Members guitardavex Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 As a full believer in the "wood makes the tone", I own an American Strat from the 90's that just sounds tone dead to me. I've replaced everything (neck, pickups, etc) but the actual body. (not sure what it's made of) I'm thinking of moving all the parts onto a new body, as everything else is currently high-end and should sound just fine. Any recommendations, things to look out for, recorded sound clips between Alder, Ash, and Basswood? I'm looking for a "traditional" strat sound, so I'm thinking Alder might be the way to go... any help would be great!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 A traditional strat sound could be alder or ash though. I have one of each and I would say the differences are a more warm tone with alder and a more bright snappy tone with ash. Of course there are a few other factors in my guitars as well but that's the difference I hear even when I play them unplugged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 Ash is definitely brighter. Before I replaced the pickups in my ash Strat I had Tex Mex in them and it was waaay to bright. I know you have said you replaced everything, but have you done anything to the bridge, saddles, and trem block? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -Assy- Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 Ash is a little more bright, i LOVELOVELOVE alnico 2 pickups in ash with 250k pots. definitely awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JC777 Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 I agree with all the AlderAsh comments. How are you finishing it? If it's a solid it doesn't matter but if you go for a stain or opaque, Ash willl have the best grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HELSTRUME Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 I don't like basswood at all. I've tried to, but just don't. I like Alder and Mahogany. I have also had guitars that sounded tone dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BIGD Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 As a full believer in the "wood makes the tone", I own an American Strat from the 90's that just sounds tone dead to me. I've replaced everything (neck, pickups, etc) but the actual body. (not sure what it's made of)I'm thinking of moving all the parts onto a new body, as everything else is currently high-end and should sound just fine.Any recommendations, things to look out for, recorded sound clips between Alder, Ash, and Basswood?I'm looking for a "traditional" strat sound, so I'm thinking Alder might be the way to go...any help would be great!!! Funny, I have a '91 or so American Standard, and I've come to the same conclusion about the body. Most likely it's alder, but this guitar just doesn't have good tonal characteristics on it's own. I like the way it plays, it feels comfortable, it looked beautiful when I bought it (a good amount of finish is worn off now) but almost every other guitar I play just seems to get more out of similar pickups and amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave L Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 You can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members arclite Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 I agree with the Alder/Ash comments, but the difference between Alder and Basswood is (imo) very little. Basswood might be a touch darker, but it's probably inaudible in 95% of Strat bodies out there. I had a '90 American Standard Strat. Actually, that was the guitar I learned to play on and was a solid work-horse until my dumb ass smashed it up. I've bought and sold several Strats - MIJ, AVRI, CS, blah blah and the only one I really bonded with (and miss) is the American Standard. Maybe it's just nostalgia? Who knows? Either way, I'm done with Strats. I'd look at the complete package like the swimming pool route, trem system, electronics, PICKUPS, tremsetter, etc. before you make a judgement about the tone wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LARRY L Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 I agree with the Alder/Ash comments, but the difference between Alder and Basswood is (imo) very little. Basswood might be a touch darker, but it's probably inaudible in 95% of Strat bodies out there.I had a '90 American Standard Strat. Actually, that was the guitar I learned to play on and was a solid work-horse until my dumb ass smashed it up. I've bought and sold several Strats - MIJ, AVRI, CS, blah blah and the only one I really bonded with (and miss) is the American Standard. Maybe it's just nostalgia? Who knows? Either way, I'm done with Strats.I'd look at the complete package like the swimming pool route, trem system, electronics, PICKUPS, tremsetter, etc. before you make a judgement about the tone wood. I had an American ash strat with a maple fret board. It was a beautiful natural finish guitar trimmed in black yet too bright for my liking, playing through a Deluxe Reverb. (a very clean bright amp) Unless I was only playing county twang or '60s serf this ash guitar just lacked the full tone I needed. I learned that you just cannot EQ tone that is not there. The guitar lacked mid tone. You can beef up the mids but not the tone that a different wood would give. I traded it in on a 2007 strat with rosewood fret board and alder body. The mids were much better and it was warmer and less harsh. It still has great highs and deep lows. The overall balance is much better. I love the thicker tone, yet still clear and sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitardavex Posted October 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 thanks for all the opinions! I have gone all the way as to replace/check the bridge, saddles, etc maybe I'll start with that - but for some reason I feel every other strat just has a better tone & resonance to it, I don't know..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitardavex Posted October 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 correction - Have "not" gone all the way to replace..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BIGD Posted October 16, 2009 Members Share Posted October 16, 2009 I agree with the Alder/Ash comments, but the difference between Alder and Basswood is (imo) very little. Basswood might be a touch darker, but it's probably inaudible in 95% of Strat bodies out there.I had a '90 American Standard Strat. Actually, that was the guitar I learned to play on and was a solid work-horse until my dumb ass smashed it up. I've bought and sold several Strats - MIJ, AVRI, CS, blah blah and the only one I really bonded with (and miss) is the American Standard. Maybe it's just nostalgia? Who knows? Either way, I'm done with Strats.I'd look at the complete package like the swimming pool route, trem system, electronics, PICKUPS, tremsetter, etc. before you make a judgement about the tone wood. Basswood is much lighter, though. My first guitar was an Ibanez RG140 superstrat made from basswood. It was light and sounded very warm. Maybe it's the swimming pool route on these 90's strats, or the trem blocks..or the bridges..I don't know, but it just isn't there. I did an experiment where I blocked the trem with metal coins. The body vibrates like mad now, way more than before, but the tone is so dark now that it doesn't cut at all. It's crazy what a difference it made. The guitar went from crazy bright shrill to dark with one mod. Maybe if I block with wood it will split the difference. The point is..I probably should just give up on the guitar if I have to screw around this much with it to get it to sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 Ash is a little more bright, i LOVELOVELOVE alnico 2 pickups in ash with 250k pots. definitely awesome. That's what mine is...swamp ash with overwound alinco's... It's {censored}in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brewski Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 I don't like basswood at all. I've tried to, but just don't. I like Alder and Mahogany. I have also had guitars that sounded tone dead. for a Strat it's Ash and Alder For Les Paul it's Mahogany and maybe with a Maple cap for shred/Floyd equipped guitar there is nothing better than Basswood All of these tone woods are great - they just are what they are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 Try the quarter-turned neck-screw trick before you change the body. :poke: (see the other thread ) http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2464074 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members isuck Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 CEDRQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 CEDRQ :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members isuck Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 Indian Red ceder (Cedro) it's what the Squier vm series is made out of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _Idioteque_ Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 basswood is like, an inbetween tonally on the entire guitar wood spectrum. in other words, borrrrrringgggggggggg alder is awesome sounding for the price, but I prefer ash because of looks and it's a bit brighter. translucent ash finishes rule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 don't let anyone {censored} with your mind. alder is the way to go. unless you're a country player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 FWIW, Jeff Beck's #1 Strat is basswood (at 3:05) [YOUTUBE]W4EBBPOr2no[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 My strat-alike has the best of both world: alder back and thick cap of swamp ash on front. It resonates acoustically like no other electric I've owned but it may be the quality of the guitar rather than the wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 :poke: LOL...nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TruSlice Posted October 17, 2009 Members Share Posted October 17, 2009 Ash = twangy, meaty, bright. Not for the faint of heart. Alder = even-tempered, somewhat bold, lively. Great all-around tonewood. Basswood = soft, warm, subdued. Shredders like the dampened attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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