What is the difference in term of sound between ash and alder body on Strat 57'?

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Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille

Well, each guitar will be different, even with like woods. But my ash strat is alot more "beefy" in it's tone. It has much better low end response, and keeps the great treble-y high end a strat is known for. Again, I am comparing 1 guitar against the other alder bodied strats I own. Each will vary, especially with different pickups. Ash fell out of favor due to the fact that it varies wildly in weight and density, making a more uniform result from manufacture almost impossible ( at least infeasible ). My ash strat weighs a ton, but I wouldn't have it sound any different than it does!

I have an AVRI '57 ash bodied strat. It's not heavy at all and it sounds awesome. I also own a 2010 Am Standard with an alder body. It's a little heavier than my '57 but not much. Both guitars sound great. I can't do a fair comparison between the two because one has Custom Shop Texas Specials and the other has '57/'62 pickups. But neither of the guitars in my opinion sound "better" than the other. I like them both.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Thanks guys !

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Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille

Black Ash tends to be much heavier than other ash woods and offers a lot more sustain and resonance with more pronounced mids and bass.Regular ash and alder can sound quite similar or quite different from each other depending on the density and weight of the wood so there is no real rule of thumb as to how each wood should sound.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

ash has better looking grain......thats it..the sound diff between woods is miniscule if even audible. No one has ever said you can really hear the ash on that solo. My 2cents

There is truth in what you speak! I agree, I have never thought "Man, that ash bodied strat sounds SWEET!" when listening to music LOL LOL. There are tonal differences, but a Strat sounds like a Strat overall, even with differences in woods, pickups, etc. Some just better than others......

I believe what you are referring to is "fender myth number 7".The only big difference is looks.I have a 59 thin skin in white ash and love the way it looks,but having played 2 of the same strats ,I couldnt tell the difference.

I agree on the Ash grain (it's my telecaster). I understand also that we can have good or bad raw wood in alder or ash, the ear shall be the last point for decision and not a "word" in a spec.

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Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille

I've played a Northern Ash Strat that had great sustain and tone, but also a Southern Swamp Ash Strat that didn't sound as good (but was lighter -weightwise).

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+1

I choose my lumber based primarily on cosmetic preference. But my builds all reflect historically-correct instruments, at least externally.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY