Body wood for JS project

stratoskier · #1 11-18-2005, 02:32 PM

Greetings,

So it seems there are a few places out there that can produce a JS/Radius body. But there is a problem of sorts when it comes to picking body wood. I was originally thinking of a mahogany (or possibly alder) body with an exotic wood (birdseye, lacewood, ...) or figured maple top. But it has been pointed out to me that by the time you do all of the carving for the JS body contours, you'd have to have a really thick top to avoid ugly "shoulder" patterns (where the carver goes all the way through the top wood). Basically, it seems like the top would have to be as thick or thicker than the bottom. Given that fact, it was further suggested that I shouldn't waste my time with a separate exotic top, and should instead go with a full piece of exotic wood (whatever that turns out to be).

That brings me to wonder if a fancy top JS makes sense tonewise. We don't usually think of maple, for example, as being a superior tone wood when used by itself, so I wonder if a solid chunk of any of these woods would mean trading tone for fancy looks. I noticed that Gitarrero's beautiful JS custom guitar (pictures in a few old JemSite posts) does appear to be about 1/2 mahogany and 1/2 quilted maple. So at best, I could probably get away with 1/2 tone wood, and 1/2 pretty-to-look-at wood. Surely, by the time a top gets that thick, it's playing a major role in the guitar's resonance and tonality.

Anybody have thoughts about the wisdom of a full exotic wood body?

Cheers,
Bert

damo7v · #2 11-18-2005, 03:14 PM

i'd suggest staying with one complete wood for the js body style. the design just doesn't lend itself to having a separate top.

mind you, that doesn't rule out using wood that is tone-friendly and attractive. off the top of my head, i remember seeing seen curly/flame mahogany for sale on one of the wood dealer sites.

i think the biggest problem with using, say, a solid maple body will be weight. tone, well, there are so many variables that affect tone that i wouldn't rule out one type of wood solely for that reason.

stratoskier · #3 11-18-2005, 03:29 PM

I think you're probably right that a one-piece body make the most sense -- I'm starting to lean that way. I hadn't thought of figured mahogany: That's a good suggestion. From what I've read so far, other possibilites for exotic looking full bodies with decent tone properties would be lacewood, koa, or black limba.

tTz · #4 11-18-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratoskier

We don't usually think of maple, for example, as being a superior tone wood when used by itself

I was convinced that I had read an article somewhere stating that when Les Paul researched woods for his original LP design, he found maple to be the best wood for tone, but was too heavy to be practical in a guitar, and so he settled for his second best, which was mahogany.

I must be going mad.

Ah, and I seem to remember the Parker Fly Supreme (I think, some sort of high end Fly) is made out of solid maple also. Can't be all that bad.

stratoskier · #5 11-18-2005, 04:45 PM

Interesting about the Les Paul comment -- hadn't heard that before. And yes, there are some solid maple guitars around. I also found an old thread here in which Frank Falbo and others noted that maple could be a very good tone wood, but the weight could be prohibitive in some designs. From the tonewood reviews I found on various sites, the consensus was that maple was typically bright, clear, and punchy. That description isn't what I would ideally go for, but it sounds like it might be an option in a JS, which is a pretty smallish guitar.

Devo · #6 11-18-2005, 05:04 PM

who will make a JS body.... please PM me or reply here if you think it isnt sensitive... would be very interested...

PS I would go for a solid figured bubinga, or koa.... like a Soloway swan....

fettouhi · #7 11-18-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devo

who will make a JS body.... please PM me or reply here if you think it isnt sensitive... would be very interested...

PS I would go for a solid figured bubinga, or koa.... like a Soloway swan....

Same here, I'm also interested in who can make a JS body.

Regards

André

King Knall · #8 11-19-2005, 12:31 AM

Solid maple as a body? I dunno, I've heard that it's too bright and heavy. I would go for Korina (Black Limba) and Koa.

JESTER700 · #9 11-19-2005, 08:27 AM

Hey, could we get a list posted here of JS body makers? I don't need one NOW, but such a list would be nice to have in "ye olde back pocket". I know that Creative Concepts guy, and probably EKG. Falbo, if you could lasso him into it

honky_tonk · #10 11-19-2005, 08:45 AM

there was a post the other day.with www. monsterguitarshop.com
i think that guy will make a js body too.....

also..... esp george lynch models...most of them are solid maple

buddroyce · #11 11-19-2005, 10:28 AM

I've actually had to restore an all maple Les Paul once(I think it was a 70's LP) complete with brass everything. Gotta say that it had some nice tone and weighed a hell of a lot more than your typical LP (even the old ones without the weight relief holes). But if I ever went and built another project guitar I'd probably go Swamp ash and maple. Both have great tone and the swamp ash will offset the weight of the maple.

stratoskier · #12 11-20-2005, 11:34 AM

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the responses...

Yes, Monster Guitars was one of the places that can do a JS body. The other place I'm talking to is a local luthier that has a duplicarver and can do one using my AANJ 540R as a template. I also think that either (or both) LGM and EKG have mentioned that they might get into doing JS bodies -- as forum sponsors, it'd be good to work with them. (Perhaps they, or other sponsors, will chime in here as far as their current capabilities for JS bodies).

Take care,
Bert

Jemmm · #13 11-20-2005, 01:26 PM

So you want JS body, hey?

How many do you want????

Quote:

So it seems there are a few places out there that can produce a JS/Radius body.

Any good luthier should be able to build you good JS/Radius type body. Specially with plans floating on the net. Duplicarver option is also a good suggestion. I've never seen JS shape from EKG or Jeremy. Those russian guys should be able to pull one off. (forgot their name, but know they did great JS-

** Edit: found it again. check www.shamray.ru

They did great JS-8 see: www.shamray.ru/show.php?id=419

Quote:

But there is a problem of sorts when it comes to picking body wood. I was originally thinking of a mahogany (or possibly alder) body with an exotic wood (birdseye, lacewood, ...) or figured maple top. But it has been pointed out to me that by the time you do all of the carving for the JS body contours, you'd have to have a really thick top to avoid ugly "shoulder" patterns (where the carver goes all the way through the top wood). Basically, it seems like the top would have to be as thick or thicker than the bottom. Given that fact, it was further suggested that I shouldn't waste my time with a separate exotic top, and should instead go with a full piece of exotic wood (whatever that turns out to be).

Choice is very simple. Do you want great guitar on the wall or do you want great playing instrument. You can't have both. Yeah, you can.....but not on JS type contoured body. Most exotic quilted maple type drop tops you will see on RG type guitars......those tops mostly are not very thick...1/4"-1/2". This way the top will add to the looks of guitar and tonewise the maple will brighten the guitar up a bit. Quilted maple is very different animal then regular maple...and this is also something to think about.

Quote:

full bodies with decent tone properties would be lacewood, koa, or black limba.

A full koa body blank will set you back serious $$$$$$........so not a real option.

Quote:

That brings me to wonder if a fancy top JS makes sense tonewise. We don't usually think of maple, for example, as being a superior tone wood when used by itself, so I wonder if a solid chunk of any of these woods would mean trading tone for fancy looks. I noticed that Gitarrero's beautiful JS custom guitar (pictures in a few old JemSite posts) does appear to be about 1/2 mahogany and 1/2 quilted maple. So at best, I could probably get away with 1/2 tone wood, and 1/2 pretty-to-look-at wood. Surely, by the time a top gets that thick, it's playing a major role in the guitar's resonance and tonality.

It's much easier to achieve what you are after with different kind of guitar.....JS is simply not very suited to do what your after. Again...the choice is between looks and sound.

Quote:

Anybody have thoughts about the wisdom of a full exotic wood body?

The JS guitar shape is a wonderful guitar shape and wanting this type guitar in exotic trim is very understandable.......but an all maple guitar, or an all quilted maple guitar won't be a good player. Half/half will still not be great guitar.

If going for custom you're better off with picking the ultimate tone wood.....and having great solid (or custom painted) color on it. Then it will have THE looks and THE sound.

I have limba JS-7 in the works, and limba/quilted maple RGT-7 so yeah, I know what I'm talking about.

fettouhi · #14 11-20-2005, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honky_tonk

there was a post the other day.with www. monsterguitarshop.com
i think that guy will make a js body too.....

also..... esp george lynch models...most of them are solid maple

Haven't heard to much good about monsterguitarshop, that's why I didn't mention them.

Regards

André

stratoskier · #15 11-20-2005, 05:04 PM

Jemm, where is that picture from? Your shop? Or...? Incidentally, the JS body I'm after isn't standard specs, but will instead be AANJ with a 6-screw vintage trem, and possibly a middle single coil.

And thanks for your many insights! I appreciate the detailed post.

Bert