Early 60s telecasters, what's your preference, ash or alder?

[riscado]

On the early 60s teles, with rosewood slab and round lam boards, you can still find some with ash bodies (ex: blonde models), most of the other colours being alder however.

While I believe it is close to impossible to tell the difference in sound between the two, is there a difference in the feel / response of one of these early teles with ash vs an alder body?

Which ones do you prefer?

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

I prefer ash generally, especially because it seems harder to find lightweight alder guitars.

I won't turn down alder if it a great guitar. :biggrin:

 

[djdersh]

I prefer ash. The combination of ash and rosewood makes for a 'snappier' tone in my opinion.

 

[sonar]

If you can find them, the 60's maple cap neck with alder body can be pretty fantastic. Maybe more for 'pickin & rock than blues.

My first electric was an alder Tele with maple neck and had a hard time with other Tele's after I sold that guitar. Maybe it is placebo, but my favorite playing/sounding Tele's share those features. Of all things a FSR MIM alder/maple w/Duncan's hits my tone sweet spot.

 

[roadrunner]

On the early 60s teles, with rosewood slab and round lam boards, you can still find some with ash bodies (ex: blonde models), most of the other colours being alder however.

While I believe it is close to impossible to tell the difference in sound between the two, is there a difference in the feel / response of one of these early teles with ash vs an alder body?

Which ones do you prefer?

The only early '60's Teles that had alder bodies were Tele Customs... and those are pretty rare. About 90% of early '60's Teles are ash. The "Blond models" are the guitars with the stock finish. You mention "Most of the other colors"... as in, Custom Colors? Those are insanely rare and most custom color guitars from Fender were made of ash.

 

[riscado]

The only early '60's Teles that had alder bodies were Tele Customs... and those are pretty rare. About 90% of early '60's Teles are ash. The "Blond models" are the guitars with the stock finish. You mention "Most of the other colors"... as in, Custom Colors? Those are insanely rare and most custom color guitars from Fender were made of ash.

Hi,

great reply, I honestly didn't know that. I was under the impression that anything with a solid colour, from 59 onwards would be alder.

thanks

 

[sikoniko]

I prefer ash. The combination of ash and rosewood makes for a 'snappier' tone in my opinion.

I find ash in general to be 'snappier'. don't know if the fretboard makes much of a difference in the equation.

 

[buckaroo]

With a rosewood board I like ALDER. :salude

 

[Unbound Dot Neck]

Ash, tele and strat's .. for me.

 

[Unbound Dot Neck]

oops , thats a 1960 Strat, Alder in that pic. however this 55 , strat , is a tone machine 2 tone ash S/B.



:salude

 

[bern1]

for myself, as far as Fenders are concerned, alder for the sound, ash for the look....

all of my Fenders are alder....

 

[Big Al]

ALDER

 

[Elliot Easton]

My "sort of" rule of thumb is alder with rosewood boards and ash with maple.

 

[capitalbear]

ASH!

 

[retrobob]

My 1960 Tele is ash. One of my favorite guitars. The bridge is through the body like typical Telecasters, but has one of the left over rear loading bridges.