Sonic properties of ash on an electric?

[notCardio]

If mahogany is warm and maple is bright, what are the sonic qualities of ash as a body wood for an solid-body electric? Also, what would an ash top on mahogany (LP) be like as opposed to a maple top on mahogany?

Thanks.

 

[notCardio]

bump

Anyone?

This is a potential internet purchase, so I'd rather know before hand.

Thanks.

 

[hixmix]

Ash is one of the denser woods and that translates into more sustain and cutting tones.

What guitar is it?

 

[notCardio]

An LP copy, mahogany with an ash top instead of a maple top. So you're saying it would be bright, but brighter or less bright than maple? Or somewhere in between mahogany and maple?

 

[hixmix]

Of course it will depend on how well made the LP copy is. They don't list your exact combo but check out this guide:

http://www.jemsite.com/axes/htm_features/wood.htm

 

[notCardio]

Thanks!

Great link. Much appreciated.

 

[Light]

Ash is less bright than maple.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[louloomis]

You don't want an ash top on a mahogany body. There's no reason to it.

People debate this all the time BUT....

The top wood of a guitar has a lot to do with the attack of a note, and the back more to do with the sustain.

Mahogany is warm, maple biting, so you get a good attack with a chunky warm sustain - that is a Les Paul sound (for the Standard and many Customs, anyway).

Ash has 2 variations, and many different weights.

Check out the Warmoth website under "wood descriptions" for more info.

LL

 

[Light]

You don't want an ash top on a mahogany body. There's no reason to it.

People debate this all the time BUT....

The top wood of a guitar has a lot to do with the attack of a note, and the back more to do with the sustain.

Sorry, but that is ridiculous. The sound of a solid body comes from the wood as a whole. On an acoustic guitar, the top is the major portion of the sound, but on a solid body the whole thing is basically monolithic. Maple is going to give a more pronounced attack, because it is brighter, and mahogany tends to incress sustain, but it is the wood, and not where it is on the guitar, which makes the difference.

I use ash and mahogany all the time, with a maple top. It is, for many purposes, my favorite combination.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[pdadda]

Dunno if this helps, but Ash teles are way warmer (less bright/twangy) than all of the other woods they make teles out of.

 

[hixmix]

Yeah. The wood chart is just a general overview, guide. I think you're pretty much gonna have to sit down with the actual guitar and play it to find the one with the sound you're looking for.

 

[notCardio]

Thanks guys

Maybe this is much ado about nothing, as I have a tendancy towards that.

The ash top in question is only 1/16" inch thick, as are most of their maple tops on their (Agile) LP's. I don't honestly see how 1/16" can make a difference, except cosmetically. I would think the glue that holds that on would have more of a tonal effect that the paper thin wood on top. Am I wrong?

 

[Light]

Maybe this is much ado about nothing, as I have a tendancy towards that.

The ash top in question is only 1/16" inch thick, as are most of their maple tops on their (Agile) LP's. I don't honestly see how 1/16" can make a difference, except cosmetically. I would think the glue that holds that on would have more of a tonal effect that the paper thin wood on top. Am I wrong?

Well, a 1/16th inch top is not going to have much effect at all. What you are going to get, in that case, is a guitar which is going to be very warm and chunky. Some would even say muddy. More to the point, those things are made VERY cheaply, so you are really going to be more constrained by the quality of the construction more than the woods.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[louloomis]

Sorry, but that is ridiculous. The sound of a solid body comes from the wood as a whole. On an acoustic guitar, the top is the major portion of the sound, but on a solid body the whole thing is basically monolithic. Maple is going to give a more pronounced attack, because it is brighter, and mahogany tends to incress sustain, but it is the wood, and not where it is on the guitar, which makes the difference.

I use ash and mahogany all the time, with a maple top. It is, for many purposes, my favorite combination.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

So.....a piece of wood denies the laws of physics?

LL

 

[Light]

So.....a piece of wood denies the laws of physics?

LL

Where did I suggest anything of the sort?


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi