How Wood Affects Tone - Ask Zac 48

Summary

In this episode of 'Ask Zack,' the focus is on how body and neck woods influence tone in guitars. Zack discusses vintage Fender woods like swamp ash, alder, and maple, highlighting their effects on sound. Swamp ash is known for its liveliness and dynamic attack, while alder offers a smoother, mid-range-focused tone. The episode also explores the differences between one-piece maple necks and rosewood fretboards, and how different wood combinations affect tone. Zack showcases various guitars, explaining how these tonal influencers contribute to their unique characteristics and providing insights into the world of guitar tonewoods.

Takeaways

• 😀 Swamp ash, typically from the South, is lighter and has a dynamic, lively sound with quick attack and a slight poppiness, but not overly bright.
• 😀 Northern ash is heavier, denser, and brighter than swamp ash, and was used by Fender in the 1970s.
• 😀 Alder is smoother, with more mid-range and a more compressed sound. It was chosen by Fender for ease of production as it didn't require grain filling.
• 😀 Pine, similar to swamp ash in tone, is a softer wood that relics quickly but offers a lively tone.
• 😀 Basswood is a light wood often used in modern guitars and is typically characterized by almost no grain, offering a smoother tone.
• 😀 Maple is a common neck wood, known for its quick attack and harmonic bloom. It contributes to a bright but dynamic tone.
• 😀 Rosewood, compared to maple, produces a softer sound with less harmonic bloom and more emphasis on the fundamental tone due to its softness.
• 😀 A maple cap neck offers the hardness of maple on the top for quick attack, while the softer wood underneath provides a more balanced tone.
• 😀 Some unique guitar combinations, like a full-on maple neck with an alder body (James Burton’s 69 Paisley), offer a warm, compressed, and smoother tone.
• 😀 The influence of wood on tone is not only about the materials used but also the feel, with players often perceiving tonal differences based on what they sense from the instrument.
• 😀 The video wraps up with a reminder that the tone of a guitar is shaped by the wood used, along with other factors like pickups and hardware, contributing to the overall tonal experience.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this episode of Ask Zack?

The main focus of this episode is discussing how body and neck woods influence the tone of a guitar. The episode emphasizes vintage Fender woods, such as swamp ash, alder, maple, and rosewood, and explores their tonal qualities.

Why did Fender use swamp ash in their early guitars?

Fender used swamp ash in their early guitars because it was lightweight and had a unique grain pattern. Swamp ash was also used for its tonal characteristics, providing a lively and dynamic sound with a quick attack, making it ideal for the Telecaster's bright tone.

What is the difference between swamp ash and northern ash?

Swamp ash is lighter and more dynamic, with a less dense structure due to absorbing more water, while northern ash is heavier, denser, and brighter. Northern ash was used by Fender in the 1970s, but swamp ash remained popular for earlier Telecasters.

How does alder wood affect the tone of a guitar?

Alder wood produces a smoother tone with more midrange and less attack compared to swamp ash. It is also more compressed, resulting in a smoother, more balanced sound, making it a popular choice for Stratocasters.

Why does pine contribute to a similar tone to swamp ash?

Pine, like swamp ash, has a relatively soft and lightweight nature, contributing to a lively and dynamic tone. However, pine is more susceptible to wear and tear due to its softness, which can affect the appearance over time.

How does basswood differ from alder and swamp ash in terms of grain and tone?

Basswood has very little to no visible grain, unlike alder or swamp ash, which both have more prominent grain patterns. Basswood produces a smoother, often lighter tone, and is generally used in cheaper or mass-produced guitars.

What tonal qualities are associated with a maple neck?

A maple neck is known for its hardness, which contributes to a quick attack and a solid fundamental note. It also has strong harmonic content, allowing notes to bloom well. This results in a dynamic and bright tone, which is often preferred for faster playing styles.

How does a rosewood fretboard differ from a maple fretboard in terms of sound?

A rosewood fretboard tends to produce a warmer, softer sound compared to a maple fretboard. The difference in attack and the softer material of rosewood results in a more subdued tone with less harmonic bloom, offering a smoother, less aggressive sound.

What is a maple cap neck, and how does it affect tone?

A maple cap neck has a maple veneer over a different wood core, often contributing to a brighter, more responsive tone due to the hardness of the maple. This construction combines the quick attack of maple with the tonal qualities of the underlying wood.

Why is the combination of an alder body and a maple neck considered unique?

The combination of an alder body and a maple neck is unique because it blends the smoother, more compressed tonal characteristics of alder with the quick attack and strong harmonic content of the maple neck. This combination provides a balanced tone with both midrange warmth and clarity.