Tell me about ash. Good? Bad? Ok?

[Lord Toneking]

also, what pups sound best in ash bodied guitars? (humbuckers)

 

[Anonymous]

I have to admit that I have yet to buy an Ash guitar that wasn't too bright sounding. Hell... maybe its just me, but even my Ash J-Custom is kinda bright... I like warmer sounding guitars...

Steve

 

[grooveHT]

also, what pups sound best in ash bodied guitars? (humbuckers)

Oh no, hunting for pickups for the Silo??

 

[grooveHT]

As for the Ash tom, there are a few different kinds of Ash, I think the most common being swamp ash...swamp ass ( ;D) is often associated with burst and transparent strats and teles, so like Steve said, on the bright end of the spectrum...really depends on what sound you're going for, but I think a warmer pickup would do well. Plus I think warmer humbuckers yield better results when you coil-split them, so something like an air zone, air norton, mo joe, or the like. Then again, Vlad the Bastard gets results he really digs out of swamp ash and a JB, which a lot of people say is overly bright, so who knows. Something else to factor in is the pots you want to use (250k vs. 500k) and the fact that the neck pickup is backed up because of the 24 frets, so thats going to be brighter right off the bat...an air norton would be pretty cool for that, I think? All depends what you're going for mang!

 

[EWSEthan]

Very bright. Swamp Ash is nice and light though.

 

[jski59]

I have a PRS Swamp Ash Special that sounds awesome. Yes it's a little bright, but I'd describe it more as having a sharp attack.

I've got some Motor City Bliss Buckers in it..they sound great.

Jason

 

[thiswaythatway]

 

[Robotechnology]

I have a Yamaha Pacifica 921 with a swamp ash body. Sounds great with a sweet (not harsh top end), swamp ash isn't as bright or heavy as regular ash. Sounds good with DiMarzio PAF Pro's.

 

[grooveHT]

I have a Yamaha Pacifica 921 with a swamp ash body. Sounds great with a sweet (not harsh top end), swamp ash isn't as bright or heavy as regular ash. Sounds good with DiMarzio PAF Pro's.

To add to this Tom, I believe the PAF Pros are what the Silo came stock with.

 

[Digital Jams]

I have good results with a Custom in the bridge and Jazz in the neck, upper mids yeah but not bright.

 

[Chubtone]

 

[Lord Toneking]

also, what pups sound best in ash bodied guitars? (humbuckers)

Oh no, hunting for pickups for the Silo??

Haha...maybe?

The stock pups arent horrible...just a tad on the thin side It definately has it's own thing going on, I just dont want to have to turn knobs on my amp if I switch guitars

 

[JackBootedThug]

i dont know about pu's, but it does make a nice floor.

 

[grooveHT]

also, what pups sound best in ash bodied guitars? (humbuckers)

Oh no, hunting for pickups for the Silo??

Haha...maybe?

The stock pups arent horrible...just a tad on the thin side It definately has it's own thing going on, I just dont want to have to turn knobs on my amp if I switch guitars

Definitely agree with you Tom, if you want something more similar to your Axis, an Air Zone, Tone Zone, or Breed would get you closer...or maybe for a different flavor, more of a hot PAF, try a Custom Custom?

 

[Lord Toneking]

also, what pups sound best in ash bodied guitars? (humbuckers)

Oh no, hunting for pickups for the Silo??

Haha...maybe?

The stock pups arent horrible...just a tad on the thin side It definately has it's own thing going on, I just dont want to have to turn knobs on my amp if I switch guitars

Definitely agree with you Tom, if you want something more similar to your Axis, an Air Zone, Tone Zone, or Breed would get you closer...or maybe for a different flavor, more of a hot PAF, try a Custom Custom?

Hey Jeff, I was actually thinking of a Tone Zone / Humbucker from Hell combo...but then I was considering a set of Tom Anderson pups...or even the Suhr Aldrich's

Too many selections!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I think he kicks ass!

 

[grooveHT]

Hey Jeff, I was actually thinking of a Tone Zone / Humbucker from Hell combo...but then I was considering a set of Tom Anderson pups...or even the Suhr Aldrich's

Too many selections!

Tom, what kind of sound are you looking for? I think a Humbucker from Hell might be just a smidge bright in a 24 fret swamp ash guitar...for what its worth, I really love the Virtual PAF in the neck of my 20th anny sil, which is also 24 fret...I believe the 36th anny PAF is a good match for that as well. Tone Zone/PAF 36th or TZ/Air Norton might be a really good combo for that guitar, and tap well too. I know personally that the TA pickups split very well too!

 

[Little B]

Ive recently had a custom shop swamp ash tele w/ quilt maple top+ a custom installed g-bender by the guy who does all of Paisleys' tele's. Love it!!!!...yes, its on the bright side, but the lindy fralins' over wound blues specials sound just perfect thru it....I ordered it this way for one thing and one thing only- maximum twang....(although I have played metal w/it too!)

 

[Ayrton]

I just built this hard Ash PGM and went with an Andy Timmons (AT-1) in the bridge, and a Humbucker from Hell in the neck.

I feared it was going to be way bright, but I am very happy happy with the sound.

 

[Jim Soloway]

Ash can range from gloriously complex to thin and strident depending on the individual piece of wood and whether it is swamp ash or Northern Ash. It tends to have a U-shaped frequency response curve with a tight prominent low end, accentuate highs and a scooped mid-range. Good swamp ash is by far my favorite guitar wood, both on its own and in combination with a variety of with other tone woods.