AEROCASTER - Tele Thinline

[Doughboy]

AEROCASTER, what qualities do you think the mahogany & rosewood body added to the sound that a straight ash body wouldn't have?

I was thinking that such a combo of warm woulds would take away the high end tele twang.

My next build is definitely going to be a tele now, thanks to you & I'm weighing my wood options. The neck will definitely be flame maple w/ rosewood fingeboard, but the body.... no idea!!!!

 

[AEROCASTER]

DOUGHBOY, I think the body wood has less impact on the sound than the neck woods and bridge.  That being said, if there's a difference in tone I'd expect the mahogany to be a bit warmer than swamp ash or alder, both of which are slightly harder.

Honestly, I have Teles with alder, mahogany and swamp ash bodies (all CIJ) and the '69 mahogany Thinline might be ever so slightly warmer.  But it has a hard maple neck and is still quite bright and chimey.  Hell, they're all chimey!!  Pickups make a difference in warming up the sound, too.

If you want a warmer sound out of the woods, use mahogany or rosewood on the neck, and perhaps a brass bridge plate.  Beyond that my advice is to just get the body wood you like, and cap that's to die for,  and let it fall into place. 

Cheers,
Aerocaster

 

[bendeg]

DOUGHBOY, I honestly don't think the chambering does too much to the sound once you get it amped, unless you're playing at extremely high volumes.  The pickups just get the string vibe created by the neck wood and the bridge…  I think that's the combination that ultimately gives you 'the sound'. 

A few posters mentioned entering this Tele in the Guitar of the Month… exactly where do you enter it?  I don't see the thread….

I think you're right when saying that the sound of a amped guitar depends mostly on the neck, pickups and the bridge. If the sound isn't satisfying, one of them has to be changed, or maybe all of them...Body doesn't really matter as long as it's a good piece of wood.

For Guitar Of The Month contest, you should PM DMRACO.

 

[Unwound G]

You certainly pushed the right button after all these years.  I like the controls and switch layout.  Perfect for a Tele with no pickguard to show off the beautiful face.