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New video: Body wood tone test - Alder vs Swamp Ash vs Mahogany

jond4 said:
People too often do not see the forest for the trees when it comes to electric guitar tone (wood pun intended).

strings - picks - pickups - potentiometer - wireless unit - effects - amp(s) - effects loop - speakers - volume - microphone(s) and so on.

Sure there are lots of other factors, but isn't that the point of the video? All of the other things in the video are the same so what difference can you hear with bodies made of different wood.

On an electric guitar as you say lots of things can contribute to the overall sound that you hear (including the player). But there are those who would say wood makes no difference which clearly is not correct. How much that or any other element matters is subjective in the end.
 
stratamania said:
jond4 said:
People too often do not see the forest for the trees when it comes to electric guitar tone (wood pun intended).

strings - picks - pickups - potentiometer - wireless unit - effects - amp(s) - effects loop - speakers - volume - microphone(s) and so on.

Sure there are lots of other factors, but isn't that the point of the video? All of the other things in the video are the same so what difference can you hear with bodies made of different wood.

On an electric guitar as you say lots of things can contribute to the overall sound that you hear (including the player). But there are those who would say wood makes no difference which clearly is not correct. How much that or any other element matters is subjective in the end.

I never said there was no difference in the video. It's that it's not different enough to even matter whatsoever when stacked up against all the other items in a signal chain and if you're recording may as well include post processing and mastering.

Guitarists drone on and on about one wood being brighter or another is warmer, etc when the reality is moving the treble knob on the amp from 5 to 6 makes a bigger change. That is my point with not seeing the forest for the trees.

Hyper focusing on what wood a solid body electric guitar is made from tone wise is silly. What should matter to everyone is...was it routed correctly, is it a strong wood that will be stable over years, am I choosing it for the look of the grain, will it take dye, stain or paint well? Consider looking at it from a woodcrafters perspective. My current Warmoth project body is poplar because I'm doing a solid paint job on it. My previous one was swamp ash strictly because I liked the grain and I dyed it.

*side note....Can't exclude aluminum electric guitars in the discussion. I have played them many times, they sound exactly like one made of wood albeit aluminum has a little better natural sustain, which is also irrelevant because we have pedals that can create infinite sustain anyway...but I digress.
 
I could tell the difference when my eyes were open.  When I listened with them closed, I could only distinguish the mahogany and it was subtle.
 
Is it still ok to just like fancy woods because they are unique and beautiful? And nothing beats putting dye on some quilt or flame for the first time.
 
Yes. It's almost the only reason. It's not a "better" wood by any objective measure.
 
If you can't tell the difference between expensive wine and cheap wine, then drink the cheap wine. Or whichever wine looks the best. Everyone senses things differently. If everyone thought the same things sounded good or prioritized the same things the world would suck.
 
The offensive posts have been deleted, and all should bear in mind that this is a family forum where all should be treated with respect.
 
Kostas said:
Something different

[youtube]https://youtu.be/zBWc5Ye-uLU[/youtube]

Just saw that on Reddit yesterday! I even ordered that cool adapter he used for his drill :)
 
I thought the screws were going to pull out of that based on how easy of a time he was having drilling those holes, but it looks like they held. I bet that thing weighs a ton.
 
spe111 said:
I thought the screws were going to pull out of that based on how easy of a time he was having drilling those holes, but it looks like they held. I bet that thing weighs a ton.

He said it was around 10 lbs.
 
jond4 said:
Just saw that on Reddit yesterday! I even ordered that cool adapter he used for his drill :)


Ya...I thought that was cool too. Save me some work: where did you find it for sale?
 
double A said:
jond4 said:
Just saw that on Reddit yesterday! I even ordered that cool adapter he used for his drill :)


Ya...I thought that was cool too. Save me some work: where did you find it for sale?

here you go :)

https://www.amazon.com/Milescraft-1318-DrillMate-Drill-Guide/dp/B014A1Z92I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1546883021&sr=8-3&keywords=milescraft

 
That's the one to get. Has its own chuck, where many of the others force you to remove the chuck from your drill motor and replace it with the jig. That one will attach to nearly any portable drill motor.
 
"I wonder if the players of violins, mandolins, and guitars argued about tonewoods BEFORE the advent of electronics. My guess is the existence, benefits, and enjoyment of tonewoods was never much in doubt for the last several centuries.
There is a reason for traditions such as respect for tonewoods. Stop arguing against history. You look stupid when you do."
I completely respect the tradition of tonewoods when it comes to acoustic instruments. I doubt anyone would argue tonewood and finish doesn't have an effect on tone with acoustic instruments. The wood is very thin and resonates to create volume. When you go to 1.75" thick wood, the effect of the tonewood or the finish can't have the same effect because the mass of the wood is so large, the body resonates to a much lower degree. The electronics will have a much greater effect on tone.

Michael
 
Kostas said:
Something different

[youtube]https://youtu.be/zBWc5Ye-uLU[/youtube]


I wonder what lead him to try this. I must admit I am really drawn to it.

Build quality looks a little sketchy...it will be interesting to see how it colors the tone.

I'm all for experimenting with alternate materials, but this might be where I draw the line.
 
double A said:
I wonder what lead him to try this. I must admit I am really drawn to it.

Build quality looks a little sketchy...it will be interesting to see how it colors the tone.

I'm all for experimenting with alternate materials, but this might be where I draw the line.

:toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12:

 
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