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Post subject: Difference between Ash body & regular.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:05 am
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I'm pretty impressed with the American Deluxe Strat.I just found that there is a cherry burst color on the ash body model.Even though it's a bit more expensive I don't mind going for it.But before that I'd like to know what the difference is between an ash body strat & a regular one.Is there a difference in tone? Looks like the ash bodies are not very much in demand.Any reason for this?
Please help me choose.Thanks.


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:06 pm
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Hey Jesuscares
I think I can help with that one. Most American Strat bodies (reg. and deluxe) are made with Ash or Alder. Ash can be a tad heavier than Alder but the grain stands out more. The Ash body does have a slightly fuller tone and sustain but partly because of the Sunburst and "thin coat" nitrocellulose finishes. This type of finish allows the moisture in the wood to escape over time and allows the wood to age which gives it more resonance. Some Ash bodies have been known to get ridges in them where the grain seperates at the rings. As part of the solution to that they use 2 piece mirrored Ash bodies instead of one solid piece. This is why you can sometimes see the seam in your thinner finishes.

Alder is lighter and more abundant "ie cheaper" but still a good wood for an electric. They use this wood on the polyurethane finishes with solid colors. Unlike nitro finishes the moisture in the wood stays trapped in a poly finish. I've got both kinds. I prefer the nitro finish. If you play the two side by side unplugged the nitro "ash" has more "ring and resonance" than the other.

If you plug em in it doesn't really matter........They both sound great!!!

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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:12 pm
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Hi,

Other things equal in a guitar, Swamp ash is on the brilliant side of sound spectrum, whereas alder is a little more balanced (then warmer).


http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/options_bodywoods.cfm

Quote:
Alder (Alnus rubra):
Alder is used extensively for bodies because of its lighter weight (about four pounds for a Strat® body) and its full sound. Its closed grain makes this wood easy to finish. Alder's natural color is a light tan with little or no distinct grain lines. It looks good with a sunburst or a solid color finish. Because of its fine characteristics and lower price, Alder is our most popular wood and it grows all around us here in Washington State. The tone is reputed to be most balanced with equal doses of lows, mids and highs. Alder has been the mainstay for Fender bodies for many years and its characteristic tone has been a part of some of the most enduring pieces of modern day contemporary music.



Quote:
Ash (Fraxinus americana):
We have two very different types of Ash: Northern Hard Ash and Swamp Ash (Southern Soft Ash).

Northern Hard Ash is very hard, heavy and dense. A Strat® body will normally weigh 5 lbs. and up. Its density contributes to a bright tone and a long sustain which makes it very popular. Its color is creamy, but it also tends to have heartwood featuring pink to brown tints. The grain pores are open and it takes a lot of finish to fill them up.

Swamp Ash is a prized wood for many reasons. It is a fairly light weight wood which makes it easily distinguishable from Hard Ash. A Strat® body will normally weigh under 5 lbs. Many of the 50's Fenders were made of Swamp Ash. The grain is open and the color is creamy. This wood is a very nice choice for clear finishes. Swamp Ash is our second most popular wood. It is a very musical wood offering a very nice balance of brightness and warmth with a lot of "pop".


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