Chambered Soloist?

[jm1681]

I tried searching around, but I didn't find much

To the point, does anyone know if it's possible to get a chambered Soloist body? I know Warmoth doesn't necessarily list EVERYTHING they can do, but because it's all CNC, I understand it might not be possible.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I _think_ that if it were an option it would be in the builder.

Why do you want a chambered Soloist? Chambering is first and foremost a weight relieving procedure and most Soloist tend to be on the light side anyway.

 

[Cagey]

Light, and I think they're a little thinner, too. At least, mine seems to be. But, mine's a carved-top, which may be different. Either way, removing any internal wood probably wouldn't return much benefit, weight-wise.

 

[jm1681]

I _think_ that if it were an option it would be in the builder.

Why do you want a chambered Soloist? Chambering is first and foremost a weight relieving procedure and most Soloist tend to be on the light side anyway.

I kind of thought the same thing, but then again, one-piece bodies aren't an option in the building either, and Warmoth does offer them

The main reason I want it is for the more open and resonant tone. I like hollow bodies, just not the shape. I figure this would let me get a little bit of both, the look I want, and the sound I want. Oh, I'd be using Hard Ash for the body, so a little weight loss wouldn't be too bad a thing

Light, and I think they're a little thinner, too. At least, mine seems to be. But, mine's a carved-top, which may be different. Either way, removing any internal wood probably wouldn't return much benefit, weight-wise.

Like I said, I'm more interested in the poppier, snappier tone

 

[Pelagaard]

The main reason I want it is for the more open and resonant tone. I like hollow bodies, just not the shape. I figure this would let me get a little bit of both, the look I want, and the sound I want. Oh, I'd be using Hard Ash for the body, so a little weight loss wouldn't be too bad a thing

Like I said, I'm more interested in the poppier, snappier tone

Which is it?  Those are pretty different in my books.

 

[jm1681]

Which is it?  Those are pretty different in my books.

Fair enough. Really, I like the "woodier" tone of a hollow body. Does that work?

It's kind of hard to describe. I think hollow bodies sound a bit crisper, with a more defined and less boomy bottom end. At least in my limited experience with hollow bodies, this was what I took from them.

 

[Cagey]

I don't know... I've got hollow bodies, chambered bodies and solid bodies here in a variety of wood species, and have built many others for others, and I have a tough time attributing their sound to those characteristics. It's more the necks/pickups/bridges. I'm sure the body makes some difference, but I don't think it's enough to get worked up about. The hollow/chambered body trick is more a weight saving move than anything else. Not to diminish that benefit - I think it's worth the cost - but I wouldn't do it for "tonal" reasons.

You have to remember that with an electric, the pickups only see the strings. They don't hear the body at all. So, you only have to be careful that you don't use neck woods that are too soft or neck joints that are too squishy so that frequencies you might be interested in get absorbed.

 

[jm1681]

I understand what folks of this belief are saying; logically it makes sense.

However, I disagree based on personal experience with solid body and hollow body instruments. Going from something like a PRS McCarty to a PRS Hollowbody II, there is a HUGE difference in tone, a difference I cannot attribute to pickups because everything about the instrument feels different. Same thing with something like a Les Paul versus an ES-339.

There's a big difference in feel. The strings resonate differently, and because of that, I believe there is a subjectively positive impact on tone. Really, I'm only interested in whether or not Warmoth CAN do it; my mind is already made up that I WANT to.

 

[swarfrat]

The main reason I want it is for the more open and resonant tone. I like hollow bodies, just not the shape. I figure this would let me get a little bit of both, the look I want, and the sound I want. Oh, I'd be using Hard Ash for the body, so a little weight loss wouldn't be too bad a thing

Like I said, I'm more interested in the poppier, snappier tone

Which is it?  Those are pretty different in my books.

Poppier and snappier are much more vague than resonant. You might not mean the same thing, but I can certainly see lots of room for disagreement in the library.

 

[jm1681]

Poppier and snappier are much more vague than resonant. You might not mean the same thing, but I can certainly see lots of room for disagreement in the library.

It's easy to get lost in syntax when trying to verbalize how you want your guitar to sound

So... does anyone know if Warmoth can do this for me? Forget the why, I just want to know if they can.

 

[Fat Pete]

I would say no. But, ask - you never know. Make sure you're asking for what you actually want; there's a big difference between chambered and hollow. Have a look at Warmoth's info and pics showing how they do it.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

Yeah - shoot them an email about it. Can't hurt. And they know for sure  :icon_biggrin:

Just one thing - and I respect your opinion and also agrees that hollow bodies sound different. But have you experienced that chambering will "do" the same?

 

[jm1681]

Just one thing - and I respect your opinion and also agrees that hollow bodies sound different. But have you experienced that chambering will "do" the same?

Completely fair; I have NOT experienced this.

I'm banking on it though I think the best way to describe it, is that I want clarity in the bottom end With a chambered Ash body, and a Wenge/Ebony neck, I think I'll be good If not, hey, at least it'll be pretty.