Chambered wenge body too dark?

[orinaiya]

Trying to decide on guitar body. anyone know what a chambered wenge body would sound like with fralin pick-ups

 

[pabloman]

Depends on the neck. That's more important than the body.

Which Fralins? You asked a very vague question. We need details man!

 

[orinaiya]

Fralin blues special. The neck I am unsure of. Don't know what would go with either. Of my body choices for the best tone. The body I am not sure on chambered koa or wenge. I want chewy mid frequencies but not too dark on the low but dark enough.  The pick-ups are single coil. The body would be a strat body. I have not been playing that long but just help my friend build his guitar and now I want to try. I currently play a nighthawk

 

[Cagey]

Choose a neck first. That'll sorta drive your body choice, appearance-wise. Sound-wise, the body isn't terribly important. It's a mounting fixture for your pickups, neck and bridge as well as a string anchor. On the list of things that influence an electric guitar's tonal character, the body is down the list a way.

I'm not sure what "chewy mid frequencies but not too dark on the low but dark enough" means, but I suspect an Ebony over Wenge neck would give you something like that. If nothing else, it would be a joy to play. Wenge has a unique feel to it that most people fall in love with. Also, no matter what else, put stainless frets on it. Trust me on this one; you won't be sorry.

If you like the look of Koa, you may want to consider putting a Koa top on a piece of chambered Alder or Swamp Ash. Koa is heavy stuff, so even chambered you probably don't want a whole body made of it. Doesn't get you anything for the money other than lower back and shoulder pain.