What I Learned From My New Frankenstein

[mullyman]

One thing I've really noticed about this Frankenstein is how good it sounds. I have a couple of theories on this and would like the opinions from some of you guys out there.

First, it's a swamp ash body. My first time going with ash and I have to say that I think it is really nice for a tone wood.

Second, there is no clear finish on it and the paint is fairly thin. It's not so thin that you can see through it but it's not super thick either. You can tell that by the relic'd areas that have been taken down to the wood.

I'm guessing those two factors are major players in how this guitar sounds and, as I started with, I love this guitar and will be very tempted to go with Ash again on a future build..........because we all know that I'm going to do it again eventually. haha!!

Granted, tone is subjective, what sounds good to me may sound like dog dung to someone else, and vice versa. Still, any thoughts?
MULLY
next build will be a surf blue stratocaster in honor of my friends '61 Fender of the same color........or maybe an alpine white with natural binding tele to match my main Strat

 

[DavyDave53]

Or did the amazing tone come from mounting the pickups directly to the body?

Hmm...

 

[Pelagaard]

Pretty sure the amazing tone is due to the coins under the floyd.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

I'm thinking you might be a bit biased towards your spankin' new Warmoth.  You're excited to have it, and play it, so of COURSE it's gonna sound amazing!

I say just accept that it sounds good, and don't think too much about why.

Otherwise you might have a website where every tone wood is described as having "deep, clear bass, pronounced mids, and chiming highs"...

 

[dmraco]

The perfect storm of parts. ccasion14:

What pickups did you use?

As a long time builder, I think the " feel " of a guitar effects our ear too. 

Also tone is 75% your amp/speaker combo.  Just my 2 cents

Bottom line......as long as you are happy...it sounds GREAT!

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I got to agree, I have been playing Gibsons exclusively the last ten or so years.
So my recent build I went with SW Ash because everyone raves about the tone it produces.
And the new Guit DEFINITELY Sounds tons better(Different). It has a lot more authority, and the attack is off the charts.
I love it. I think my next will be SW ash again as well.

 

[mullyman]

I'm thinking you might be a bit biased towards your spankin' new Warmoth.  You're excited to have it, and play it, so of COURSE it's gonna sound amazing!

I say just accept that it sounds good, and don't think too much about why.

Otherwise you might have a website where every tone wood is described as having "deep, clear bass, pronounced mids, and chiming highs"...

Yeah, I'm thinking that ain't it. I'm 45 years old. I don't pee in my pants anymore when I get something new. Am I glad to have my new guitar? Sure, but I'm far from being all giddy about it.
MULLY

 

[Cagey]

I'm 45 years old. I don't pee in my pants anymore when I get something new.

Ain't that a bitch? I started noticing that back when I was about 40 or so, too. The hunt got to be more fun than the kill. Once you get what you're after, right away you're saying to yourself "Self, what have you done for me lately?"

 

[mullyman]

I'm 45 years old. I don't pee in my pants anymore when I get something new.

Ain't that a bitch? I started noticing that back when I was about 40 or so, too. The hunt got to be more fun than the kill. Once you get what you're after, right away you're saying to yourself "Self, what have you done for me lately?"

Oh yeah, the excitement was worn off the next day. I mean, I like the guitar and I'm glad that I have it, but it's been sitting in the case for the past week. Took it out last night to band practice and it will probably sit in the case until my gig on the 28th.
MULLY

 

[DangerousR6]

I do like swamp ash and I have 2 Jackson Dinky's that are swamp ash. I also have 2 Jackson Dinky's with basswood bodies. The 2 swamp ash and one of the basswood have the exact same pups, and I prefer the basswood. It just seems more alive and articulate. And evidently EVH preferred basswood too, 'cause the EVH EBMM sig's are basswood with maple tops.. :dontknow:

 

[swarfrat]

I do like swamp ash and I have 2 Jackson Dinky's that are swamp ash. I also have 2 Jackson Dinky's with basswood bodies. The 2 swamp ash and one of the basswood have the exact same pups, and I prefer the basswood. It just seems more alive and articulate. And evidently EVH preferred basswood too, 'cause the EVH EBMM sig's are basswood with maple tops.. :dontknow:

Hear hear. Shame its gets such a bad rap from the seedy characters its often seen hanging with. Can't beat it for lively thunk power. I'm thinking hardtail basswood with a low output alnico humbucker, a JCM800, and  a noise disturbance citation from the cops would sound really good about now,

 

[sixstringsamurai]

I do like swamp ash and I have 2 Jackson Dinky's that are swamp ash. I also have 2 Jackson Dinky's with basswood bodies. The 2 swamp ash and one of the basswood have the exact same pups, and I prefer the basswood. It just seems more alive and articulate. And evidently EVH preferred basswood too, 'cause the EVH EBMM sig's are basswood with maple tops.. :dontknow:

Hear hear. Shame its gets such a bad rap from the seedy characters its often seen hanging with. Can't beat it for lively thunk power. I'm thinking hardtail basswood with a low output alnico humbucker, a JCM800, and  a noise disturbance citation from the cops would sound really good about now,

:headbang1:
I like the way you think.

 

[MikeW]

First, it's a swamp ash body. My first time going with ash and I have to say that I think it is really nice for a tone wood.

This. And I know many will pooh-pooh it, but I think mounting the pickups directly to the body does have an effect on the tone. It's a subtle thing, at best, but noticeable. But IMO, the biggest factors are the pickup (type and placement) and the strings. After that, amp and speakers. After that, body material. After that? YMMV.

 

[mullyman]

and I prefer the basswood. It just seems more alive and articulate. And evidently EVH preferred basswood too, 'cause the EVH EBMM sig's are basswood with maple tops.. :dontknow:

Hear hear. Shame its gets such a bad rap from the seedy characters its often seen hanging with. Can't beat it for lively thunk power. I'm thinking hardtail basswood with a low output alnico humbucker, a JCM800, and  a noise disturbance citation from the cops would sound really good about now,

I give basswood a bad rap and I'll tell you why. I've had 2 EBMM EVH Models and a Japanese Axis EX. I've also had 6 different Wolfgang and Wolfgang specials (Peavey). I really liked the Wolfgangs except for the solid colored ones that didn't have maple caps. I had a white striped Wolfie special and a red and white Wolfie special, both from solid colored non-maple capped bodies. Neither of them had any character whatsoever compared to their maple capped brothers. Just personal opinion mind you. I'd be very hesitant to get a basswood body without a maple cap on it ever again.
MULLY

 

[Dan025]

what i've learned from your franky is well quite frankly i already knew this but i want one!