Thoughts & opinions on my next build

[kennslp]

Hello all. I promised myself that I was done with projects for awhile, but then Warmoth went and put the archtop Soloist bodies on sale! I... could... not...resist. Lol. Anyway, so the next build has begun. Taking my time with this one, and I've been pondering what the build will look like.

So starting with the body: It's an ash body with a maple cap. This signals to me that it could be potentially a very bright guitar. I do know that woods vary and nothing is definitive, but what are your thoughts on this? Would you perhaps consider options that might offset the potential 'brightness' that the body may bring to the overall tonal response?

Also a consideration: This is a Hum-Hum body w/ a recessed Floyd Rose. I'd like this build to be a solid 'rock/heavy rock' type of guitar. Not necessarily a modern, high gain shredder. (Got that already, and it's not really my main 'thing') Pickup choice is always important (duh), but I'm wondering if I should try to compensate for the brightness with my choices here. What I am considering is this:

Bridge: Dimarzio Super 3 (I have 1 in 2 guitars and really like it; Its more mid-focused and less bright than say a Super Distortion or a JB)
Neck: Dimarzio PAF Pro. (Just a good all around choice)

I would love to hear your suggestions in this regard.

Also, regarding the neck: I am thinking of going w/ a rosewood board to again off-set the tonality of the body. But this is also my preference anyway. Core wood will be roasted flame maple, because, well, they all should be!

Lastly, this is a new one for me: I am considering a Gibson scale conversion neck. I'm genuinely curious as to how this will effect the tonality of the guitar. I've seen Aaron's video on the subject, and I think I agree with what he notes (a small difference, but it's there). Any experiences you guys have with this would be really appreciated.

Well, that's where I'm at. Looking forward to digging into this build, even though as I type all this I am thinking that maybe I am over-thinking all of this! Lol, well that's part of the fun. Anyway, thanks in advance for any input.

BTW, this is what the body looks like:



-K

 

[TBurst Std]

I wouldn’t worry about it being to bright. A simple cap change can handle that.Hell different strings can do it as well.

I say yes on your neck selection, and put your fave pups it it.

 

[Hodgo]

There’s no subtle changed introduced by the wood or scale length that your tone knob and amp EQ can’t compensate for. Strings of the same gauge feel a little slinkier on the shorter scale, you can move up a size if that will bother you.

That body would look good with any fretboard.

Build it. Post pics.

 

[teleme01]

I think ash is similar to mahogany and the wood combination is close to les Paul territory, not known for being too bright, the Gibson scale necks will bring it more into that wheel house. My opinion is very opionated.

 

[Spud]

Hello all. I promised myself that I was done with projects for awhile, but then Warmoth went and put the archtop Soloist bodies on sale! I... could... not...resist. Lol. Anyway, so the next build has begun. Taking my time with this one, and I've been pondering what the build will look like.

So starting with the body: It's an ash body with a maple cap. This signals to me that it could be potentially a very bright guitar. I do know that woods vary and nothing is definitive, but what are your thoughts on this? Would you perhaps consider options that might offset the potential 'brightness' that the body may bring to the overall tonal response?

Also a consideration: This is a Hum-Hum body w/ a recessed Floyd Rose. I'd like this build to be a solid 'rock/heavy rock' type of guitar. Not necessarily a modern, high gain shredder. (Got that already, and it's not really my main 'thing') Pickup choice is always important (duh), but I'm wondering if I should try to compensate for the brightness with my choices here. What I am considering is this:

Bridge: Dimarzio Super 3 (I have 1 in 2 guitars and really like it; Its more mid-focused and less bright than say a Super Distortion or a JB)
Neck: Dimarzio PAF Pro. (Just a good all around choice)

I would love to hear your suggestions in this regard.

Also, regarding the neck: I am thinking of going w/ a rosewood board to again off-set the tonality of the body. But this is also my preference anyway. Core wood will be roasted flame maple, because, well, they all should be!

Lastly, this is a new one for me: I am considering a Gibson scale conversion neck. I'm genuinely curious as to how this will effect the tonality of the guitar. I've seen Aaron's video on the subject, and I think I agree with what he notes (a small difference, but it's there). Any experiences you guys have with this would be really appreciated.

Well, that's where I'm at. Looking forward to digging into this build, even though as I type all this I am thinking that maybe I am over-thinking all of this! Lol, well that's part of the fun. Anyway, thanks in advance for any input.

BTW, this is what the body looks like:

View attachment 64736

-K

Regarding the conversion neck tone difference IMO having done two builds with conversions, is that the feel and attack factor in more than the tonal difference (though there is some).

 

[supertruper1988]

The maple cap will add some brightness but not that much in my experience.

Here are some pickup recommendations from my experience with Ash soloists:
DiMarzio AT-1 (warmer JB but still plenty of cut)
DiMarzio Norton (lower output JB which helps it be "cleaner")
DiMarzio Fred (this has an awesome midrange character but it not every one's jam)
Suhr Aldrich (this is just an amped up JB)

Aldrich will probably be to bright in Ash but its a kick ass pickup.

Neck pickup, PAF pro is a great choice but if you want more low end in a bright guitar, the PAF Joe has that.

 

[kennslp]

I think ash is similar to mahogany and the wood combination is close to les Paul territory, not known for being too bright, the Gibson scale necks will bring it more into that wheel house. My opinion is very opionated.

This is interesting. I've never done a direct comparison, but all I've read thus far (and hear in videos) points to ash being brighter. When I think of ash, I think Tele, which to me means a bit bright. Of course it's all subjective and I could be wrong. I'll have to ponder this a bit. Thanks.

-K

 

[kennslp]

I wouldn’t worry about it being to bright. A simple cap change can handle that.Hell different strings can do it as well.

I say yes on your neck selection, and put your fave pups it it.

I've never experimented with this. I'll have to do some reading regarding cap values so I understand a bit more. My prior builds have used cap values that were suggested by pickup manufacturers mostly, so I'm wired to think that is 'correct'. Of course this is all subjective and what's right is what sounds good. Thanks.

-K

 

[Scab Pickens]

From my experience, it's much easier to tame brightness than it is to add it to something where it never existed. I like bright.

 

[stratamania]

This is interesting. I've never done a direct comparison, but all I've read thus far (and hear in videos) points to ash being brighter. When I think of ash, I think Tele, which to me means a bit bright. Of course it's all subjective and I could be wrong. I'll have to ponder this a bit. Thanks.

-K

Take it with a pinch of salt, he said, he "thinks" but it is not accurate. Also which ash, Northern Ash and Swamp Ash will differ in general in terms of tone.

Guitar Body Woods

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Until you put the guitar together, you aren't going to know for certain how any combination is going to sound to your ears.

 

[Waraxe]

My '99 tele started out as an alder/spalt showcase body i just HAD to have.
I too was concerned about excessive brightness, so I went with a mahogany neck. The fretboard is ebony for some articulation. I wanted maple, but they wouldn't do it.
It sounds amazing unplugged, just perfectly balanced. Plugged in is more of the same. I've tried some maple necks on it, and there is definitely a difference.

I prefer this combo over a mahogany body/maple neck.

It was a happy accident that turned out great. I'd do it again.

 

[teleme01]

My '99 tele started out as an alder/spalt showcase body i just HAD to have.
I too was concerned about excessive brightness, so I went with a mahogany neck. The fretboard is ebony for some articulation. I wanted maple, but they wouldn't do it.
It sounds amazing unplugged, just perfectly balanced. Plugged in is more of the same. I've tried some maple necks on it, and there is definitely a difference.

I prefer this combo over a mahogany body/maple neck.

It was a happy accident that turned out great. I'd do it again.

Interesting... wonder the tone difference of a maple body with a mahogany neck vs a mahogany body with a maple neck.

 

[kennslp]

My '99 tele started out as an alder/spalt showcase body i just HAD to have.
I too was concerned about excessive brightness, so I went with a mahogany neck. The fretboard is ebony for some articulation. I wanted maple, but they wouldn't do it.
It sounds amazing unplugged, just perfectly balanced. Plugged in is more of the same. I've tried some maple necks on it, and there is definitely a difference.

I prefer this combo over a mahogany body/maple neck.

It was a happy accident that turned out great. I'd do it again.

That's really interesting. Now I am REALLY curious how this thing is gonna turn out! We shall see.... Thanks.

-K

 

[VanHeGen]

@kennslp I was wondering about woods and tone in 2023, when I built my Soloist-based guitar ”Coffee” (swamp ash, maple cap, roasted maple neck, gibson scaled neck, etc). But the truth is that the tonal impact worth to consider happens somewhere else in the signal chain. Pickups have a big impact on the tone, and usually people will have to change them a few (or more) times before being satisfied. I was probably lucky, because I found ”my tone” immediately (Pariah Pasadena White humbucker in the bridge)

So I definitely concur with with @Hodgo ”There’s no subtle change introduced by the wood or scale length that your tone knob and amp EQ can’t compensate”
and @stratamania ”Until you put the guitar together, you aren't going to know for certain how any combination is going to sound to your ears.”.

Just build it.
It will be great!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

For heavy rock and all points in between, I’ve rally been digging the EMG 58 as of late. It’s a P90 voice in a Humbucker cap, with just a touch more output, and dead silent. It’s become one of my new favorite recording pickups as I am still a die hard 57/66 combo guy.

 

[kennslp]

@kennslp I was wondering about woods and tone in 2023, when I built my Soloist-based guitar ”Coffee” (swamp ash, maple cap, roasted maple neck, gibson scaled neck, etc). But the truth is that the tonal impact worth to consider happens somewhere else in the signal chain. Pickups have a big impact on the tone, and usually people will have to change them a few (or more) times before being satisfied. I was probably lucky, because I found ”my tone” immediately (Pariah Pasadena White humbucker in the bridge)

So I definitely concur with with @Hodgo ”There’s no subtle change introduced by the wood or scale length that your tone knob and amp EQ can’t compensate”
and @stratamania ”Until you put the guitar together, you aren't going to know for certain how any combination is going to sound to your ears.”.

Just build it.
It will be great!

Thanks for your input! In the end, that's exactly what I'm going to do. BTW, 'Coffee' is awesome! I'm not familiar with the pickup. I'll definitely check that out.

-K

 

[VanHeGen]

Thanks for your input! In the end, that's exactly what I'm going to do. BTW, 'Coffee' is awesome! I'm not familiar with the pickup. I'll definitely check that out.

-K

Regarding Coffee, thanks! The pickup is supposed to be as close as possible to the early Eddie Van Halen pickup(s), and when Pete Thorn tested like 30 pickups for that sound, this was his favorite. It works great for everything from early AC/DC and Free to 80´s Whitesnake. It is not high output (9K), but that also means it cleans up nicely with the volume knob. And with the spin-a-split (blending in the 2nd coil of the humbucker) I can get "stratty" sounds from it, too. Enjoy the build!