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Post subject: Body: One Piece of Wood?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:27 pm
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I have always had the inclination that higher quality guitars, i.e., American Fenders and other higher quality guitar makers made the bodies out of one piece of wood. Taking a look at my Highway One Strat, I realized it was made of at least two pieces of wood. My question is, are most guitars actually made of multiple pieces of wood and does that effect the sound quality at all? Also, I'm looking at a Fender Blues Jr, any thoughts/comments about it?


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Post subject: Re: Body: One Piece of Wood?
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:40 pm
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hullka wrote:
My question is, are most guitars actually made of multiple pieces of wood and does that effect the sound quality at all?


Yes, most Fender bodies are made out of multiple pieces of wood. Throughout the years, one-piece bodies are the exception, not the rule, but there are some out there. Today, I believe you'll only find one-piece bodies on Custom Shop guitars.

And, no, it doesn't affect the sound quality at all.

The more pieces a body has, the lower the production cost. So the lower end models tend to have more pieces than the higher end models, whether they are MIA or MIM.

Also, solid color paint jobs can hide a lot of things!

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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:37 am
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Hello Hullka,

Firstly welcome to the forum.

Shure enough like Orvillowner said they are the exception.

About the Blues Jr. Amp---A super little workhorse.
It's no Fender Twin, but great in my home.
For Band work, I think more of an amp is required.
but you can mike it.

Cheers.


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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:46 am
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That's right. A one piece body really has no appreciable advantage over a two or three piece body. A multiple piece body may likely be more resistant to warping or cracking.

And it makes sense that more pieces lower production costs, as the manufacturer can use smaller pieces of wood. A big piece of wood with a knot in the middle can be cut up and reglued.

As the number of pieces in the body increase, the body's ability to resonate will be diminished, however. String vibration, transmitted to the body at bridge and nut cause the wood to vibrate/resonate, giving the guitar it's characteristic sound. Glue joints diminish the vibration. So, the more glue joints the sound has to travel through, the greater the loss of resonance.

That would appear to make a one piece body the better body, but the difference in tone between one, two, or three pieces is negligible.

I'm glad my Strat has just two pieces. My Telecaster FMT is a three piece mahogany body (with a maple top), and boy, does it resonate.

Do I want a five piece body? No. Gotta draw the line somewhere.


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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:03 pm
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Warmoth doesn't seem to have much trouble getting big enough boards to make one-piece bodies and for only $65 more than normal for Ash!

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/on ... bodies.cfm

I've never seen a warped or cracked guitar body. I'd love a link to a picture ...

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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:38 pm
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The Made in American episode with the Gibson factory shows them gluing two pieces together.

I can't find the seam, but I'm sure my Deluxe Players Strat is multiple pieces.


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Post subject: Re: Body: One Piece of Wood?
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:52 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
hullka wrote:
My question is, are most guitars actually made of multiple pieces of wood and does that effect the sound quality at all?


Yes, most Fender bodies are made out of multiple pieces of wood. Throughout the years, one-piece bodies are the exception, not the rule, but there are some out there. Today, I believe you'll only find one-piece bodies on Custom Shop guitars.

And, no, it doesn't affect the sound quality at all.

The more pieces a body has, the lower the production cost. So the lower end models tend to have more pieces than the higher end models, whether they are MIA or MIM.

Also, solid color paint jobs can hide a lot of things!



That covers it...

The quality of the wood would have a bigger impact than if it has 1,2, or 3 pieces of wood.


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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:02 pm
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My 98 MIA was black when I bought it. Stripped and finished the wood. It is a 4-plankier, but matched very nicely.


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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:50 pm
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dgonz wrote:
My 98 MIA was black when I bought it. Stripped and finished the wood. It is a 4-plankier, but matched very nicely.


You're lucky with that. The Fender guys aren't dumb. They've long used solid colors to cover up ugly grain and sunburst painting errors.

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