Meanwhile, at Warmoth: neck tone shootout - Maple vs Mahogany

[rauchman]

The rosewood didn't tame anything.
There's not enough material there to have any effect on the tone. Your eyes, and decades of propaganda told you it sounded "warmer".

If you're being serious....
Ahhhhh, the expert who speaks for all.  Please don't presume to know what my ears hear.  Yeah, it did.

If you're being sarcastic, well that's another story.

 

[AirCap]

Everyone's ears are different. Some have precise hearing - others don't (for whatever reason - from abuse to genetics to training). And The Aaron is correct - an analyzer would be pointless.

There ARE differences, and anyone who says that there are NONE has hearing problems, or is an uncomprehending nitwit.

The important thing is - as a group, we dig Warmoth stuff in all the flavors available.

 

[Strat Avenger]

It's the same thing with amp modeling, and I've done dozens of blindfold tests with various mixes, some mine, some by commercial releases, and the blindfold test wins every single time.

Amp modeling has nothing to do with the tonal qualities of wood species.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Everyone's ears are different. Some have precise hearing - others don't (for whatever reason - from abuse to genetics to training). And The Aaron is correct - an analyzer would be pointless.

There ARE differences, and anyone who says that there are NONE has hearing problems, or is an uncomprehending nitwit.

The important thing is - as a group, we dig Warmoth stuff in all the flavors available.

"Hearing problems"??  Riiight.

Seriously, there's no difference from that thin little slab of rosewood on a maple core, and claiming to have "super-human" hearing doesn't prove otherwise.

 

[mayfly]

Gentlemen - take it easy.  I personally can hear differences (headphones on - eyes closed).  They are very slight to my ears, but I could tell.  But I would not put down anyone who can't hear it. 

A wise man once said "Everyone's ears are different, Laurel." 

 

[Seamas]

I think the idea that the thin-ness  of the fretboard wood is something of a non-starter. The fact that the slab of wood in question is situated within a few millimeters of about 3/4 the length of the string --and having possible interaction with the physical vibration of  the string is where the issue of possible tonal differences lay.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

It's the same thing with amp modeling, and I've done dozens of blindfold tests with various mixes, some mine, some by commercial releases, and the blindfold test wins every single time.

Amp modeling has nothing to do with the tonal qualities of wood species.

True, but the principles of tonal identification are similarly true.

 

[AirCap]

and claiming to have "super-human" hearing doesn't prove otherwise.

Says the guy who DOESN'T have it. Anyone heard the stories about Eric Johnson being able to tell the diff between brands of batteries in his pedals? He's been tested - and his claims were proven. Which is hard to believe considering how loud the guy plays live.

 

[Strat Avenger]

and claiming to have "super-human" hearing doesn't prove otherwise.

Says the guy who DOESN'T have it. Anyone heard the stories about Eric Johnson being able to tell the diff between brands of batteries in his pedals? He's been tested - and his claims were proven. Which is hard to believe considering how loud the guy plays live.

Yeah, I'll bet you can hear the difference between a brass dog whistle and a stainless steel dog whistle too.

 

[swarfrat]

No need to get testy guys.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Well, none of us here are Eric Johnson, respectfully.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Listened only once each clip.
The neck video I heard a small difference between them, enough to make me think on buying the woods X or Y...
The body video I didn't hear difference, will listen again later with fresh ears (heard on my earphones and was listening 1h30 previously music from the work to my house)

 

[Nando Vallart]

Heard again the Body videos and listened a difference... It's not as SCREAMING as internet says, but there is a difference...

The guy who said that in a live piece, with 2 guitars, bass, drums and lots of noise, would be the kind of difference that disappears, it is what I think too...

 

[musicispeace]

Aaron's use of the word "subtle" I think extends quite far on this topic. I can say I think my all Bubinga neck influences notes to sound "rounder" somewhat than my maple necks but I tend to be in the camp that says once you introduce a drummer and bass player into it those subtleties will be absorbed. Turning up volume for a band situation or turning it down for solo guitar impacts things. I tend to think of cultivating two sounds, one solo guitar sound and one band sound. Probably with much similarity but also some strengths spotlighted in each and some subtleties lost in each. But the blessing and curse of all this is we all get to choose for ourselves in our own playing. Season to taste, as they say.

 

[ptirman]

Nice job on the video Aaron. I originally had a maple neck with a zebrawood fretboard on the Zebracaster seen on my sig. About 2 years ago I replaced it with a mahogany neck and zebrawood fretboard. There was a difference to my ears (and my bandmates) with the mahogany being warmer (by that I mean more midtones) but still articulate. With my eyes closed I could hear the same differnce in your video albeit I suffer from presumption bias. :doh:

 

[amigarobbo]

Huh, huh... You said shaft wood

 

[beltjones]

These videos are absolutely brilliant. You can hear a subtle difference between woods, different fret materials, etc. It's definitely there, but man, you really have to be listening for it.

I suppose if you went with the brightest option for neck wood, fretboard wood, frets, and body wood you might end up with quite a bright guitar (and likewise if you did the same with warm-sounding materials), but my hunch is that even a little mixing and matching will make these subtle differences almost negligible. At that point how a guitar sounds (assuming the same pickups) will come down to intra-species differentiation, playing dynamics, etc.

 

[rgand]

These videos are absolutely brilliant. You can hear a subtle difference between woods, different fret materials, etc. It's definitely there, but man, you really have to be listening for it.

I suppose if you went with the brightest option for neck wood, fretboard wood, frets, and body wood you might end up with quite a bright guitar (and likewise if you did the same with warm-sounding materials), but my hunch is that even a little mixing and matching will make these subtle differences almost negligible. At that point how a guitar sounds (assuming the same pickups) will come down to intra-species differentiation, playing dynamics, etc.

That would be a fun comparison. Totally subjective and able to show how drastically different, or not, you can make a guitar sound. One loaded pickguard, bridge and tuners to move from one neck/body combo to another. Pit the brightest guitar you can assemble with the warmest.

 

[beltjones]

That would be a fun comparison. Totally subjective and able to show how drastically different, or not, you can make a guitar sound. One loaded pickguard, bridge and tuners to move from one neck/body combo to another. Pit the brightest guitar you can assemble with the warmest.

... and then swap the necks. Which is brighter - a maple neck / board on a mahogany body or a mahogany / rosewood neck on a maple body? Or did they do that one already? heh.

 

[rgand]

That would be a fun comparison. Totally subjective and able to show how drastically different, or not, you can make a guitar sound. One loaded pickguard, bridge and tuners to move from one neck/body combo to another. Pit the brightest guitar you can assemble with the warmest.

... and then swap the necks. Which is brighter - a maple neck / board on a mahogany body or a mahogany / rosewood neck on a maple body? Or did they do that one already? heh.

I think there are a few more options to compare before a good overview shoot-out can happen. Nut materials and roasted vs unroasted wood, for example.