Body wood for my Warmoth San Dimas style Strat

[shownomercy]

I'm building a Warmoth San Dimas style Strat, rear routed of course. I know I want a maple/maple neck with a satin finish, but I can't decide whether to do Alder or Mahogany body. I play old school metal...from Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Priest, Motorhead to Sadus, Kreator, Dark Angel, Slayer, Death, Autopsy and Morbid Angel. I'm using a X2N that I want to coil tap in the bridge (fixed Strat style) and maybe a single coil in the middle -or- neck position. Is there a big difference in alder and mahogany in a bolt on guitar like this? Thx!

 

[dmraco]

both should sound the same.  Mahogany may be a tad warmer...not that big of a difference.

here is the deciding factor...

PAINT = Alder
Stain = Mahogany.

just my 2 cents.

 

[JaySwear]

i'm going to throw my thoughts in there and say basswood! sounds like you're probably pretty well decided on the two choices you gave (i say alder if so) but i think basswood can be one of the most clear and literal woods out there. if that makes any sense... i had an RG with a super distortion in it (which i definitely recommend too) and the clarity was absolutely amazing. it's a softer wood, but with a finish over it that shouldn't matter.

anyway, what color for the strat? before i decided what my second build would be i was really leaning towards doing a hardtail charvel-style strat in metallic orange

 

[dmraco]

i'm going to throw my thoughts in there and say basswood! sounds like you're probably pretty well decided on the two choices you gave (i say alder if so) but i think basswood can be one of the most clear and literal woods out there. if that makes any sense... i had an RG with a super distortion in it (which i definitely recommend too) and the clarity was absolutely amazing. it's a softer wood, but with a finish over it that shouldn't matter.

anyway, what color for the strat? before i decided what my second build would be i was really leaning towards doing a hardtail charvel-style strat in metallic orange

Basswood is good too, but like you said it is soft.  Looking at the type of mucis this guy plays I would say thins things is going to have a whammy.  I worry about the mounting point of whammys on basswood.

 

[rgjmce]

I'd go for alder, most metal guitarist use guitar bodies made of alder. Just look at jackson, charvel, fender etc all alder, i think mahogany is more rock then metal imo, i do prefer mahogany but for what you wanna play i think alder will suit better, sorry for such a long reply

 

[back2thefutre]

alder, basswood if u have the balls

 

[shownomercy]

how much softer is basswood than alder? I want a guitar that will be durable. As far as paint I'm thinking arctic white or black w/ chrome pup cover and creme X2N (which I want to coil tap for cleans).

 

[dmraco]

ALDER...nuff said.

one push-pull knob for volume/coil tap...wire it for MAX tone...LOVE IT! :guitarplayer2: :guitarplayer2: :guitarplayer2: :guitarplayer2:

 

[Mor Paul]

.wire it for MAX tone

Nah, you guys can do better than me easily.

Well, until I get a few projects started/finished.