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Post subject: Tele - Ash or Alder pro/con
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:13 am
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What do you all think about ASH vs. ALDER bodies?

Preferences?

Pros & Cons?


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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:43 pm
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Hello Qwinks,

My subjective take is

Ash is a more attractive wood and
most obvious with transparent finishes.

Tone wise I gravitate towards ash again.

These are my opinions others
may be different but equally valid.

Cheers.


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:08 pm
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The sound can vary widely dependent upon the wood species, age, weight, moisture content, and the individual wood slab(s) themselves, etc. I have both and it seems that with the two ash Fenders I have, they are a bit brighter and lack some of the bass that the alders have. They are heavier too.

I recently ordered a tele with a mahogany body so now I'll have bodies of three wood species: Alder, Ash and Mahogany.


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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:29 am
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I played an Alder tele for years and just got fed up with the lower mid range tone which was also very uneven across the neck with some strings resonating louder than others. Overall the tone was not even across the strings.

I recently picked up a swamp ash body, a MIJ body replacement. The guitar sounds much better, brighter but clearer, not harsh at all. It has better overall volume eveness across the stings. This is using the same pickups and neck so in my experience the ash sounds more like a traditional 50s tele and overall more pleasing. The sustain is also better. The Alder notes died off quickly and playing required a lot more hand strength.


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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:59 am
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What about mahogany - you forgot to add that to your op?


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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:11 am
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I can't tell any difference sound wise, just like some alder-made guitars sound brighter or fuller than another alder guitar, ash guitars also may sound different from other ash guitars, even being the same model, pickups etc. There are just so many variables in everything regarding guitar...

I'd go for ash if it's a translucent color, specially "blond". The grain looks cool.


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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:23 pm
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I just got an ash body 3 days ago, so I haven't had much chance to compare it with my older alder Tele. However, so far I'd agree with comments that the tone is brighter and the notes cleaner.

To be fair though, I am comparing it with a 6 year old Tele and the "environment" has no doubt had some effect. Even so, I don't recall the alder ever being as bright. In fact, as I've posted before, it has a somewhat muted tone and the notes somewhat blend. Of course, when playing some jazz or blues, I'd continue to prefer that sound over the new ash Tele. But for classic Fender "spank," the ash is delivering the goods!


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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:48 pm
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Location: NE PA, near Scranton
I wish I could tell a difference. I think an electric guitar has so many variables in the sound due effect pedals, amps, pickups, etc. I have come to believe that mass may make a difference. In history the Stratocaster is a shaved down Telecaster. I think the mass of ash on a Tele makes for a more cleaner brighter sound with increased presence. I think that my alder (with Maple caps) Strat Ultra just can't get the brighter sound with the gutsier presence that the Tele can. The 1971 Stratocaster is the thinnest airiest guitar sound I have, and I think those pickups are the problem. I just don't know what wood it is.

I remember playing a Gibson LP in college that had the heaviest piece of mahogany (the permanent dent in my shoulder will attest), which was before chambered LPs were available, and the sound was Tele-like, but humbuckers make it difficult to compare. But compare an SG (mahogany) to a LP and the SG is "lighter" in sound. I wonder what a double cut LP sounds like in comparison to a LP single cut....not enough money or time for that. :lol:

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2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
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1971 Stratocaster
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