What is the difference to me? I have only had top routed guitars. The pickups I want to use, as well as the controls all came from a top routed guitar. Is there any reason why the new body has to be top routed and if not, is there any reason not to get a bottom/back routed body?
guitar body top vs bottom/back routing
- Thread starter tc4all
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Ace Flibble
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The only difference that I think is worth noting is that on some body styles, top routing will involve taking more wood out of the body than rear routing. This may be vaguely important to some people who insist on having the most or the least wood possible. It's not a huge difference by any means though and really the pickguard vs plain top thing is a more important point.
S
swarfrat
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I think a bridge single coil looks akward without a pickguard. Similarly humbuckerrs in pickguards work, but look better in rings.
Cagey
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It's as Line6man said - it's an aesthetic thing more than anything else, and has to do with personal preference.
If you spend a lot of money on a fancy top, you may not want to cover it up. Strats and Teles are notorious for this, as they have pickguards that cover half or more of the body. If you spend the bucks to get a fancy top, one would think you'd probably want to see or display it.
I seriously doubt there's any difference in tonal quality.
I've done it both ways. If you don't have a pickguard, you'll tear up your finish over time. If you do have a pickguard, you'll tear up the guard and not see the finish. Pickguards are easier to replace than finishes or fancy wood, but if the money parts are covered up, what difference does it make? It's like fine furniture with plastic covers. How disgusting is that? And tore up is tore up, whether it's a guard or a finish.
So, you pays yer munny and you makes yer choice.
If you spend a lot of money on a fancy top, you may not want to cover it up. Strats and Teles are notorious for this, as they have pickguards that cover half or more of the body. If you spend the bucks to get a fancy top, one would think you'd probably want to see or display it.
I seriously doubt there's any difference in tonal quality.
I've done it both ways. If you don't have a pickguard, you'll tear up your finish over time. If you do have a pickguard, you'll tear up the guard and not see the finish. Pickguards are easier to replace than finishes or fancy wood, but if the money parts are covered up, what difference does it make? It's like fine furniture with plastic covers. How disgusting is that? And tore up is tore up, whether it's a guard or a finish.
So, you pays yer munny and you makes yer choice.
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