wood

[fcjc]

Hey guys, in school we are starting to make guitars in manufacturing and I was wondering if Poplar any good?

Becuase i asked if alder was avaliable for the body and my teacher said that poplar is a cheap good alternative. If not what is better and why?

I think ill get a ebony fret boarded neck

 

[gotdabluz]

I guess it would depend on what type of guitar you were building, or if you had your mind set on a specific tonal characteristic

Poplar is a bit heavier than alder, so if you are looking a a larger/thicker body style you are going to have some added weight
. . . tonally it is supposed to be similar to alder . . . middle of the road between warmth and brightness
. . . kind of a 'tastes like chicken wood' . . . which is not a bad thing

Not the most attractive color/grain features . . . so a solid finish is probably called for

If you build your guitar right, it will sound good

 

[CharlieB]

Of the tonality wood provides, its my opinion that at least 80 percent is in the selection of neck wood, not body wood.

 

[gotdabluz]

way off, CeeBs . . . the neck factor only amounts to 79%

 

[skidshark]

latest poles are leaning more towards 78%........... 8)

 

[guitarweasel]

Do I hear 77% ? :?

 

[Spunky]

My pole leans to the left so I don't know what you guys are talking about ;D

 

[CharlieB]

[quote author=gotdabluz link=topic=10197.msg133627#msg133627 date=1158201044]
way off, CeeBs . . . the neck factor only amounts to 79%
[/quote]

Curses foiled again!

As someone who's had the luxery of trying necks of various wood and fretboards on the same body... I'll stand by my guns

 

[skidshark]

[quote author=Spunky link=topic=10197.msg133638#msg133638 date=1158205614]
My pole leans to the left so I don't know what you guys are talking about ;D
[/quote]

ceebs is stickin by his guns and spunk whoops his pee-shooter out......stand back guys, this could get messy!!!

;D ;D ;D

 

[Daniel]

do you have to shape the neck and fretboard yourself? if so, avoid Ebony : 1.) it's dust is poisenous you must wear the proper protection when sanding and cutting ebony otherwise you will damage your health! 2.) it's a real pain to work, the wood is bloody solid you need the proper tools if you want to cut it.

A good alternative would be rosewood. about Poplar for a body wood, it'll work but don't expect too much from it. I personally class it among the cheaper woods like Basswood and laminates. saying that I have a laminate body strat which sounds the beesknees.

 

[Spunky]

Daniel,

I refretted a 74 SG with ebony fretboard.....
re-radiused the fretboard and got burning eyes and lips....nasty stuff

I love it for playability tho......

 

[Daniel]

but it's some nasty stuff huh. I intend to make a fretboard for a fretless bass out of Macassar Ebony, aka Coromandel. going to wear goggles and a chem-filter mask when cutting and shaping it.

 

[fcjc]

I quess i wont be using ebony. I was planning to make a strat style guitar like more like a jackson dinky. I quess ill go maple neck with rosewood fret

 

[gotdabluz]

what? your not done yet? get busy!!! ;D

oh . . . and make sure you chonicle the whole process with pictures for us!

 

[fcjc]

No were starting to make in school.

but i decided to make a explorer style instead. I ll have to be using ebony and i bought cutted cross enlays for the neck and among many other things


Also i love school because they pay for all the wood heheh

 

[fcjc]

Im assuming making a Explorer body shouldnt be all that hard due to the simple shape

 

[MauritsP]

Well if school is paying for the wood, just go all out. Get some Brazilian rosewood for the fretboard, pretyy expensive milking the school for all its worth :evil:
Padouk makes a really lovely body, with an orange brownish color.

 

[fcjc]

i tried getting Alder and the teacher said they couldnt get it. I think im going for ebony for the fretvoard and then i quess maple for the neck.

 

[MauritsP]

If alder isn't available for the body, you could go for (swamp)ash as a good alternative.

 

[skidshark]

[quote author=fcjc link=topic=10197.msg134238#msg134238 date=1158514499]
i tried getting Alder and the teacher said they couldnt get it. I think im going for ebony for the fretvoard and then i quess maple for the neck.
[/quote]

would be interesting to see if your teacher advises about the dangers of working with ebony over other prospective woods...