Did you hear about the Taylor acoustic guitar company made some guitars from wood salvaged from old wooden pallets and they sounded exactly the same as their "premium" woods versions...? Sure different woods have different sounds but I'm just saying I think the design is what really counts....masonite Danelectros come to mind...

Of course this is only MHO.

My dad, uncle and cousin were building electric guitars and steels since the '50's, even the hardware and pickups. There was however one occasion my uncle was very excited about using a particular type of wood which exhibited spectacular resonance, it was almost bell-like when tapped; it turned out to be the worst steel he ever built.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 19 August 2006 at 10:03 AM.]

secondly, the less contact the strings have with the wood, the brighter it will be. I've found that strings anchored through bodies into ferrules, like a Telecaster, will be impacted by the woods more than strings anchored to the bridge plate alone, like Fender steels.

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Let me also say that you never know what it will sound like untill it's done.

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That's for sure. We've made some Tele bodies out of unusual woods and been surprised by the results....and even with traditional woods you don't know til it's done.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 19 August 2006 at 01:11 PM.]

I've seen similar comments from people claiming that with their umpteen-band graphic EQ's they can make their Les Pauls sound "just like a Strat or Tele" and vice-versa, etc. and all I can say is if that's what they think, then fine for them. For me, I don't believe electronics can reshape the timber of an instrument that much and I can hear the difference.

But as Loni says, whatever floats yer boat!

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 19 August 2006 at 08:11 PM.]

Good information

Depending on what sound you are going for, I'd choose either:

-) mahogany or limba/korina for a warm, full, not too bright sound;

-) alder, swamp ash, basswood or poplar for a very balanced, even sound;

I recently built a non pedal steel guitar using some 50 yr. old Wild Cherry that came out of a garage loft. I was pleased with the results for looks and sound. I will use it again for another guitar I plan to build.

Brad

Good luck on your project. Let us know how it comes out.

Norm Evans

[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 22 August 2006 at 07:58 PM.]

there is no 1 best choice , it is all up to your taste and availability.

GeorgeBoards

At the other extreme is a company that makes a really cute space frame with carbon fiber sticks and puts guitar strings on it. The actual sound depends on your choice of pickups.

Aloha,
Don

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Yeah, but wouldn't you have to throw a lapsteel down the alley to get a fair comparison?

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I know it's pretty heavey-54 lbs in the case
Jay