Music + Technology = Pete Lacis

Alder vs Swamp Ash, Maple vs Rosewood and a Neck Swap – The Definitive Comparison with Audio Clips

Posted by in audio clips, guitar, musical instruments

A while back I wrote this post concerning the differences between alder and swamp ash when used in a strat-style guitar and what tones/genres of music those combinations suited best. I originally wrote that post to satisfy my own curiosity, but also to share with others and participate in the discussion. Three years later it is still the most searched topic on this site and continues to bring in a steady stream of traffic. Apparently, I’m not the only one curious about these things…. Since I wrote the original post,…read more

Alder vs. Swamp Ash – what is better on a Strat style guitar? The tale of two Suhr Classics.

Posted by in audio clips

Being totally obsessed with how to make certain sounds (i.e. tone and timbre), for as long as I’ve been playing guitar I’ve been curious about which woods lend themselves to which sounds and tones. A common question that comes up is which is more preferable, alder or swamp ash? The answer to this depends on what style of music you play and what kind of feel you’re going for. When compared with the exact same electronics (Suhr V60LP single coil pickups and the Suhr Silent Single Coil system) there’s plenty…read more

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