What are the tonal differences on solid body guitars, between Alder, Ash, Poplar, Basswood, Mahogany and Maple? © 2014-2020 Stringjoy, LLC. Your email address will not be published. Spruce, for example, is often used for tops in acoustic guitars, but is not an ideal material for electric instruments. Check out this comparison between two Strats! There are differences between the types of wood used in many old guitars compared to what today’s luthiers use, but whether the sound is better or worse is subjective. you'll never find a pro-level, or even mid-level guitar made of Agathis. Filed Under: Buying Guides, Guitar selection. There are guitar manufacturers who don’t use wood. While that might be true from a certain point of view, musicians know that instruments come alive in their hands. Ancient Kauri (Agathis australis) Why people love it: Pulled up from bogs in New Zealand, Kauri is thousands of years old, making it the oldest wood on the market.. Why it’s overrated: When you get past the novelty, it’s basically just an old-growth softwood.True, there are some nice figured pieces, but on the whole, not worth the exorbitant costs over, say, Douglas Fir. Another factor that influences sound is whether the wood used in your instrument is constructed from solid pieces of wood or from wood laminate. This is an expensive guitar wood with bright highs and midrange, good bass, and great sustain. Luan or "Asian Mahogany" as been common in Epi's for years, it's perfectly acceptable substitute in an axe that only costs a few hundred bucks. It is lightweight, has beautiful grain patterns, and gives a warm sound with plenty of highs. More often seen as a back and side pairing for acoustic guitars, full Mahogany guitars (soundboard, back, and sides) aren’t uncommon, however, and can look very good. It s a good, less expensive alternatives to Rosewood. Above all, the wood matters. Agathis & mahogany are two tonally different woods. That’s where you come in. Agathis is most definately not plywood - it's some sort of tropic pine type tree. Danelectro, for instance, make a frame out of Poplar and cover it in Masonite. Agathis is being used more as mahogany gets more and more scarce and more expensive. This was a well presented education on the different qualities of different woods . It s also a value-priced wood used more in the lower cost instruments. Solid vs Laminate. not good as my esp ltd 406 fm telecaster body (mahogany) but sounds amazinggggggg, different tones and I love both. Mahogany is better. basswood is a very middle of the road wood, somewhat well balanced, but not very resonant, imo. Maple is a very hard type of wood with good tonal qualities and good sustain. Nato is an inexpensive replacement for Mahogany, sharing the bright, pronounced mid ranges, but doesn't quite have the presence of Mahogany. White Korina is a medium to heavy weight wood Korina has a naturally waxy feel to it. There are 49 types of Mahogany, but many are practically extinct because of the wood’s popularity for furniture and musical instruments, and the types used today are not the same as the Mahogany used in guitars in the 1940s or 1950s. That said, “agathis” makes my stomach turn in knots. Your email address will not be published. its very soft, sucks to work with from a building perspective, and soaks up tons of finish. American Tulipwood (Poplar), Wenge, Phoenix, Paulownia, and Agathis are other woods often used in guitar bodies, each with its own specific tonal qualities. x2. It has a deep, warm tone too which I attribute to the Agathis. Agathis is like a slightly less dense mahogany. Also included in the mix is a rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets and dot inlays, along with a pack of chrome tuners. thanks everyone. I've compared my Mahogany Ibanez to my Agathis one, and I feel like the Mahagony feels more powerful and rich in sound. Today it is a bit more expensive of a wood, relatively, and isn’t as common. The U.S. branded version of Sigma this model boasts modern features at affordable prices. But tests have shown it to not have the range and musicality of mahogany. From the few agathis Yamaha Pacificas (012) I've tried they seemed very resonant and vibrant so agathis seemed even more resonant than alder but defiantely not as resonant as maple. Some types of wood that were commonly used in the 1950s are close to extinct today, and can no longer be used for mass production. Nato is one of the softer hardwoods like Mahogany, Walnut, Koa and Maple. Is it very different to adler? Rosewood has traditionally been used for fretboards, usually combined with a maple neck, because it is a hardy and oily wood that can stand up to extensive human contact. Agathis as a tonewood (if you believe in that kind of thing) is said to be most similar to mahogany (more typically used in acoustics), which in electric guitars is said to be darker but punchy with excellent sustain. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. People who don’t play an instrument often believe an electric guitar or bass is basically just a board with strings on it. There are obviously a lot of people who don't have a clue what agathis sounds like and that have never built guitars posting here. Agathis is a low cost alternative to Maple, with a fast attack/decay and a fairly balanced sound. Basswood has a warm, balanced sound with great mid range and good sustain. Alder is generally considered to be one of the "traditional" Stratocaster body woods. Mahogany is better. The first is my ols Squier Std. Les Paul type guitars often combine a mahogany body with a maple top for a total that is balanced overall. Laminate consists of thin layers of wood pieced together, and it is commonly found on entry level ukuleles. I am not a botanist, so I really cant say much more. It depends on where the tree grew, how quickly it grew, and how the wood was treated once the tree was cut down. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. Mahogany is defined as hardwood but it is perhaps better identified as a ‘soft’ hardwood. Maple is also often used as a top for the guitar body, partly because it is beautiful (think flame, or quilted maple tops), and partly because it can brighten a sound that would otherwise be murky. It's similar in tone to mahogany, it's just cheaper. An instrument made from Alder is likely to have less midrange and bass than instruments made from other types of wood. Mahogany back and sides often emphasize bass and treble, with more overtone coloration and a “woody” sound (as opposed to the more metallic sound of, … An excellent tonal choice for hollow chambered bodies. Mahogany. My Squier P Bass has a body made from it, and with an SD quarter pound Basslines pup can sound anything from very dark, to quite spanky, depending on how I set my Amps EQ. I prefer Alder to both, but Mahogany is usually much better in tone than Agathis. Flame Maple on an acoustic guitar back—image c/o Josred Handmade Guitars . I just found out that my new guitar investment is agathis, it's Washburn D pro 200 dime style. One is Alder/Rosewood and one is Basswood/Maple. Alder used to be very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and many Fender guitars from that era are made from Alder. Because it doesn’t have much of a grain or color, it’s most commonly used on instruments that have an opaque paint-job, though this isn’t always the case (as in the photo above). Mahogany FTW.But I really am blurred that no one has bashed agathis yet.Maybe Algee has brainwashed all the anti agathis,lol. For instance, import and usage are restricted for certain types of Mahogany, Rosewood, and Ebony, and large guitar manufacturers in the US have been raided by the justice department on suspicion of using illegal materials. Then the American exceptionalism that Americans are programmed with from birth is coming into play here and the result is false logic. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, How To Change Guitar Strings The Right Way. There are 49 types of Mahogany, but many are practically extinct because of the wood’s popularity for furniture and musical instruments, and the types used today are not the same as the Mahogany used in guitars in the 1940s or 1950s. I have an older DeArmond M75 from way before Fender that just vibrates with resonance. Great weight, “okay” tone. Basswood comes from Linden trees, and it is soft and easy to work with. To qualify as a good guitar wood, a wood must be strong enough to hold up structurally, but also have the tonal characteristics that a luthier is looking for for a particular project. we're open & shipping orders    //    see current lead times     //    free shipping on orders $20+ details. FWIW, Agathis looks very similar to Mahogany in both looks and tone. Swamp Ash has good sustain, firm bass tones, bite in the midrange, and airy highs. Mahogany gives a warm timbre with a lot of bottom end. Product description Introducing the AMI DM-18 acoustic guitar. A Telecaster body made from Swamp Ash — image c/o chrisbewick.com. Alder: full and rich, with fat low-end, nice cutting mids, and good overall warmth and sustain. A side effect of being soft is that it also dents easy. It is a reliable, strong wood. there is good nice agathis,then there like bottom low shit ply agathis....if u get good agathis and its not shit cheap,then itll sound good,i have agathis/alder mixed strat by arbor,and it sounds very nice,but it is made with 2 different woods so that might have sumpthan to do with it,but overall stay away from relle low cheap end agathis....mahogany,everyone knows is a great tonal wood,just heavy. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. some people dig its tone, i personally do not. Guitar is light and have a powerful distinct tone. Think about it if it looked bad then why would you do a transparent finish on it. Take a listen to see if they sound different! the active EMG'S make of this agathis body guitar an excellent metal axe. If you think that Agathis looks bad look at both these pics. Later years hace seen restrictions in Rosewood import and usage, and other materials are becoming popular instead. Some guitars have both neck and fretboard in maple, and they will typically have a bright and open sound. Please check thread dates before posting. Is this list complete? Agathis is a general name for any number of different Far Eastern hard woods. With a Vintage Tint Gloss on it, it resembles the famous Korina Flying Vs … if you do a search here, you will see tons of agathis bashing. My '07 G400 Faded is an "Asian Mahogany" with an "African Mahogany" or (what some have called derisively) "Zebra" veneer. If the agathis is dry properly is not bad wood at all. Other popular guitar woods include Korina, which was made popular by Gibson in the late 1950s. It's red, made of wood, and sounds ¶√¢<¡π' AWESOME! . Good tone for what it is, but not my particular taste. I must be a lucky one because this guitar sounds amazing!!!! Paired with DeArmond's USA Goldtone humbuckers it is much darker sounding than my Gibson Vintage Mahogany with Burstbucker Pros, and overall rivals it for interesting, satisfying and 'professional' tone. Other than being able to brag that it's such-and-such wood, it's causing me to re-think agathis as a good tonewood. Many guitar and bass bodies are made from Mahogany. The PN1-NT is a tenor guitar with the tried-and-true combo of spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Agathis is often referred to as "commercial grade mahogany" as its tonal properties closely represent those of mahogany but fall short of true mahogany. The material in the neck and fretboard also matters. Required fields are marked *. i was going to hotrod it but ive been debating weither or not to say **** it and get a SA120 and hotrod it instead. how does agathis compare tone wise to mahogany? Some instruments are made from Aluminum, and some use Aluminum for the necks and fret boards. Each of the main tonewoods has its own place, and is chosen for its particular characteristics. Amazing shit for an agathis body.. like I said I must be one of the lucky ones who got proper dry ( agathis) wood. Agathis is a softwood, coming from a coniferous tree (spruce, pine, etc), unlike Mahogany which comes from a deciduous tree (hardwood). You might have to try many before you find one with a voice that resonates with you. I always thought of mahogany as a warmer sound than this. Bob Mayville says. Besides the type of wood, individual pieces or blanks each have their own unique characteristics in terms of feel and tone. Mahogany is dense and heavy … Ebony is especially popular on fretless guitars, where it is more durable than softer materials that are easily worn down by the strings. Comments. mahogany on the other hand is great to work with, looks awesome, sound is beefy, huge, and i have been using more of it than any other wood in my … i kinda figured that much, and BTW, the guitar is an Ibanez GSA60, so its defentally cheap agathis. Meranti is a low cost timber which is used for it's strength rather than tonal properties. Strings matter, hardware matters, the type of paint matters. i know most bottom line guitars are made of agathis, but i want to know cause of a project guitar im working on. Cherryburst and the second is my current Squier Std, both are Agathis. Each instrument has a unique voice and feeling, and two are rarely the same—even if they might look alike. Mahogany used as the body and top wood on a Gibson Les Paul. December 5, 2016 at 10:13 pm. Utilizing an all-mahogany body and a mahogany neck, this thing is quite sturdy and strong, which not only shapes the instrument's sound, but also comes in super handy for traveling with guitar. I have question about species and sound of agathis wood. Mahogany Wood: Agathis Wood: Compare with similar items. In my experience Mahogany is a very natural, woody sounding tonewood. Many American guitar factories use Swamp Ash because the wood is lightweight, pretty, and has a pleasant timbre. Basswood used for the guitar body on an Ibanez RG7. Others use Carbon Fiber, and others yet take another path away from traditional tone woods. Not all woods are suitable for use in all parts of a guitar. It s also known as Eastern Mahogany. Guitar necks are traditionally made from maple, in part because of its strength, and in part because the material can highlight and amplify the wood in the body. The type of wood, along with how it is treated in the factory, will determine what the instrument looks, sounds, and plays like. The Gaskell guitar site lists agathis as sounding much like mahogany. Learn how your comment data is processed. Many guitar and bass bodies are made from Mahogany. Just hearing a bass made of agathis makes me feel sick (and yes, I … ... Basswood was in the same league as poplar, agathis or nato: cheaper substitute for 'real' tonewood. you'll never find a pro-level, or even mid-level guitar made of Agathis. The tone is somewhere between the warmth of mahogany and the “pop” of alder. As such, each project demands its own approach. Each instrument is different—that’s part of what makes them so great. Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of 22 species of evergreen tree.The genus is part of the ancient conifer family Araucariaceae, a group once widespread during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but now largely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere except for a number of extant Malesian Agathis. Japanese Ash isn’t really related to any other form of Ash, but it looks similar. Rosewood will give a darker tone than maple alone. The tone is very similar to Mahogany with added mids. Its true name is Limba from Africa. ill probally end up going with the SA120 since it has a mahogany body and the neck is better. Every part of an instrument matters. All rights reserved. With our last wood hardness chart, several noted that there were certain woods missing that should be in the list, so we’ve expanded the list to 224 different species. Ebony is a beautiful and very hard wood popular for fingerboards, though it is not seen as commonly because it is both rare and expensive. Hello It's my first day here Sorry for my english. I read on the internet many conflicting opinions - for example that agathis is very similar to mahogany and that agathis is similar to adler. The Janka hardness test measures the lb/in2 required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. As a guitar top, dense mahogany has a solid, punchy tone with low overtone content and good high-end response. It is beautiful yet light, and gives a warm and balanced sound with good sustain. In fact, I’ve seen more than one person describe agathis as … These days, many luthiers have started using woods like Pau Ferro and Cocobolo instead of rosewood, with good results. Related: Mahogany vs Rosewood. Basswood vs. Mahogany Discussion in 'Sevenstring Guitars' started by Bulbs, Nov 19, 2008.