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Is there a difference in tone in a ebony or rosewood
- Thread starter C-1st
- Start date
Some people say there is. I cant tell because there are so many other things going on that could be changing the tone. (my custom has different pups than my standard, ect.) They feel different because of the boards, but Im sure the wood has some effect on the tone. Some people seem to think the ebony is brighter sounding, but my custom sounds warmer than the standard!
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I love them both. Please dont make me choose!:lolspin
I think (and these are just my guitars Im comparing here.) the custom is a little faster. It feels smoother to me. My standard is pretty well broken in though so it is real comfortable too. I guess thats why I have both.
I think (and these are just my guitars Im comparing here.) the custom is a little faster. It feels smoother to me. My standard is pretty well broken in though so it is real comfortable too. I guess thats why I have both.
I have pieces of Rosewood ,Cocobolo ,Pau Ferro ,
and Macassar Ebony that are either actual fretboard blamks or backs for accoustic guitars.
I you find the nodes and hold your fingers on the nodes and " Tap " the wood they do indeed sound dramatically different.
Once they are added to the neck wood you now have a combination of the woods going on and they will have an effect on each other.You will get a different " Blend " in tone from the Mahogany neck and the Rosewood or Ebony boards . But as each piece of wood IS different it's hard to say with certinty what the outcome will be.
In general Rosewood before it becomes a board will have a richer warmer tone than the sharper
slightly colder sounding Ebony.
Once it's on the neck and glued into the body then All bets are off as to how all that will interact with each other.The more pieces of wood you have the more your tone is a composite of those pieces.
Then it just gets down to how that guitar sounds ,feels and looks to you.
and Macassar Ebony that are either actual fretboard blamks or backs for accoustic guitars.
I you find the nodes and hold your fingers on the nodes and " Tap " the wood they do indeed sound dramatically different.
Once they are added to the neck wood you now have a combination of the woods going on and they will have an effect on each other.You will get a different " Blend " in tone from the Mahogany neck and the Rosewood or Ebony boards . But as each piece of wood IS different it's hard to say with certinty what the outcome will be.
In general Rosewood before it becomes a board will have a richer warmer tone than the sharper
slightly colder sounding Ebony.
Once it's on the neck and glued into the body then All bets are off as to how all that will interact with each other.The more pieces of wood you have the more your tone is a composite of those pieces.
Then it just gets down to how that guitar sounds ,feels and looks to you.
rays44
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2001
- Messages
- 2,923
A buddy of mine has piece of Brazillian rosewood about 2 feet long. When you tap it with your knuckle it sounds like a bell. I wish we had Indian rosewood and ebony to compare it to. I think Al is on the money regarding tone woods. Once it's on the guitar it will react with those other woods. To quote Mr. Gump, "guitars are like a box of chocolates.......
The Rosewoods that I have are SE Asian.They look and sound different from each other but both have a warm Booong with a ring to it. The Ebony has a
more Poinggg sound with a quicker attack and decay
and far less bottom end.The ebony is less complex and more focused.
I hope this makes some kind of sence.
more Poinggg sound with a quicker attack and decay
and far less bottom end.The ebony is less complex and more focused.
I hope this makes some kind of sence.
Burstboy
Dr. Nick, 'Hi Everybody'
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2001
- Messages
- 3,136
I agree with Al...he it right on the head in a quarky kinda way, but it was well described. I think. There is a definite tonal difference between my Custom and my Standard...
Heavy metal and jazz? I use my Custom bridge and neck, respectively. Classic rock and blues? I use my Standard. I really think you need a Custom, a Standard, and a P-90 in your line-up...but that's just me. I play my Tele a lot, but I have never gotten used to Strats. No reason really...maybe it's the bridge. Anyways, listen to Al. My Custom is punchier and crisper and has more attack (whatever that means, but it defines itself when you A/B them). The Standard is fuller, smoother, creamier..it snarls, honks, squeals and squawks ala "La Grange"...
Heavy metal and jazz? I use my Custom bridge and neck, respectively. Classic rock and blues? I use my Standard. I really think you need a Custom, a Standard, and a P-90 in your line-up...but that's just me. I play my Tele a lot, but I have never gotten used to Strats. No reason really...maybe it's the bridge. Anyways, listen to Al. My Custom is punchier and crisper and has more attack (whatever that means, but it defines itself when you A/B them). The Standard is fuller, smoother, creamier..it snarls, honks, squeals and squawks ala "La Grange"...