I like Alder. Fender makes Ash and Alder guitars. I think you can special order Mahogany as well. I would go to a big guitar store and ask them if they have ash and alder bodied guitars and play them.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Alder! Though, Ash stratocasters look absolutely gorgeous, and I wouldn't mind owning one of them.

I played a HSS American Special Mahogany strat, wasn't sure if the strings were dull or what but it sounded really dark. I guess I didn't enjoy it because I play strats for their brightness.

I'm a HUGE fan of wood grain, different woods and different guitars. Strangely, I've never liked the look of ash. It just looks to "silly" to me or something. Too pronounced or something. If I were going to pick a wood for a body, I'd much rather get a cool custom wood like...

- figured koa
- walnut
- lacewood
- spalted maple
- paduk
- brazillian rosewood
(http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/options/o ... ywoods.cfm)

... but for the pure look, I think ash might be one of my least favorite.

But ibanez prestige do came with basswood too and quite expensive.

Alder all the way. Great grain and good on the back. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Most Ibanez guitars are Basswood these days.

As for Poplar, yes, I have to agree it is generally found in the cheaper guitars, but then again the Steve Morse Signature guitars from Music Man are Poplar guitar bodies.

Woods will vary in tone no matter what kind of wood it is. I have a strat with an Alder body and one with a Northern Ash body, and another with a Swamp Ash body. IMHO, The Alder and Swamp ash bodies seem to sound the same, warmer, with good sustain, but I think the Swamp Ash sustains a little better. And it is lighter. Northern Ash is much heavier, and the tone is a bit brighter, but it also sustains very well, and also happens to be one of my favorite Straocasters. Not because of the weight, but because that particular guitar seems to have the best clarity and sustain of any Stratocaster.

You'll just have to use your ears and your tonal needs to determine which will work best for you.

_Harley

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I only have two brain cells left, and I'm saving them....for this weekend!

my personal favorite is Alder, but Ash is very good too

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Rock n' Roll Will Never Die
Music Is Life

I like Alder.

Most articles on wood do say that Poplar has almost the same sound responce as Alder. The thing with Poplar is that it does not finish as easy, it has yellowish brown and green in it.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Well thanks guyz for the generous opinions and thought bout which wood sound better on strat. For me i like both alder and ash, although ash is slightly heavy than alder both give good sound.

It's true they do have a great tone, but as with all woods, keep in mind, they can vary quite a bit.

-Harley

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I only have two brain cells left, and I'm saving them....for this weekend!

I agree....northern ash vs swamp ash, premium alder vs natural, etc.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Even among themselves...Swamp Ash can vary quite a bit just in the density of the wood from the bottom of the tree, to a point higher up on the tree. That's very common with Swamp Ash. The lower in the tree trunk that the wood is taken from, the lighter it will be, and generally has a warmer tone, but this is where the sustain will become a question.

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I only have two brain cells left, and I'm saving them....for this weekend!

alder. my favorite of all woods is koa, but it's too expensive.

Ash with maple neck

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Blues Ya?