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Post subject: Road Worn 50's - Difference of Alder vs. Ash body
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 4:22 am
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Hello everybody,
I am newbie here and in e-guitars and I want to buy my first guitar: a Telecaster 50's Road Worn 2 - Tone Sunburst.

A friend of mine who is a guitarist has the "Blonde" Version and has recommended that one, however - as a newbie - I also go for looks and the Sunburst Version looks better to me.

However: the body is alder as opposed to Ash in the Blonde Version.
Does this different wood Alder make a big difference in sound ?

Alder is not as good wood as ash, maybe softer, not so solid as ash (which is close to oak), also it does not have the same "length stripes" (whatever that is called in English, in German it is Maserung). I read in test articles that the SB version therefore is stronger in base and treble,as opposed to the BLONDE version which is apparently "more equal" in sound, which I usually prefer.

I have noticed, that Fender uses Alder mostly on its Sunburst E-guitars ( American Standard, Deluxe, etc.) and thus it must be a preferred wood now.

So: anyone qualified here, who can tell me that Alder is o.k. ? Or even better than ash ? Or maybe that it makes no difference

Thank you !


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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:07 am
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Hi there - welcome to the forum.

There was a long debate about it a couple of weeks ago... the two main camps were:
1. There's no difference in tone between ash and alder.
2. There's a very small difference in tone between ash and alder, one that won't really matter that much.

I belong to the second camp, didn't meet a lot of people who belong to the "big difference" camp.

Alder is not worst than ash in any way. Also the way most guys who hear the difference would describe it, is the exact opposite of how the article had: alder is actually the more equal wood while ash has a less mids and pronounced bass and treble.


If you have the chance to play both guitars before you buy - it would make your choice a lot easier... just go for the one who sounds and feels better...


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Post subject: RW Tele Ash or Alder?
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:03 am
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Hi Jokerit,

You are right, the Ash is typically only used on the Strats with transparent type finishes in which the wood grain shows (obviously it's more about the looks than sound). I don't think that many people have compared identical Strats, with different body woods and everything else the same, it just doesn't happen. Most of the sound differences in the 2 woods will be subtle, but the rest of the guitar parts matter as much as , if not more than, the body wood. Generally speaking the Ash body will be heavier than the Alder.

BTW, the lines in the wood, or "Maserung", we call the "grain". :)

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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:19 am
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Well ash baseball bats have a brighter sound with nice treble detail and full bass while Alder has a warmer sound with more mids but still quite percussive ^^ Of course, it all depends on the tree and who's swinging the bat :P

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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:39 am
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I played both and have to say I liked the sound and looks of the alder model better. It was a bit lighter as well.


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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:59 am
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Ash varies in weight A LOT. I played a few ash guitars that were feather weight and a few that were extremely heavy.


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Post subject: RW 50s Ash vs Alder
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 8:14 am
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JohnnyL wrote:
Ash varies in weight A LOT....


You are right there! I think that the inconsistency in Ash was the reason that Leo originally started using Alder. But even back then they used Ash for the transparent finishes. :)

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Post subject: Alder vs. Ash - how test different sound (if there is one)
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:08 pm
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Hi everybody,

I already love this forum. :wink:
Yes, really everyone here helped in the answer, thanks guys. Plus I learned what Maserung means in English - it is grain, fantastic ! :D

I liked the comment about "who is swinging the bat" and the coment, that every tree is different. That is why I still buy at a "real life shop", not on the internet, even though the shop had to order extra one Sunburst while having the Blonde on stock.

As a newbie ( 9 months of guitar playing) I cannot play well enough to test and when I go out to the shop, then I will have a choice of ten or more BLONDE versions, and one SUNBURST ( which has been ordered from a store in Berlin).

So now comes the second most important question:
I already like the Sunburst better because of looks, but how do I hear the difference in tone best ? Any recommendations as to how to test the difference ( i.e. a certain song or so..).

How do you guys test efficiently the base and the treble or the percussive sound of the alder vs. ash e-guitars ?

Thanks again.

:? :? :? :? :?


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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 3:14 pm
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Ash will almost always be brighter sounding than alder, so it really depends on what music you want to play. For a rock or blues Tele, I would lean towards the alder for the slightly warmer sound. Here are a couple good video demo's of the alder model. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idWK7HeAcb0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TxsvNpfhDg


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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 3:27 pm
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There is really only one way to compare the sounds. Play all of the guitars that you want to try on the same amp, same settings. Just play what you know, and play the same chords on each one. Don't worry about being a newbie, I rarely hear anything that sounds pleasant when I visit GC. :lol: When I was shopping for my Tele, I used one of the little C600s that they had on display, and played all through that same amp (small amp, no one could hear me). :lol: You may find that several guitars that are the same exact model, have different sounds, some even feel different to play. :idea: :)

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Post subject: Testig Road Worn '50s - SB vs. Blonde
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 3:37 am
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Thanks again guys, all comments were great ! I really appreciate all your help. :D

For "Sound" testing: I will try exactly that what you recommend, playing the few chords ("CAGED") and fingerpicks that I know etc. There is a little bit existing...Some people recommend also, that I let the guy at the shop play it for me, what do you think of that?

For "Feel" testing: I wonder whether I will be able to "feel" the differences because the Sunburst in measurements is supposed to be only a tiny bit smaller in neck size (acc. to specs). But that would help me, because I have a small hand size (lady size :lol: ) and short fingers (unlike a lady).

What I want to play with it ? Well just about everything. My guitar teacher plays in a country band, so there is some influence.
I personally do not prefer heavy stuff (heavy metal..) but rather Classic or Soft Rock (some of my heroes are: the"Boss", the "Stones" and of course "Mark Knopfler" etc.). But of course I like all kinds of Pop, Blues, R&B, generally I prefer the smooth stuff. And of course a bit of Country + Bluegrass as well as fingerpicking. (Generally speaking, I have a Western guitar for that). Hey guys, I am way over 40 already!



:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:


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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:04 am
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I'd listen to each guitar unplugged - just see if it "rings" well. Plugged and unplugged, play clean chords and hold them to listen how well the guitar sustains. I think that bringing in some fast runs is also important just to make sure you feel comfortable on the neck... If you play or plan to play standing up you'll appreciate a lighter guitar. I love my Strat and went for it because it just had a lively tone - but it's a heavy one and it just kills me at the end of a gig...
You need a honeymoon phase with a guitar anyway - so even more experienced players choose the wrong guitar.


Also - if you really insist on ash and a sunburst, there's the Texas Highway 1 Tele that was discontinued (as far as I know) just recently so you might find it in stores, maybe even for a discount and it might be exactly the guitar you want. There's also the American Standard in ash and 2 tone sunburst - this one is more expensive and is a little more modern (6 saddle bridge, flatter radius neck, etc...). So you do have your options.


Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Testig Road Worn '50s - SB vs. Blonde
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:47 am
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Jokerit wrote:
...Some people recommend also, that I let the guy at the shop play it for me, what do you think of that?....


That is a good idea if you are shopping for an amp, but maybe not for a guitar. I like to let the guitar shop employee play the guitar while I fiddle with the knobs on a new amp that I'm trying. For the guitar though, you have to check the sound and the feel with your own hands to get a really good idea if it's right for you. Depending on the shop, some guitars maybe better set up than others (string height/action, intonation etc). If the shop wants to make a sale, they might make sure that the set up on the guitar is right if you ask them. :idea:

Over 40? That's OK, youngsters are welcome here too. :lol:

Oh, did someone mention an Ash American Standard? Here's mine.

Image[/url]

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Post subject: Road Worn 50's - Difference of Alder vs. Ash body
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:31 pm
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Hi guys, thanks for the alternatives hint. Also - nice picture of your American Standard in ash. That one I like too. I can tell there is similar taste there.

So, yes I am having constantly a look at alternatives, because I ordered the Road Worn Tele in 2 Tone SB three weeks ago and it is not there yet. Plenty of time to look at others during the waiting period.

But so far shops around where I live only had the American Standard in 2 Tone Sunburst. I also tried three or four 3.000 € custom shop Teles in comparison, but apart from the "worn looks" which I obviously saw, I heard only small differences (not plugged in). Of course you feel the weight differences...The guys in the shops generally recommend me to buy the American Standard rather then the Road Worn Tele..

And yes, I am still looking out for the Texas Highway One Tele.

Back to the woods: I learned, that for the more expensive Teles there is the better wood used..and I know already, that no one guitar is the same between the same models.

Oh well, we will see. Lets hope I will manage to get a decent piece of an "axe" for me !


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