candidate for amateurs and budding luthiers. It’s ideal for warmer, fatter guitar tones. Ash is like ... more rock and roll, punchy, kicks your butt kinda sound. 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!). In terms of sound, mahogany adds a parlor type of warm tone. With a less dense wood, the sound offers more sustain and a darker resonance. Manufacturers vary based on their approach. Body wood, or the types of wood used to create the back and sides of a guitar, does more than look pretty. In general, mahogany should absorb a bit of the string vibration as you play – much more than maple or some other neck wood types. The Unova region, a place full of wonder and mystery. Best Online Guitar Lessons in 2020 – Reviewed & Ranked, Fender Serial Number Lookup – Find When & Where Your Guitar Was Made, Why are Some Guitar Pickups Angled? Maple Top on Basswood. They have a great impact on the sound your guitar produces. Finally, fingerboard woods are located on the fretboard. But also depends on wood piece and setup situation. 2. Ash: exhibits a "snappier" tone with a bright edge, but with a warm bass and long sustain. Messages: 8,303. It works really well with single-coil pickups, producing a clean, transparent sound that’s easily tweakable. Ash is a tonewood that comes in two main types: The most popular option is hard ash due to the bright tone and high sustainability. If you are a do-it-yourselfer interested in finishing your own guitar body, there are some very important differences between Alder and Ash. A sustainable wood, Pau Perro is increasing in popularity after the regulations restricted the use of some wood types – like rosewood and Bubinga. Those who play ash-bodied Teles say that it makes a difference and ash sounds better. Quite similar were the results when I A/Bed some Jazz-bass copies (same shape, alder vs ash bodies). Alder Vs Ash. Loomis's are not Swamp Ash, they are Northern Hard Ash, which is a heavier alternative to swamp ash. Solid wood is another popular approach. Because rosewood is naturally oily, stray overtones are quickly absorbed into the wood’s pores and the sound comes out much richer than maple. The tone is snappier and the attack more immediate as a direct result. I took my 1980 Strat and swapped out the old and very heavy ash body for a Warmoth alder body. The boards have a brittle grain that requires the skill of a professional to hand fret the guitar. With a thicker, more expensive piece of wood, you gain superior results. dlcyh55, Jun 29, 2011 #1. Lower-end models, like the D-18, came in mahogany. However, maple offers better sustainability. However, ebony offers oilier pores, more brittle grains, and a stronger fundamental tone. Because Alder’s appearance is more plain, it is the better candidate for solid color finishes. Married Man’s Guide to Buying Without Lying. However, it’s noticeably lighter in color than rosewood. Many people agree that certain woods come with a brighter or fuller sound than other types, but it’s hard to say exactly why they sound different from each other. This makes achieving a nice-looking finish a much more difficult project for the average Joe. Basswood/Maple produces a very rich, full sound with great low, middle and high end. While guitar necks are traditionally made using maple, there are many types of woods found in this portion of your instrument. The result is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Another rare and expensive option, like rosewood, the sale and circulation of Bubinga was recently restricted to protect the wood from a drastic reduction in numbers. 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. We did ash versus alder to hear the differences. Compared to basswood, an alder body comes with a wider scope of tones overall as well as fewer mid-notes than basswood. However, acoustic models gain most of their sound from the wood choice. Compared to hard ash, maple is just as dense. It offers a rich variety of both purple and brown colors, and the material has been used to create guitars for decades. 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. Rosewood is one of the most popular choices in acoustic guitars. 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. For example, the Classic Vibe Thinline features a mahogany body, while most solid body telecasters use ash or alder wood. Rosewood guitar necks smooth out high tones and offer ideal sustainability. Knowing the properties of each will help you craft the sonic and visual personality of your guitar body. Many restrictions lifted last year, but this wood may still be pricier and take much longer to produce. Alder. In this complete guide to guitar woods, we group each type according to whether it’s used in the body, the neck, or the fingerboard (some, such as rosewood, appear in more than one category). It’s a medium-weight wood, although quality cuts of alder used for guitar bodies will often weigh less than denser cuts of ash. 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. Does anyone have a preference/opinion as to the sound of and ash body compared to an alder body? Like Alder, the tone of Ash is musical and well-balanced, with perhaps just a little more “pop”. Although swamp ash is harder to come by than alder (and therefore more expensive), it is still possible to buy a new ash-bodied Fender. Guitar bodies made from a single piece of wood tend to come with a higher price tag. The material in the neck can amplify the body wood and highlight special features in the grain to pair well aesthetically as well. However, the wood type mutes high-frequency overtones, which can create a strong fundamental sound with the complexities of low-mid and mid-range overtones. The snappy tone is brighter than other less dense wood types. It’s created using a resin-infused type of paper. A rich caramel swirls through the wood, and the fret feels like ebony or rosewood to your fingers. It’s a distinct sound with the character found in many acoustic guitars, like the early Beatles recordings the band created using mahogany Gibson guitars. Some guitar models divide a solid piece of wood into two mirroring sections, which is often used for guitar tops. The resonance is dark and complex, and there are rich overtones you can’t find in other woods. Tbh you need one of each! Alder vs Ash. The scooped middle frequencies are bright and balanced, and the sound has more balance at the top. Ash is another wood type favored by Fender besides Alder. Alder has a strong, clear, full-bodied sound, with beefy mids and excellent lows. Like hard ash, maple is dense. Wood is an organic material, which means the shape and density change as the plant grows. The neck of a guitar made with Richlite is less likely to fluctuate or curve because the material is synthetic. Poplar tonewoods are understated and minimalistic in appearance. The result is an overall better tone with sustain. There are even manufacturers who saw a single piece of wood in half and glue it back together for this reason! Wryan . Similar to alder, basswood is nearly mid-range. Other models at the time, like the high-end Martin D-28, came with rosewood sides and back. The instrument is still heavy. The wood drains quickly, making it very susceptible to splitting during the drying process. Luthiers also tend to despise working with korina tonewoods. Ash, on the other hand, has an open grain that absorbs a lot of … Maple’s tone is highly reflective and bright, with more energy pushing toward the body wood. However, the Brazilian type is expensive.