What is the best wood for a Fender Stratocaster?

Alder body

Alder is used in most Fender Strats mainly because of its light weight and it’s easy to finish due to minimal grain lines. Alder is also the most neutral sounding of the commonly used wood types with a full tone, well balanced lower end a hint of mid range.

What kind of wood are Strats made from?

Most commonly alder or ash. Other woods have also been used. Most commonly maple or rosewood.

What wood is a Fender Stratocaster body?

Fender adopted alder for electric instrument bodies in mid-1956, probably for no other reason than it was there; it was readily available and more affordable than ash. Ever since, it remains the body wood for the majority of Fender electric instruments.

What is the best wood for a guitar body?

Spruce. This evergreen, found in northern temperate regions of the globe, is literally top choice: the ideal wood for the soundboard, or top, of an acoustic guitar.

What type of wood does Fender use?

One of the main things that make up the sound and characteristics of a guitar is the wood. There are three main types of wood that Fender has used on its guitars from the early days to the present—ash, maple, and alder.

How To | Types of Wood for Guitar Necks

Is ash better than alder?

Sonically, Alder will produce more attack and presence with its emphasised upper-mids, resulting in it sounding a little bit punchier than Ash. Ash will give you a comparably rounder and slightly mellower tone with chiming highs that aren't too bright.

Is alder better than basswood?

Top 3 - Popular Alder Guitars

Tonally, alder is similar to basswood, but brighter and with slightly less sustain. The mids of alder aren't as pronounced as basswood, but there is more emphasis on the highs and a bit more breathing room for the lows.

Is a maple or rosewood neck better?

Compared to maple the difference is notable, as rosewood will soften the sound, even for guitars with maple necks. This is one of the reasons some guitar players prefer Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with the option of a rosewood fretboard. The rosewood takes a bright guitar and mellows it out a bit.

Which is better mahogany or spruce?

Mahogany guitars sound smoother and warmer compared to spruce top guitars which sound brighter and more crisp. This is because mahogany produces more bass and mid-range emphasis compared to spruce which has more treble emphasis.

What wood has the best resonance?

Honduras Rosewood, a very unique wood with unparalleled sound qualities grows in the heart of Central America. The beauty of its resonance can even be heard on a raw-cut piece of wood Honduras Rosewood, which is also known for its hardness and durability.

Is ash more expensive than alder?

Generally, Ash wood is considered more expensive than Alder because it is lightweight.

Why did Fender stop using ash?

In an interview with Guitar World, Fender's Executive Vice President of Product, Justin Norvell, revealed that the difficult decision was made largely because of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, a non-native invasive pest that has been destroying the unique "swamp ash" found in the American South - favored by Fender for ...

What wood is best for electric guitar body?

Is swamp ash lighter than alder?

Alder is a lighter hardwood. Most quality guitars made with ash use Swamp ash, which is usually slightly lighter than alder. Swamp ash is the bottom part of an ash tree that has its roots underwater.

Are made in Mexico Strats good?

That being said, Mexican Strats are still excellent sounding guitars. They deliver the same versatile range as the American Strats, with that same snappy tone quality. They just don't have that extra oomph that makes an American Strat an American Strat.

Is basswood lighter than alder?

Basswood is usually lighter than alder. Alder is usually lighter than northern ash, but swamp ash is usually lighter than alder.

Is rosewood better than mahogany?

Rosewood is much denser/harder and stronger than mahogany. This is why it is also used a lot for bridges and fingerboards.

Is African mahogany good for guitars?

African mahogany, sometimes called khaya, supports the Performer and Signature Series with warm, midrangy tone and the familiar dry fundamental that has made it a favorite of guitarists for over a century. And all African mahogany Wildwoods offer the classic blues combination at a revolutionary price.

Are mahogany guitars good?

Mahogany has a thick bottom end, a controlled high end, and a perfect midrange. It's a tonewood that perfectly balances all ranges of sound, which is why it's so commonly used in custom acoustic guitars. It suits most players and guitar body shapes, and provides the best sound.

Does Fender still use rosewood?

With restrictions now lifted, Fender have re-implemented rosewood into their guitar manufacture - but they've kept pau ferro and ebony as additional options across the range. You can read more about the CITES laws affecting guitarists, bassists and drummers by clicking here.

Which wood is best for fretboard?

Do maple fretboards sound different than rosewood?

One of the commonly accepted “truths” about guitars is that maple and rosewood fingerboards produce distinctively different tones. Maple supposedly sounds punchy and provides note clarity, while rosewood is warm and spacious-sounding.

What is better basswood or mahogany?

As far as necks go, there is little debate that mahogany is better. Not only does it resonate better, but it is much harder and stable. Basswood necks simply aren't a thing due to the tonewood's softer properties.

Is alder good for guitars?

Alder is a medium-weight wood with a tight, hard grain pattern. It offers a full-bodied, clear tone, balancing low, mid and high frequencies. Alder is a popular choice as a solid body or laminate top for electric guitar/bass but isn't used in acoustic guitars, guitar necks, or fretboards.

Is poplar good for electric guitars?

Poplar can be used as the solidbody wood or the laminate top of an electric guitar. Its sustain isn't great, though its articulation is notable. As a top material, burled poplar can yield some beautiful-looking instruments. Poplar is easy to work, though care should be taken when finishing and colouring it.