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Post subject: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:50 pm
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I have a '75 Strat that weighs a ton (or at least feels that way). I've been told that it’s either ash or alder. Which of the 2 is heavier? It’s good for sustain, but not if it has to be carried…


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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:54 pm
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Not all ash is created equal. Northern ash (which your guitar likely is) is usually quite dense and heavy -- and it's generally heavier than alder. OTOH, swamp ash is relatively light, significantly lighter than both northern ash and alder.

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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 5:17 pm
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I vaguely recall being told it was probably ash, so that's another vote for it. Thanks for the quick reply!


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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 11:23 am
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hi

i have an all original strat of 1976 made of ash, i have test-drove a few others in a guitar store, i can firmly tell the ones made of ash are the heaviest weight ones.


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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 11:07 am
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A good strap will offset the weight of any guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:36 pm
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Miami Mike wrote:
A good strap will offset the weight of any guitar.


This

Over recent years I have converted to traditional style leather straps and I'll not be going back to plastic backed, cloth or nylon webbing. None of them have the give and comfort of leather.

With regard to timber weight you can have a heavy Alder body and a light Ash body. Each tree is individual and so is the timber it produces.

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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:36 am
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Tsolight wrote:
hi

i have an all original strat of 1976 made of ash, i have test-drove a few others in a guitar store, i can firmly tell the ones made of ash are the heaviest weight ones.


The '70s was the start of the myth that "heavy guitars sound better and sustain longer". Fender intentionally chose the heaviest Ash they could buy.

An Ash bodied Strat can weigh as little as 6 pounds or more than 12 pounds.

Gibson did the same thing. '50s Les Pauls were typically in the 8 to 9 pound range. But due to the "heavy is better" craze, when they reintroduced the Les Paul in the '70s they intentionally chose the heaviest mahogany they could find. So '70s LP's were typically in the 10 to 15 pound range.


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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:35 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
Gibson did the same thing. '50s Les Pauls were typically in the 8 to 9 pound range. But due to the "heavy is better" craze, when they reintroduced the Les Paul in the '70s they intentionally chose the heaviest mahogany they could find. So '70s LP's were typically in the 10 to 15 pound range.


+1

My "touring" guitar is a one-owner '77 Les Paul Standard which tips the scales at about 13 pounds. By contrast my '94 R9 re-issue flame top LP weighs only 8 lbs, 2 oz.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Which is heavier, Ash or Alder?
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:21 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
strayedstrater wrote:
Gibson did the same thing. '50s Les Pauls were typically in the 8 to 9 pound range. But due to the "heavy is better" craze, when they reintroduced the Les Paul in the '70s they intentionally chose the heaviest mahogany they could find. So '70s LP's were typically in the 10 to 15 pound range.


+1

My "touring" guitar is a one-owner '77 Les Paul Standard which tips the scales at about 13 pounds. By contrast my '94 R9 re-issue flame top LP weighs only 8 lbs, 2 oz.

Arjay


The whole heavier is better was started by Gibson in the 70's because Norlin was buying cheap wood and knew their guitars weighed a ton! Just using marketing to CYA the inferior product.

FWIW

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