2 vs 3 Piece Strat Body?!

[joe2000]

I have an old Warmoth strat body that I've just sanded down to refinish. I realised its a 3 piece body. My idea is to purchase neck and install a floyd rose.

Any opinions on 2 vs 3 piece bodies when it comes to effect on tone? Keep in mind I will install a floyd with an upgraded brass block.

Big deal when it comes to tone? Or not so much of an issue when you install a floyd?

Thanks

 

[line6man]

There is no effect on tone.  Two piece bodies are chosen over three piece bodies for aesthetic reasons. I have heard some people argue that a three piece body is better, because there is not as much stress on the glue joints, but that should never be a concern, if the pieces are glued properly.

 

[croquet hoop]

I have played guitars with three-piece bodies that sounded better (= fuller sound unplugged) than other two-piece bodies, so I agree that it does not matter much.

 

[Kostas]

The only guitar I have with a three piece body is the cheapest of all but, also the most resonant of all! At least of the solid bodies. I got the guitar online and I would not have bought it if I knew it was a three piece body because it has a transparent finish. I'm glad I have it though cause it plays and sounds amazing. When I play I don't notice the three pieces.

Would I buy a three piece body? No, I prefer two pieces (center joined) for guitars with tremolos. Two piece or one piece for no tremolo.

I don't know how big deal the three pieces are on tone. I believe everything matters, what we can hear matters more. And we all hear in a different way. Since you already have it why not use it?

 

[joe2000]

Thanks for the input. I will go ahead with the build and see how it goes.

After I finish my Nuno N4 inspired build. Just waiting for parts now

 

[stubhead]

The argument is the neck, pickups & bridge are all attached to the same piece of wood, so something something something. But I always had OK luck with guitars glued together any which way... so far. So what are the greatest five songs written and played on three-piece guitar bodies? I bet you don't even know!

Neither do I, but they're undoubtedly better, right? :hello2: I mean, how could they not be....  ccasion14:

 

[Strat Avenger]

Doesn't affect the "tone" at all.

 

[Cagey]

Doesn't affect the "tone" at all.

Generally speaking, no. But, there's a limit. Not sure what it is, but I've had some bodies over the years that looked like they were made from recovered gym flooring that were dead as roadkill. May as well have been made out of MDF. Gibson's pretty shameless about offering such parts, for instance, as are some of the lower-end Pacific Rim suppliers.

 

[Cederick]

So whould it be possible to spec out a 3-piece body to make it cheaper though Warmoth? I wouldn't mind it, because I'm pretty much an all-out solid finish guy. Never cared too much about wood grains or quilts and flames.

 

[bagman67]

I think it's safe to say that if Warmoth gets an order for a solid-finish body and they have a three-piece blank laying around, boom, you win.  But I don't see them offering discounts on their bottom-end price for a special request.

 

[Cederick]

I see  well yeah, I win!  :toothy12:

 

[stubhead]

bet they could get you some knots, gouges n' dryrot if you offer 'em enough

 

[croquet hoop]

Generally speaking, no. But, there's a limit. Not sure what it is, but I've had some bodies over the years that looked like they were made from recovered gym flooring that were dead as roadkill. May as well have been made out of MDF. Gibson's pretty shameless about offering such parts, for instance, as are some of the lower-end Pacific Rim suppliers.

That's a good description of my Ibanez RG 1550 — a five-piece basswood body that sounds frighteningly dead (and the thin neck & floating trem only make things worse). On the other hand my cheap Strat copy with a 3-piece agathis body sounds really great.