Post by Mayhem Guitars on Jan 24, 2010 14:54:48 GMT -5
1. Looks & Appearances
Each piece of wood is inherently unique. Even within a species, every piece is going to differ from each other. The grain pattern, color, shade, weight, and density are all subject to mother nature's whims. This does not necessarily make one piece better or worse than another. It means that they are simply different and unique. Choose the appearance that best suits your personal taste. If the sound of a particular wood is not as pleasing to your ear as the look is to your eye then think about a laminate top. A thin laminate top will give you the appearance you are looking for without overshadowing the tone of the core body wood
2: Sound and Weight
The sonic properties of wood vary dramatically between species, weight and density. Generally speaking, the heavier woods sustain well and have a bright and articulate sound which are all good attributes for a bass guitar. Extra light weight woods, while a great complement for a bad back, can sound indistinct or muddy especially with humbucking pickups. Medium weight woods fall in the middle and are the traditional preference. Compromises may be found by chambering or hollowing the heavier woods. These bodies remain stiff but light weight for that fat, rich tone with great sustain
3. Finishing Characteristics
How do you wish to finish your body? Do-it-yourself finishes such as tung oil or Danish oil are the easiest to apply and look best on darker woods such as koa, walnut and korina. Brightly colored dyes only work on white western maple like quilt and flame (fiddleback). Transparent colors look best on woods with distinct grain lines such as ash. Clear gloss finishes can be sprayed on any wood but are difficult to accomplish without professional equipment.
Electric Guitars & Basses - Body
Alder (Alnus rubra):
Alder is used extensively for bodies because of its lighter weight (about four pounds for a Strat® body) and its full sound. Its closed grain makes this wood easy to finish. Alder's natural color is a light tan with little or no distinct grain lines. It looks good with a sunburst or a solid color finish. Because of its fine characteristics and lower price, Alder is our most popular wood and it grows all around us here in Washington State. The tone is reputed to be most balanced with equal doses of lows, mids and highs. Alder has been the mainstay for Fender bodies for many years and its characteristic tone has been a part of some of the most enduring pieces of modern day contemporary music.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: No
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Ash (Fraxinus americana):
Northern Hard Ash is very hard, heavy and dense. A Strat® body will normally weigh 5 lbs. and up. Its density contributes to a bright tone and a long sustain which makes it very popular. Its color is creamy, but it also tends to have heartwood featuring pink to brown tints. The grain pores are open and it takes a lot of finish to fill them up.
Swamp Ash is a prized wood for many reasons. It is a fairly light weight wood which makes it easily distinguishable from Hard Ash. A Strat® body will normally weigh under 5 lbs. Many of the 50's Fenders were made of Swamp Ash. The grain is open and the color is creamy. This wood is a very nice choice for clear finishes. Swamp Ash is our second most popular wood. It is a very musical wood offering a very nice balance of brightness and warmth with a lot of "pop".
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: No
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Basswood (Tilia americana):
This is a lighter weight wood normally producing Strat® bodies under 4 lbs. The color is white, but often has nasty green mineral streaks in it. This is a closed-grain wood, but it can absorb a lot of finish. This is not a good wood for clear finishes since there is little figure. It is quite soft, and does not take abuse well. Sound-wise, Basswood has a nice, growley, warm tone with good mids. A favorite tone wood for shredders in the 80s since its defined sound cuts through a mix well.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: No
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: Yes
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Bubinga (Guibourtia demeusei):
A very strong stiff wood used primarily for bass necks and in laminations. Used by Rickenbacker for fretboards and Warwick for bodies. As a bass neck, it provides bright midrange and a thick well defined bottom. Bodies made form Bubinga will be very heavy but will sustain for days.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: Yes
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Koa (Acacia koa):
This very beautiful wood comes exclusively from Hawaii making supply very limited. Its weight varies somewhat from medium to heavy and is an excellent tone wood for bass guitar bodies. Koa has a warm sound similar to mahogany, but with a little more brightness. Like walnut, this wood may be oiled, but generally will look its best sprayed clear. Koa is sometimes available in flame figure.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Korina, Black (Terminalia superba):
Its true name is Limba from Africa. Black Korina is usually a medium weight wood, but we occasionally get light weight pieces. It features a very handsome olive color with black streaking. Korina has a naturally waxy feel to it. Oil finishes work well on this wood. The tone is very similar to Mahogany with added mids. An excellent tonal choice for hollow chambered bodies!
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: No
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Korina, White (Terminalia superba):
Its true name is Limba from Africa. White Korina is a medium to heavy weight wood Korina has a naturally waxy feel to it. The tone is very similar to Mahogany with added mids. An excellent tonal choice for hollow chambered bodies. With a Vintage Tint Gloss on it, it resembles the famous Korina Flying Vs of the late 50s.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops : Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Lacewood (Cardwellia sublimis):
Lacewood is imported from Australia. It's a medium weight wood. The grain design ranges from very small spots to very large spots which create its signature reptilian appearance. Lacewood looks best in the form of a bookmatched laminate top, but is also available for solid bodies. The tone is similar to Alder but the look is very exotic with a fish scale like brilliance under a gloss finish! This wood needs a spray on type finish as opposed to an oil finish.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis):
We use African Mahogany in our body production. It is a medium to heavy weight wood with a Strat® body averaging 5 lbs. or more. Mahogany is a fine grained wood with great musical properties. The tone is warm and full with good sustain. The favorite tone wood of the Gibson® brand name; associated with some of the most famous rock music of our time. The grain is easy to fill. Looks good with clear or transparent red finish.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Maple
(Acer saccharum-Hard Maple):
There are two types of Maple: Eastern Hard Maple (hard rock maple) and Western Soft Maple (big leaf maple).
Hard Maple is a very hard, heavy and dense wood. This is the same wood that we use on our necks. The grain is closed and very easy to finish. The tone is very bright with long sustain and a lot of bite. This wood cannot be dyed. It looks great with clear or transparent color finishes.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: Yes
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Soft Maple
(Acer macrophyllum):
Western Maple grows all around in Washington state. It is usually much lighter weight than Hard Maple but it features the same white color. It has bright tone with good bite and attack, but is not brittle like the harder woods can be. Our flame (fiddle-back) and quilted bodies are Western Maple. This type of maple works great with dye finishes.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: No
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Padouk, African (Pterocarpus soyauxii):
Bright vivid orange color which oxidizes to a warm brown with use. This waxy feeling wood has an open grain texture similar to rosewood and a tone similar to maple with great mids and attack. This is a heavy to medium weight wood that looks great with an oil finish or clear gloss!
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera):
This is another standard body wood having been used by many companies over the years. Due to the grey/green color, this wood is used mostly when solid color finishes are to be applied. Its weight generally runs about one half pound more than Alder. Tonally, it is similar to Alder as well. Poplar is a closed grain wood that accepts finish well.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: No
Used for fingerboards: No
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Rosewood (Dalbergia baroni):
A gorgeous exotic wood with rich thick grain covering a range of colors and patterns. These bodies dominate the heavy wood category with solid Strat® bodies always weighing in at well over 6 lbs. Specifying construction as hollow or chambered build is always a good idea if you're weight conscious. We use several different species depending on availability. Finishes can be a little difficult to apply with the oily nature of the wood. You can expect big warm tones from rosewood with smooth high end roll off. Rosewood Tele® bodies were made popular in the 70s by George Harrison of the Beatles.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: Yes
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Walnut (Juglans nigra):
Luxurious coloring and grain patterns are the earmarks of Walnut. Whether using an oil finish or a deep clear gloss, the pleasing appeal of Walnut always delivers. This is an open grained wood. Walnut is in the heavy weight category but it's not quite as heavy as hard maple. It has a similar sound to hard maple but it tends not to be as bright.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops : Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Wenge (Millettia laurentii):
Wenge features black and chocolate brown stripes. It is usually quartersawn to yield straight grain - similar to open grained Zebrawood, but black. This body is in the heavy weight category so considering it as a hollow or chambered build is beneficial if you're weight conscious. Its weight does offer plenty of sustain though. Oil finishes are most popular on Wenge but you can also leave them unfinished as well. The tone is balanced with great mid presence and attack. This is a popular wood for boutique bass builders and its tonal reputation is impressive.
Tone-O-Meter™
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: Yes
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Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis):
You may see where Zebrawood gets its name. The distinctive look tells you it's none other than Zebrawood! This open grained wood is very heavy so it's primarily used as a bookmatched laminate top. When used as a body its tone is similar to maple.
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Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanaxylon)
Tasmanian Blackwood is starting to become a replacement timber to koa. They both look and sound very a like. This open grained wood is a heavy-ish timber although it makes great necks and bodies.
Used for laminate tops: Yes
Used for bodies: Yes
Used for necks: Yes
Used for fingerboards: No
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Oak
Same as northern hard ash, difficult to work, heavy, closed grain structure and dense.
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Pine
Good tone wood, similiar to basswood and alder, not quite as hard. Requires extra care in machining due to the soft texture. very mid-rangish tone like that of alder/basswood.
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Wandoo
Makes nice necks and Tops. Looks great with a curly figure.
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Sheoak
Comes in Birdseye and Lace figure. Makes great necks, fretboards and tops.
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Queensland Maple
Very similar to Mahogany in tone and weight. Can be used for the Body, Neck, Fretboard or top.
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Myrtle
Myrtle can come in some very nice figure. Makes great necks, freboards and tops.
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Monterey cypress
Make good necks, fretboards and tops.
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Bloodwood (Brazillian) AKA Satine
Red in color, works easily, very dense, very hard. Alot of movement, not good as a single piece neck. Bright tonally
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Purple heart
Great wood for neck laminates, turns to a dark brown after time, hard, difficult to work, high silica content and open grain structure. Bright tone
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Greenheart/Yellowheart/Redheart
Warp easily, basically useless in the guitar world, difficult to dry, extremely difficult to work.
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Jarrah
Tight-grained, red/crimson, some silica. good for neck laminates, bodies and tops. Grows in Asia.
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Jatoba
Virtually useless in the guitar world, warps a lot, ruins your tools, huge open pores. Beautiful grain, makes a great laminate top. big fat dull sound.
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Zebrawood
works fairly easily, very smelly, warps alot, rough texture, heavy and open grain.
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Eucalyptus (various origins)
This tree grows in many rainforests throughout the world, however it is all considered "Eucalyptus". I have seen eucalyptus that is just like mahogany, and I have seen some extremely soft light-weight eucalyptus. Inspect your piece in person before buying.
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Cooktown Ironwood
Very hard timber, hard to work with, sometimes comes with a Flame figure. Grows in Australia, only good for Fretboards.
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"Afra" Afromosia (Pericopsis Elata):
The short name is Afra - About the same density of hard maple with a very similar sound. Medium fine grained. Occasionally we find some of this wood quartersawn and offer it in neck form. This is a great way to get a darker look to your neck without a finish doing it for you
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Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: No
Finish required: Yes
Used for bodies: No
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Birdseye Maple (Acer saccharum):
Birdseye is a type of figure found in hard maple. It shows best in flat sawn wood. There is a wide variety of sizes and shapes in the "eyes". Under a gloss finish, the Birdseye takes on a 3D look for a beautiful visual appeal. There seems to be a recurring rumor that Birdseye maple is unstable and not suited to guitar necks. Having made tens of thousands of Birdseye necks, we can assure you that it is no different in stability than plain maple. AAA grade means the wood will be a bit more figured than our standard AA.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: Yes
Used for bodies: No
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Bocote (Cordia elaeagnoiders):
Often referred to as Mexican Rosewood, striking grain patterns are the trademark of this dense, smooth wood. The grain is very tight so the feel is extremely fast and luxurious. Because of Bocote’s dense nature, you can expect great sustain and nice attack. Along with the usually wild figure of light and dark brown stripes, light yellow and light green hues are not uncommon and add to the uniqueness of this fine exotic. Limited availability.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: No
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra):
Long the premier Rosewood for fingerboards, this wood has become quite rare and expensive. It tends to be harder and sonically more vibrant than other rosewoods and it has a satiny feel to the fingers. Brazilian Rosewood color variations are extensive running from predominately light brown to very dark and even orange colors. Our stock runs the full color spectrum and includes both flat and quartersawn cuts. If you have a specific color or cut preference, please check with us for pricing and availability.
Used for neck backs: No
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Canary (Centrolobium ochroxylon):
More properly called Arariba. What we've had of this wood is primarily a yellow color with deep red streaking. Not as dense as maple, but smooth and fast feeling with great lows! You can apply a finish or play it raw!
Used for neck backs: No
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa):
A true Rosewood species and gorgeous to behold. Unfortunately this extremely oily wood is difficult to glue. Worse yet, the dust is very irritating and toxic. We have used it in the past but due to the allergic reactions we choose not to work with this wood.
Used for neck backs: No
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Ebony (Dispyrus melanoxylon):
Very hard, smooth and fast feeling, it has a bright, long sustaining tone. Chocolate brown or dark gray streaks are not uncommon. Ebony has a long history of a preferred fingerboard choice of high end electric guitar builders. An excellent choice for fretless necks. Available primarily as fingerboards and occasionally for full neck construction
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Flame Maple (Acer saccharum):
While there are several maple species that show the flame figure, the only one hard enough for making necks is Acer saccharum. Identical to plain Hard maple, except for the highly prized flame figuring. For even more flame figure, AAA grade can be requested. A different species of Flame Maple is used for body laminate tops.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Goncalo Alves (Astronium fraxini folium):
Very dense smooth texture with a waxy fast feel. Color is tan with darker chocolate stripes (used by Smith & Wesson for pistol grips). With an articulate, clean, warm tone, Goncalo gets rave reviews for its overall well balanced tone and great looks. Primarily used as a neck wood, it mates well with Pau Ferro or ebony fingerboards.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Kingwood (Dalbergia Cearensis):
Affectionately referred to as “the wood of kings” and for good reason! From South America, this wood is very hard and dense with a fine, smooth texture to it. Sonically you can expect great articulation, fast response and ample sustain; very much like Brazilian Rosewood. Often the grain is highly figured and varies in amazing ways. Truly an excellent fingerboard wood choice and a customer favorite.
Used for neck backs: No
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Macassar Ebony (Dispyrus macassar):
The distinctive chocolate brown stripes of Macassar Ebony are hard to miss. A beautiful wood for those wanting the feel and tone of ebony but a more exciting look! Lots of sustain, attack and stability from this dense wood and the feel is very smooth to the touch. Primarily used for fingerboards but sometimes available for solid necks too! No finish required.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Palisander Rosewood (Dalbergia baroni):
The color varies from light violet to darker purples, sometimes with darker stripes. The best smelling wood around. Very hard with a somewhat open cell structure. As with most Rosewood, the tone is warm and the natural feel is fast.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: Yes
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Pau Ferro (Machaerium villosum):
An excellent dense, hard wood with a very tight pore structure. This means it’s fast, smooth and extremely durable. An excellent choice for fretless fingerboards. Not only is it resistant to wear, but often the wood figuring is striking with variations in color from light tan to a dark coffee. The tone is brighter than Rosewood yet warmer than Ebony with plenty of articulation and attack. One of our favorite woods for fingerboards! No finish required!
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Purpleheart (Peltogyne pubesens):
The trademark purple-like color is striking and it is gaining in popularity. A very hard, dense wood for excellent sustain and similar to Bubinga in its thick well defined bottom. Looks great combined with bodies sporting purple finishes!
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: Yes
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Satine (Brosimum paraense):
We also know this as Bloodwood because of its dark red color. A very dense, hard, tropical wood with a waxy smooth feel. Super tight grain pattern almost like Ebony, this wood is super fast to play on. Extended sustain and brilliant highs. Truly an incredible clean looking exotic.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No
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Ziricote (Cordia dodecandra):
This dark gray to brown to black wood is similar to ebony in weight and density. Some pieces have gorgeous striping and spider web grain patterns. The feel is buttery smooth and slick. The density translates to great sustain and the tone is considered to be much like Brazilian Rosewood. Limited availability and a bit expensive.
Used for neck backs: Yes
Used for finger boards: Yes
Finish required: No
Used for bodies: No