Types of Wood for Electric Guitars / Basses

Are the types of wood used to make an electric guitar /bass , especially parts such as the soundboard, neck, keyboard... important in creating the sound quality of the guitar? Or is it simply the pickups that are most important?

Even people who don't know much about guitars understand that the wood used to make an acoustic guitar will directly affect its sound quality.

However, when it comes to electric guitars /bass , this is a bit more complicated. Because in addition to the wood material, the main factor that creates the sound quality of an electric guitar /solid bass is its pickups. Would you say that electric guitars /bass can be made from any material and still sound good? So, why care about wood materials? Does it really matter what type of wood an electric guitar /bass is made from?

The answer to the first question is: It is important to pay attention to the wood used in electric guitars /bass because factors such as feel, weight and appearance are as important to guitarists as tone. . Additionally, the resonant properties of wood - especially the wood used in soundboards - still have a significant impact on the sustain of the sound.

As for the second question, the answer is: It's really important, because due to the special blend of each type of wood with the factors mentioned above, some types of wood will bring out the best sound quality. Better for electric guitar /bass .

Below are the 3 most commonly used woods in modern electric guitars /bass , broken down into the three core parts of each guitar - body, neck and fingerboard. Each part requires different characteristics, so different types of wood are needed.

TYPES OF WOOD USED FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR / BASS BODIES.

The way the wood body resonates when the strings vibrate is a key factor in the sound of any guitar, whether acoustic or electric. That is why, no matter what version, Rosewood is treasured by luthiers. This type of wood resonates well, creating great warmth, creating many layers of sound that make up the thickness of the guitar's sound. However, because Rosewood is internationally classified as an endangered species, its trade is restricted, making a guitar made entirely of Rosewood very expensive. If anything, an all-Rosewood guitar will cause difficulty for your back and shoulders when performing because it is very heavy.

That's why electric guitar /bass manufacturers tend to look for woods that combine good tonal characteristics with a reasonable weight and affordable price. From lightest to heaviest, the woods commonly used for electric guitar /bass bodies are:

• American ash
• South American alder
• Asian or South Pacific agathis
• American or Canadian maple
• African mahogany

Mahogany is second only to Rosewood in both its tonal richness and weight; Mahogany varieties from Africa are one of the few Mahogany strains that are not classified as endangered. Agathis have a similar tone to Mahogany but are not as heavy.

Yamaha REVSTAR RSP20CR.

The Yamaha REVSTAR Series solid body electric guitar has a body made of Maple/Mahogany or Flame Maple (a very popular type). Most models in the Yamaha Pacifica Series have bodies made of Maple, Alder, Flame Maple, or some combination of these woods. The only exceptions are the signature PAC1611MS Mike Stern model, which has a body made from Light Ash, and the PAC012 which has a body made entirely from Mahogany.

Yamaha PAC1611MS

For hollow-body electric guitars, the luthier's calculations vary somewhat. Here, the tonal properties of the wood become more important, and weight is less of a concern. The Yamaha SA2200 hollow-body electric guitar uses laminated Sycamore, with a lighter Maple center block to help create resonance and stability.

TYPES OF WOOD FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR / BASS NECKS.

The weight of the guitar neck, although quite noticeable, is not as important as how the wood interacts with the player's hand. The neck of the guitar must be stiff enough to remain stable and withstand years of use, but soft enough to feel comfortable. American or Canadian Maple is a good choice and is often used for electric guitar /bass necks, along with African Mahogany and Nato, a softer wood from Indonesia.

Most Yamaha REVSTAR series guitars have Mahogany necks (exceptions are the RS320 and RS420 models, which are optionally available with Nato necks), while Pacifica series models all have Maple necks; The hollow body SA2200 has a neck made entirely of Mahogany.

TYPES OF WOOD FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR KEYBOARDS / BASS.

Of the three main wood components of an electric guitar /bass , the fingerboard receives the most daily wear and tear. Therefore, it is important to use wood that is as hard and durable as possible. Key candidates include:

• Palisander (a variant of Indian rosewood, currently harvested mainly from Africa due to international restrictions)
• American Maple or Canadian Maple (Fire Maple is most common, but Bird's Eye Maple is also used frequently)
• Ebony (Ebony) Africa and Southeast Asia
• Rosewood: One of the reasons Rosewood is such a great material for guitar fingerboards is its exceptional durability. It does not fade or wear out like many other types of wood. Additionally, it produces natural oils so there is no need for protective coating. This natural oil makes Rosewood smooth and soft under the guitarist's fingers.
• Pau Ferro: This type of wood is denser than Rosewood.

The Yamaha SA2200 hollow-body electric guitar has an Ebony fingerboard, while all of Yamaha's solid-body guitars choose Rosewood with two exceptions: the Pacifica PAC112VM, which has a Maple fingerboard, and the Pacifica PAC012, which has a maple fingerboard. Keys made from Rosewood or Walnut (Walnut wood).