Custom 7 need help with woods

[Chris From Singapore.]

Actually just look here...
http://www.jemsite.com/jem/wood.htm
The very comprehensive guide to wood and tones compiled by Frank Falbo.

[nickcoumbe]

Ok, not that this is important or the point of the topic but.............

After some research it seems that "Swamp Ash" does exist as a distinct species: Fraxinus nigra (that should be in italics, but I am sure you will not mind if I can't work the internet properly). As it is from the genus Fraxinus, it is a true ash, and seperate from European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus), or Raywood Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood'). In plant taxonomy you often get a suject with a common name that is in recognition of its similarities to another genera or species. The most appropriate example here would be the Swamp Cypress (Taxodium disctichum). This plant is no relation at all to the true cypress (Cupressus sp.) other than that they are both conifers, they are even in completely seperate families (Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae respectively).

So you can only get true Swamp Ash from Fraxinus nigra. I have no knowledge of whether the tonewood has to come from the submerged part of the tree, or whatever. I suppose that if the wood was from the aerial part of the plant you could still call it "Ash" or "Swamp Ash", but maybe it wouldn't be suitable for guitars. If you grew some Ash trees submerged in water they would probably die from fungal infections, so if Swamp ash is the only species (of that genera) that can grow in those conditions (assumption, not fact) there can be only one true Swamp Ash. Everything everyone else has said about pourousity, and tone still works for me though.

Back on topic:

I am just finish a Padauk RG body. That would be interesting for a seven string I think, but probably too heavy. I am thinking of doing all the Jem routing in mine just to get the weight down.

A flame maple cap would be cool, but I think you would need to stain it. I have seen some walnut tops that look wonderful, and they would probably look best with just a clear over the top, or better still an oil finish.

[Jemmm]

Here quick pic of 7 string RG custom I'm currently building.



Maple/Wenge neck through
27" scale length - 24 frets
Limba Wings
Quilted maple top
Cocobolo Fretboard
Lo Pro 7 bridge

Will get Royal Brown Burst finish like this:



In neck through....the neck wood will have more pronounced voice compaired to bolt on neck. I figured the Maple and Wenge in the neck would brighten up the Limba a bit. The Quilted maple top will have little effect on the total tone as top is relative thin (1/4"). Still bringing it in right direction.

This tone wood theory is part Voodoo, part science. I'm from the school of thought that you always look at whole picture. In the end....all woods in guitar will have effect on tone. In that respect it's nice to have different guitars made of different combinations. Although realizing the quest for perfect guitar will never be over.

Definitely go for the showing neck-through option. That really gives guitar a very nice look.

[timi_h]

SWEET! you have to post some pics of that when its all done!

[btweensunandmoon]

just wanted to chime in with some thoughts....

the woods you choose will not only depend on your musical tastes but will heavily depend on the amp you are playing through. For example, i've found mahogany bodied guitars through my mesa nomad are really muddy when adding gain...no matter what the amp settings are. Brighter amps such as Peaveys and marshalls would suit mahogany better. Pickups will also be another factor. Its really a matter of looking at the larger picture and seeing how things will behave together.

next, i dont see what all the rage of 5 piece necks are. My UV neck is single piece and I've never had a stability issue. The less pieces of wood you are jamming together, the more resonant your instrument will be. Check out parkers.....no guitar will sing more than those because of the one piece carved construction. Less is definately better.

[jim777]

Another thing to consider is that with EMGs in the guitar, it's very likely going to sound like EMGs always sound. Once you go EMG, the tone of the wood sort of goes out the window. You really won't get a feeling of what the woods will contribute without passive pickups.

[Jemmm]

next, i dont see what all the rage of 5 piece necks are. My UV neck is single piece and I've never had a stability issue. The less pieces of wood you are jamming together, the more resonant your instrument will be. Check out parkers.....no guitar will sing more than those because of the one piece carved construction. Less is definately better.

It probably fair to say that in this matter there are two schools of thought (and your fair share of voodoo and mumbo-jumbo). I will give you my reasoning for choosing a 5 piece neck.

First of all I think it looks good. Using two (or more) contrasting laminates in neck will give very classy appearance. (Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder....but as I'm building the instrument....I have complete control here.) Secondly I think using different laminates makes it possible to flip flop grain patterns in the wood, making the total neck more stable. Some will say that the glue surfaces will take away sustain.....it may.....I'm no expert on this......Personally I think this is munbo-jumbo. But as a good glue joint is stronger than the regular wood.....I opt for stability agrument over the sustain argument. With using different laminates you also have to possibilty to color the sound of your neck. You not only have the possibility to use different fretboards....but you can also add tone by choosing the right laminate.

In the end it's personal preference.

[nickcoumbe]

I am on board with the whole Voodoo thing. I am really into the idea of using unusual tonewoods to see what they will do. You never know what you are going to get until you are finished. I can't think of a better way to push custom guitar design forward. Personally I am going to experiment with some Purple Plum wood that I have. As I grow trees for a living, I have an almost endless supply of small gauge logs to make into projects, necks in particular.

I terms of the laminate/one piece thing, bass necks are often laminated, I always assumed this gave a greater stability. I suppose with a 7 string you might benefit from a little extra. I have a neckthru six string, and it definately feels more solid than all my other set-neck, and bolt ons.

Laminates look cool too.