Agathis? (Squier question)

[asdfjkl semi]

What kind of wood is Agathis? I saw it listed as the body wood for some Squier. I'm assuming it's not very good, but I'm hoping someone can tell me more about it.

[RUExp?]

There's nothing wrong with agathis. It's just common on lower end guitars because it grows plentiful in Asia.

[chriscoleman]

Short answer: it is in the conifer family, but is commonly held as a "poor man's mahogany" with regards to guitars, in that it shares similar tone traits.

 

Longer story - Google "Agathis" or check it out on Wikipedia.

 

Bottom line, I have an agathis-bodied Squier Tele that I love.

[Zen]

Its fine. Used on low end guitars because it grows a lot in Asian regions.

[RUExp?]

 

Its fine. Used on low end guitars because it grows a lot in Asian regions.

 

 

That's what I said.

[zerkalo]

It's okay. It's used on so many inexpensive guitars because a lot of it grows in Asia.

[FarToMany]

Gee, from the above posts.......im guessing there is alot of agathis in Asia----must be because it grow plentiful there?

[RUExp?]

Yamaha made a bamboo guitar but I guess it didn't catch on.

[Zen]

Then again there will be the cork sniffers who will say it sucks. Each to his own I suppose.

[JimboJ]

Its used on alot of Asian guitars because its plentiful over there.

[Steverino]

I've got a cheap Fender "Starcaster" made of agathis. I love it. I doubt anyone would notice the agathis tone.

[Burningleaves]

What everyone else said......

 

 

 

 

 

Also........I have had a few guitars made from agathis. The weight varied from light to heavy. Most sounded pretty good.

[Rand-O-Monium]

I've got a Squier Standard(Double Fat),sounds pretty good to me,although the stock p/ups are coming out soon!!!

[GothicLlama]

Asians are plentiful in Agathis.

[jerry_picker]

For any kind of wood there is a wide range of quality that comes under any type or species. Agathis for guitars is (hopefully) chosen for mahogany-like characteristics. (Mahogany itself covers a range of species, some only distantly related, that grow in as far flung places as Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.) Some of the (discontinued) DeArmond solid bodies were agathis, and play/sound excellent. In my limited experience, it tends to be on the heavy side.

[brewgoodbeer]

I had an Aunt Agatha, but she never went to Asia

[RUExp?]

It's almost as if the forests in Asia are full of Agathis.

[mnhhngbfs]

i have 2 guitars that are agathis

my platinum series bich and supposedly my squier tele (alder and agathis together some how. according to the site at least, i don't get it)

i actually prefer the sound of agathis to mahogany

[RockRocket]

it is not considered appropriate wood to guitars

[asdfjkl semi]

Thanks for the replies, all. Apparently it's plentiful in Asia or somthing??? ; )

 

Did some google-ing and I read that it is a decent-sounding wood, but it's a softwood and screws and stuff strip/pull out of it sometimes. That's no good in my book. I might have to pass on the Squier I was looking at.

 

By the way. 200th post.

[Burningleaves]

 

Thanks for the replies, all. Apparently it's plentiful in Asia or somthing??? ; ) Did some google-ing and I read that it is a decent-sounding wood, but it's a softwood and screws and stuff strip/pull out of it sometimes. That's no good in my book. I might have to pass on the Squier I was looking at. By the way. 200th post.

 

 

 

 

I wouldnt worry about it to much. never had any problems liek taht with Agathis. Not sure but my guess is that Agathis is not as soft a Basswood.

[Rand-O-Monium]

Not sure but my guess is that Agathis is not as soft a Basswood.

 

I was just gonna post Agathis>Basswood,for me,anyway...

[RUExp?]

Higher end guitar are also typically made with woods that have been dried properly.

[Voltaire]

i have an ibanez soundgear bass from the starter pack it has an agathis body and the screws wore out quick, in fact it's my only guitar where the screws stripped the wood, but it's not that big of a deal if you don't mind either taping it or (what i did-) put a longer screw in, usually the guitars built with the wood are cheaper because agathis-is plentiful in asia.

[asdfjkl semi]

i have an ibanez soundgear bass from the starter pack it has an agathis body and the screws wore out quick, in fact it's my only guitar where the screws stripped the wood, but it's not that big of a deal if you don't mind either taping it or (what i did-) put a longer screw in, usually the guitars built with the wood are cheaper because agathis-is plentiful in asia.

 

Yeah, dude, crazy how plentiful the stuff is. It's like its growing on trees over there. It was a bass I was looking at, too. I don't want to have to start making repairs a few months after owning it. Mods, of course, but not repairs.