Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Dr. Vic on August 03, 2009, 03:38:31 PM
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I know the question has been taped many times around here but as each situation has his particular answers, so here I am....
So I decided I need to play a V guitar again (love this shape too much, need one back at home !) :twisted:
I am looking for a string thru / neck thru design with an ebony fretboard. Probably something along with the Dean / ESP / Jackson US model.
But dunno if I am gonna choose a korina or a mahogany body+neck.....What would be the differences, pros and cons, and which one would give the best results, if there's a best ? :?:
I've already read some of the thread here with some different opinions (the ones saying Korina is "brighter" vs the ones saying Korina is "fuller and/or warmer"....)
Anyway, ANY recommendation as much detailed as possible, will be highly appreciated !
I am looking for a huge agressive tone, with presence and massive low mid chunk !
(the choice of pickups will be step number 2 ! :P)
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korina can be just a bit richer, yes a little brighter, yes a little fuller, yes a little warmer. think of it as mahogany +, its the same general characteristics but a little more of everything. thats not always a good thing though.
i think its a perfect bluesy wood, works well with a nice amount of cruch too and distorts in a nice way. It does work for high gain stuff but i find it can be a little rich for it in the hands of an uncontrolled player. it does depend on hardware, pickups and general construction though. i have done metal guitars with it and would do more again, partner it with ebony and it can be very aggressive
i havnt done any V's to compare though, and V's do have some rules all of there own
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that's very interresting !
Many thanks Wez ! And what do you think the specific V's rules would be ?
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its to do with the lack of wood behind the bridge and the huge mass going either side... not something i am as familiar with as i have less experience with V's, but plenty of experience with mahogany and korina
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as wez alludes to, alot of it depends on the bit of wood in particular.
i played a recent custom shop v '67 shape but in korina - the 70s mahogany one i was playing it back to back with was massively more lively. the opposite of what you'd normally expect.
Vs can be a law unto themselves. the main thing you have to watch out for is a muddy bass end, which can happen all too easily. a maple neck can help tighten things up, as can 25.5" scale. if looking at traditional mahogany neck and body Vs, prefer an ebony board.
something which definately works really well with Vs, is a nice resonant body and vintage output pickups - you can't go wrong really. or use something with a tight lowend - like a miracle man, but it will sound very metal then.
edit: rebel yells often work well in Vs too.
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I've not had enough experience playing V's to comment, but if it was purely a preference of wood choice I would go Korina every time. played an Epiphone Korina Explorer once and the tone was to die for. They had to peel me off the amp, I didn't want to leave the playing booth in the shop, lol! :lol:
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i have a korina epiphone V with mules and the tone is fantastic too - but the epiphone korinas do have a maple neck, which is sure to have a positive effect on the tone
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korina can be just a bit richer, yes a little brighter, yes a little fuller, yes a little warmer. think of it as mahogany +, its the same general characteristics but a little more of everything. thats not always a good thing though.
Based on the one and only korina guitar I've played (and own), I'd totally agree with that.
For a V, I don't know what sounds better but the '58 style korina model is definitely the best looking V of all.
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just saw you are thinking of neck through...
something like a maple neck through Jackson King V with alder wings is going to sound massively different to an all mahogany '67 gibson v.
you probably know in a neck-through design, the wings don't make much difference
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For a V, I don't know what sounds better but the '58 style korina model is definitely the best looking V of all.
nah.. the best looking V is a slightly worn around the edges rear routed V from the 80s, in white... with a johnny winter signature :)
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For a V, I don't know what sounds better but the '58 style korina model is definitely the best looking V of all.
Whistles to self .........
(http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/V%20-paul%20masters%20Korina/PICT0003.jpg)
Just come back from paint now and ready to start putting together
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Just come back from paint now and ready to start putting together
NO PICS = false rumor = fake deeds :P
Prove yourself Mr Feline :lol:
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Yeah, we want pictures when it's put together...
I can't remember Jonathan, is this one "spoken for"?
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Yeah, we want pictures when it's put together...
I can't remember Jonathan, is this one "spoken for"?
I was thinking the same, but didn't dare ask.
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I think it is - I seem to remember it's a replica '58 for a customer.
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That's kinda what I recalled, but wasn't sure...
Thank goodness for that! :lol:
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I think it is - I seem to remember it's a replica '58 for a customer.
It's worse than that - there's two of them
One is still at paint but the first one is back.
They are both spoken for ..........
I have a Korina 67 style one too - although with a few modifications - jack socket is on the upper fin like a Rhoads guitar
(http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/v%20-%20Korina%20JL/V%20Korina_JL_Front726px.jpg)
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Lot of feedback here, thanks guys, and congrat Feline for the cool guitar you make 8)
just saw you are thinking of neck through...
something like a maple neck through Jackson King V with alder wings is going to sound massively different to an all mahogany '67 gibson v.
you probably know in a neck-through design, the wings don't make much difference
Yeah that's right : I am mostly considering the Jackson KV2T model : String thru body / neck thru design with an ebony fretboard.. :twisted:
My concern is that this guitar is built as standard with a mahogany wood for both neck AND wings....But I also saw some rare models with a Korina neck AND wings.......for about twice the price or something, on custom order.
From what is said here it seems that Mahogany and korina are very close with some small "extra" tone for the Korina.
But as WezV said it might not be a good thing as I am not an expert player. Let's add that if the advantage of mahogany over Korina is that Mahogany has a little extra bottom end, then I don't know if the korina model is worth the extra cost and if it would be a good deal for me......) :(
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I like Korina, based on the PRS McCarty Korinas I've played and owned. I still have one with Throbak PAFs in it and it's killer, second only to my Modern Eagle for humbucker tone.
If you're going to be putting high output pickups into the guitar, then the wood makes less of a difference to the overall tone for me. If you're looking at Mules or VHIIs, then they will let the subtleties of the wood choice come through. If you're looking at Painkillers or Warpigs then you'll mostly hear the pickup.
If you're playing metal, which I'm guessing you are, I would go with mahogany. It's cheaper and you won't get the benefit of the Korina's tone. If you were after classic rock or blues tones, I'd chose Korina.
Just my opinion, for what it's worth :)
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one-of-a kind-worth opinion !
How did you know I was considering this guitar mostly for metal ? PDT_006
And yes I am more considering a ceramic high output pup but dunno which one atm (that thread isn't in the right section for that question :lol:)
That said..............Why would Korina be more of blues tone wood and Mahogany more of a rock / metal tone :?:
Is mahogany really more "ballsy" in low end and thus better for the chugga thing ?
I thought Korina was more powerfull, with more presence, with more everything ?
Thanks for your answers guys :mrgreen:
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That said..............Why would Korina be more of blues tone wood and Mahogany more of a rock / metal tone :?:
The difference between korina and mahogany is subtle, it's grey and greyer not black and white. If you're sticking loads of gain on with powerful pickups (metal) then the wood contribution to the tone is a much smaller percentage. That's why I suggested the korina up-charge wasn't worth considering for you.
In a jazz/blues/rock context, where less gain and lighter pickups are used, the subtle differences between woods can be heard much more easily. This is where you might consider trying korina out.
Is mahogany really more "ballsy" in low end and thus better for the chugga thing ?
I thought Korina was more powerfull, with more presence, with more everything ?
You're thinking the wood is the most important thing here. You're wrong. It's all about the amp and probably the pickups as you're looking at hot ceramics.
Seriously, the wood is such a tiny part of a chugga-chugga metal tone you're worrying FAR too much about it.
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That said..............Why would Korina be more of blues tone wood and Mahogany more of a rock / metal tone :?:
I think what Twinfan is saying is that with super-high-output pickups you'll be hearing the pickups more than the wood. Whereas with lower output pickups you hear more of a balance between the pickups and the wood's natural tone. Arguably.
And again paraphrasing what Dave wrote, I don't think he was saying "korina=blues" or "mahogany=rock/metal". Both korina and mahogany are great for blues, rock or metal, but if you were trying to build a guitar with the best possible acoustic tone then - again arguably - a nice bit of korina might be just a little bit "better". But of course no two pieces of wood are exactly the same.
(Edit - and while I was typing that rubbish Dave has replied anyway. :oops: )
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:lol: Nice one Phil!
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That said..............Why would Korina be more of blues tone wood and Mahogany more of a rock / metal tone :?:
The difference between korina and mahogany is subtle, it's grey and greyer not black and white. If you're sticking loads of gain on with powerful pickups (metal) then the wood contribution to the tone is a much smaller percentage. That's why I suggested the korina up-charge wasn't worth considering for you.
In a jazz/blues/rock context, where less gain and lighter pickups are used, the subtle differences between woods can be heard much more easily. This is where you might consider trying korina out.
Is mahogany really more "ballsy" in low end and thus better for the chugga thing ?
I thought Korina was more powerfull, with more presence, with more everything ?
You're thinking the wood is the most important thing here. You're wrong. It's all about the amp and probably the pickups as you're looking at hot ceramics.
Seriously, the wood is such a tiny part of a chugga-chugga metal tone you're worrying FAR too much about it.
wise words Twinfan. I think Korina with lower output pickups (such as Mules) is a great option for metal. I tried three or so guitars like that now.
its a slight divert, but i'm not convinced that metal always needs brewtul high output pickups.
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I agree with you gwEm. I noticed that Dr Vic wants to use high output pickups though, but I agree he doesn't necessarily have to :)
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Korina = huge tone wood. Cannot recommend enough.
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korina is just a lighter mahagony, that is what a guitar builder said to me.
if you will take the same guitars that the only difference is the wood you probably wont hear any difference.
if you hear i'm a jar.
the manafacture apparently replace other things except the wood between the mahagony model and the korina one.