Guitar body wood recommendations??

[MrDan666]

That guitar is setup as such to be very snappy, bright and percussive. Alder, Maple and Ebony all exhibit those characteristics typically. Obviously, the safest bet is Mahogany, if you're looking for full, and thick. With the maple/ebony neck it should balance well and be quite clear.
However, if you were up for something a little different, i'd recommend Walnut or Limba( Korina). Walnut is sort of like a tighter Mahogany soundwise, with some other differences. But, I kind of feel like what you're describing, is Limba. Its big, full, and thick like mahogany, but more highs and high mids. It keeps from getting muddy so easily. But, isn't snappy, its got a mellow character like Mahogany. Like a more present, mahogany with more clarity.

I agree, Alder can be chunky sounding.. and Maple and Ebony together definitely seems like the choice for a snappy bright sounding guitar. That could be the issue here..

I have heard about Limba before and it sounds like it would be a good choice for a bit more thickness, without getting muddy!

 

[MrDan666]

Basswood body + maple top would probably be your best bet, IMO.

I have seen a lot of Andersons and Suhrs with that wood combo, sometimes with a maple neck/rosewood board, and it sounded killer. I'm just trying to work out if it's the neck that is the problem here... For some reason the maple/ebony neck is making me think that it's the cause of the brightness?

 

[MrDan666]

In the first post I mentioned pickup location. I just did a mod on my guitar which moved the pickup 1/8" closer to the hardtail and I lost a LOT of low end and mud and gained a lot of high mids. It's a new guitar now, though neither was inherently 'better' just different. You can do the opposite if you can find a pickguard with the pickup further away from the hardtail. Just a hint, my guitar wood did not change.

That's a very good point, interesting!! I will have to keep that in mind and give that a go

 

[Code001]

Basswood body + maple top would probably be your best bet, IMO.

I have seen a lot of Andersons and Suhrs with that wood combo, sometimes with a maple neck/rosewood board, and it sounded killer. I'm just trying to work out if it's the neck that is the problem here... For some reason the maple/ebony neck is making me think that it's the cause of the brightness?

I know Tom Anderson hates Ebony fretboards because of the high end frequency it exhibits.

 

[Vrad]

Ok so I'm gonna take a different angle on this. I would look at your bridge. Try swapping out the saddles for something else. Try either graphite or black chrome saddles.

The other thing I would try is a new neck. Ebony is very percussive and fast-sounding. A neck with a rosewood would be warmer.

Thing is, alder is pretty warm-sounding so I think your issue is elsewhere. Just mt 2 cents.

Vlad, i'm thinking that maybe the neck could be the culprit too. I really hope it isn't but i guess i would find out if i tried another neck on the guitar!

Honestly, what you're describing are the characteristics of ebony. My Edwards LPC has the same snappy percussiveness but I dig it. But if you really love the neck I would leave it be and mess with the bridge. Serious dude, I think the bridge adds alot of that snap. Might be too much with the ebony fretboard. Cheap and easy way out would be a graphtech saddles or a different block or something like this. I would start there.

 

[glpg80]

Basswood body + maple top would probably be your best bet, IMO.

I have seen a lot of Andersons and Suhrs with that wood combo, sometimes with a maple neck/rosewood board, and it sounded killer. I'm just trying to work out if it's the neck that is the problem here... For some reason the maple/ebony neck is making me think that it's the cause of the brightness?

another option you have is a baswood/maple top body with a maple/rosewood fretboard. that would be right up your alley as well - full if low mids and VERY responsive to string gauges and pickup changes. all depends on whether you want to keep the neck or not

 

[glpg80]

Basswood body + maple top would probably be your best bet, IMO.

I have seen a lot of Andersons and Suhrs with that wood combo, sometimes with a maple neck/rosewood board, and it sounded killer. I'm just trying to work out if it's the neck that is the problem here... For some reason the maple/ebony neck is making me think that it's the cause of the brightness?

I know Tom Anderson hates Ebony fretboards because of the high end frequency it exhibits.

i hate the snotty feel of ebony - tonally with the right woods it sounds great. but overall i just prefer a maple neck/fretboard. much faster and doesnt have that snot feeling.

 

[Code001]

i hate the snotty feel of ebony - tonally with the right woods it sounds great. but overall i just prefer a maple neck/fretboard. much faster and doesnt have that snot feeling.

Ebony isn't exactly my favorite wood either. My old Warmoth had a ridiculous "snotty" feel that you were describing, but my Caparison's ebony fretboard isn't too bad. I actually prefer rosewood the best, tonally, but I prefer the look of maple, so I generally tend to buy maple fretboard guitars more than anything.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Lol, what do you guys mean by 'snotty'. I've heard of 'nasally' before, but snotty, that's a new one

 

[glpg80]

Lol, what do you guys mean by 'snotty'. I've heard of 'nasally' before, but snotty, that's a new one

the way the wood feels when you play it. feels like snot on the wood - other grades of ebony have a waxy feel to them. either way i hate the way it feels. its very distracting and wierd feeling.

i guess over time i could get used to it, and tonally i like the wood, but i prefer rosewood or maple.

nothing beats the way ebony looks though, pretty badass

 

[JakeAC5253]

Lol, what do you guys mean by 'snotty'. I've heard of 'nasally' before, but snotty, that's a new one

the way the wood feels when you play it. feels like snot on the wood - i hate the way it feels

Oh gross. Always thought Ebony would feel smooth. Guess not

 

[Code001]

Oh gross. Always thought Ebony would feel smooth. Guess not

Spray Pledge or Finger Ease all over your fretboard and don't wipe it off. Some ebony fretboards feel like that.

 

[glpg80]

Oh gross. Always thought Ebony would feel smooth. Guess not

Spray Pledge or Finger Ease all over your fretboard and don't wipe it off. Some ebony fretboards feel like that.

+1 thats exactly how it feels - finger ease especially

 

[MrDan666]

Haha that's funny, i usually find lacquered Maple boards to feel that way too!

This neck however, doesn't feel 'snotty' at all. It's the most comfortable neck i have ever played, without that horrible slippy feeling like many ebony boards

 

[glpg80]

Haha that's funny, i usually find lacquered Maple boards to feel that way too!

This neck however, doesn't feel 'snotty' at all. It's the most comfortable neck i have ever played, without that horrible slippy feeling like many ebony boards

you can always unlacquer a maple board though. raw ebony you cannot get rid of that feeling - at least the grades that i have played

i will own an ebony fretboard guitar eventually. i like the tone enough from it that its worth getting used to, just not my favorite wood.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Basswood is not what you want IMO. Try a hard Alder with a string through design. Harder woods resonate more and that'll give you the body you seek. You can try and find a pickguard with the bridge pickup placed a little further away from the bridge and that'll fill out the low end (even an 1/8" is quite a large difference) and that'll run you about $20.

I disagree BIGTIME. My Anderson Drop Top is basswood with a maple top and it sounds very ballsy, thick, and warm. It rules for metal. I've not heard many Alder guitars than sound this fat and ballsy.

 

[Digital Jams]

I will be in the bridge crowd on this, mess with that first. A guitar with lots of snap is not a bad thing either, tells me that it is tight and solid imo.

 

[9ball]

my favorite guitars are mahogany.
mahogany body/maple neck

 

[Ventura]

Ebony = Snotty

Aw christ, that's the grossest description I've ever heard/read. I dig ebony fretboards, maybe I'm weird, I find them hard and slick and great for taps and speedy runs

Just sayin',
V.

 

[robertkoa]

That guitar is setup as such to be very snappy, bright and percussive. Alder, Maple and Ebony all exhibit those characteristics typically. Obviously, the safest bet is Mahogany, if you're looking for full, and thick. With the maple/ebony neck it should balance well and be quite clear.
However, if you were up for something a little different, i'd recommend Walnut or Limba( Korina). Walnut is sort of like a tighter Mahogany soundwise, with some other differences. But, I kind of feel like what you're describing, is Limba. Its big, full, and thick like mahogany, but more highs and high mids. It keeps from getting muddy so easily. But, isn't snappy, its got a mellow character like Mahogany. Like a more present, mahogany with more clarity.

I agree with this above. Even with the warmer Mahogany, it will still sound "familiar " not dull.

Some say it's ( Koa ) bright but I have not experienced it- Koa with a Maple Neck works well also , a little brighter, snappier than most Mahogany but still warm and thick. But can be very heavy , my Koa Bolt ( Carvin ), Maple Neck, Ebony Board, sounds excellent for warmer ,thick Gilmour/EJ/Hendrix and more but may be weighs 10 pounds or a little more. Excellent sustain also.

Mahogany is your friend. Koa if you don't mind the weight. Limba/Korina could be great, probably livelier, brighter than Mahogany OR Koa, but nice and light , and still mellower than what you have.