ebony fretboard for strat

[vtpcnk]

is ebony considered a suitable wood for a strat - especially for the typical strat single coil pickups? (i think fender had some highend models like "elite strat" etc with ebony fretboard).

and how does it match with swamp ash?

and how does ebony as fretboard match with p90s?

and anybody have a "hard tail" strat with ferrules like a tele - similar to the robert cray strat. any views on it - pros/cons?

appreciate the feedback.

 

[tfarny]

Yes, Very Well, and Yes. Here are mine: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4666.0 and http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=8117.15
The first one is my main player at the moment, the second one is turning out to be a fantastic slide guitar. Love the BL pups now that I've messed with them a bit.

 

[koshersteel]

Ebony is considered a high end fingerboard wood on almost all stringed instruments. It is a very hard wood that will hold up well over time. The traditional "jet black" variety is very hard to come by these days but luckily some of the streaking in 2nd grade ebony can be quite striking. Due to it's hardness many people consider ebony to have a "bright" tome when compared to rosewood, P-90's would probably be a good choice for rounding out the tone of the fingerboard a little if that's not your thing.

What wood are you using for the neck itself?

 

[bbl4ck]

I have a Robert Cray strat with a Warmoth Canary neck and I love it!!!

You can see it here:
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=8332.0

Stays in tune forever.  I highly recommend the hardtail...

 

[vtpcnk]

I have a Robert Cray strat with a Warmoth Canary neck and I love it!!!

You can see it here:
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=8332.0

Stays in tune forever.  I highly recommend the hardtail...

hey that is cool. i am especially interested in the robert cray pickups which have glowing reviews? what is your view on them?

but sadly i might not go for a robert cray body as i already have an alder strat. i would like a swamp ash one.

 

[vtpcnk]

>What wood are you using for the neck itself?

maple, i think. i am only in the dreaming stage at the moment

 

[bbl4ck]

I have a Robert Cray strat with a Warmoth Canary neck and I love it!!!

You can see it here:
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=8332.0

Stays in tune forever.  I highly recommend the hardtail...

hey that is cool. i am especially interested in the robert cray pickups which have glowing reviews? what is your view on them?

but sadly i might not go for a robert cray body as i already have an alder strat. i would like a swamp ash one.

First, be aware that there is a difference in the pickups of the Robert Cray custom shop strat and the Robert Cray made in Mexico [MIM] model.
I read an interview with Robert Cray and he explained that the MIM pickups ended up being very hot, just like his own pickups.
However, he wanted to tone them down a bit, so he did so on the custom shop strat.
Therefore, the MIM model has the hottest pickups, if that is important for you. 

[IMO]  On the MIM model, the sound on the neck and middle pickup are outstanding...  They are THE Robert  Cray sound...
That being said, I am not really happy with the bridge pickup...

My other strat has  Custom Shop Texas Specials, so maybe I am a bit bias. 
But if you are looking for the Robert Cray sound, the neck and middle pickup are perfect.
When I play Mr. Cray, I use only these two.

As far as tonewoods go, I cannot testify as to how the alder might differ from swamp ash.  I only own swamp ash. 
I see the greatest difference in sound is achieved by the hardtail vs. tremolo. 
Your choice

Good Luck...
:headbang1:

 

[vtpcnk]

>First, be aware that there is a difference in the pickups of the Robert Cray custom shop strat and the Robert Cray made in Mexico [MIM] model.

thanks for noting this. i didn't know.

>That being said, I am not really happy with the bridge pickup...
>My other strat has  Custom Shop Texas Specials, so maybe I am a bit bias. 

actually i didn't like the ts bridge pickup - replaced it with a sd lil 59. are the rc mim pickups similar in output to the ts?

>As far as tonewoods go, I cannot testify as to how the alder might differ from swamp ash.  I only own swamp ash. 

but your rc strat body is made of alder.

>I see the greatest difference in sound is achieved by the hardtail vs. tremolo. 

in what way?

 

[bbl4ck]

>First, be aware that there is a difference in the pickups of the Robert Cray custom shop strat and the Robert Cray made in Mexico [MIM] model.

thanks for noting this. i didn't know.

>That being said, I am not really happy with the bridge pickup...
>My other strat has  Custom Shop Texas Specials, so maybe I am a bit bias. 

I am actually happy with my TS bridge when compared to the RC bridge.
If you don't like the TS bridge, you will probably hate the RC bridge.
IMO it sounds very weak when compared to the TS

actually i didn't like the ts bridge pickup - replaced it with a sd lil 59. are the rc mim pickups similar in output to the ts?

>As far as tonewoods go, I cannot testify as to how the alder might differ from swamp ash.  I only own swamp ash. 

but your rc strat body is made of alder.

My bad, Fosters Bitters has clouded my memory...  I have 3 swamp ash geetars and was thinking the Robert Cray was a swamp ash as well.
I don't really notice a great difference in my alder strats vs. my swamp ash strats.

>I see the greatest difference in sound is achieved by the hardtail vs. tremolo. 

in what way?

It just seems the sound is tighter on my hardtail vs. my tremolo. 
I can definitely state that my hardtail is always in tune, no matter how hard I play it. 
Even when I play it hard every day, within a weeks time, it only requires a very minimum tuning. 

Good luck and let me know how you end up...

 

[vtpcnk]

mr blackdog (i especially remember the one from "summer of sam" fondly) thanks for all the useful feedback.