ASH
Another favorite among builders of single
coil guitars, ash is lighter than alder and more
resonant. The extended, airier top end can be
very flattering. The lack of low-end oomph makes
it a less rocking choice than the aforementioned
alder, but the midrange is complex in a very cool
way (although I’ve heard similar complexities in
alder guitars with tremolos). Ash also has a very
appealing grain, and you’ll often find ash guitars
covered in transparent finishes. Swamp ash is a
common variant, and the name comes from the
fact that the trees from which it’s harvested have
root systems that are underwater. Swamp ash is
considered to be a little softer and smoother.
MAHOGANY
The wood of rawk. Frequently used as the main
body wood in humbucker-equipped guitars,
mahogany’s tone is dark and meaty, and the
midrange takes up a lot of sonic landscape. It’s
often used to make necks for those same guitars.
Sonically, this wood can get spongey, but that’s
why Gibson (and others) wind bridge pickups.
That’s also why it’s often paired with …
MAPLE
A maple top paired with a mahogany body is
a common combo; it’s also frequently used in
semi-hollow body guitars, where its weight is
minimized and its durability is maximized. Maple
has a very bright attack so, when it’s combined
with mahogany, you can get rich mids and low
end from the latter while extending your top
end via the maple. You’ll get a similar effect from
a maple fret board with no cap—the attack is
brighter and more percussive. The amount of
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TONE TALK //
Top 10 Tonewoods