Author Topic: In need of some more experienced opinions... (Read 5307 times)

PeteyG · « **on:** February 18, 2008, 12:31:40 AM »

So I'm looking at ordering my first Custom guitar at the end of summer, and as I like to do, I'm planning what I'm gonna have done now, so that by the time it comes to it, I'm 100% certain of what I'm gonna have. So basically I would just like to have all of your lovely selves to help me narrow down my options, I have a pretty set idea, but I'm still unsure, due to my inexperience in this kind of thing.

So you can get an idea of what kind of sound I'm primarily going for listen to this guy Paul Ortiz (he's amazing), otherwise, I play primarily techy metal, but am looking for a nice warm sounding tone, yet crisp attack and not overly harsh.

Ok so it's a Ran, 27" scale 7 string guitar that I'm ordering, super strat kind of shape.
Neck Thru Body & Carved Top
Body Material: Swamp Ash
Top Wood: Flame Maple 1/8" thick.
Body binding on top but not bottom.
For pickups I'm getting BKPs, humbucker in the bridge, and humbucker in the middle, nothing in the neck.
Neck Material: Maple 3P
Fingerboard Material: Ebony

That's the basic info I'm thinking of at the moment anyway. Anyone got any opinions on options which could be better for me?

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2008, 12:48:48 AM »

Quote from: PeteyG

So I'm looking at ordering my first Custom guitar at the end of summer, and as I like to do, I'm planning what I'm gonna have done now, so that by the time it comes to it, I'm 100% certain of what I'm gonna have. So basically I would just like to have all of your lovely selves to help me narrow down my options, I have a pretty set idea, but I'm still unsure, due to my inexperience in this kind of thing.

So you can get an idea of what kind of sound I'm primarily going for listen to this guy Paul Ortiz (he's amazing), otherwise, I play primarily techy metal, but am looking for a nice warm sounding tone, yet crisp attack and not overly harsh.

Ok so it's a Ran, 27" scale 7 string guitar that I'm ordering, super strat kind of shape.
Neck Thru Body & Carved Top
Body Material: Swamp Ash
Top Wood: Flame Maple 1/8" thick.
Body binding on top but not bottom.
For pickups I'm getting BKPs, humbucker in the bridge, and humbucker in the middle, nothing in the neck.
Neck Material: Maple 3P
Fingerboard Material: Ebony

That's the basic info I'm thinking of at the moment anyway. Anyone got any opinions on options which could be better for me?

If you want a warm sound, I wouldn't go for Maple in Ash, I'd go for some Mahogany somewhere or other.

How much does this all come to anyway?

And what finish are you getting on this baby? :D

PeteyG · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2008, 12:56:27 AM »

Yeah this was stuff I put together a few weeks back when I was talking to Dariusz at Ran, I'm thinking of a mahogany carved top on a Swamp Ash body at the moment.

As for finish I'm unsure, it's gonna be the same kind of gradient/burst idea as this...

but not to silver, I'm thinking either to a deep red or a deep blue, probably the red.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2008, 01:16:02 AM »

OH MY GOD I JUST CAME

the_bleeding · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:52:51 AM »

Quote from: noodleplugerine

OH MY GOD I JUST CAME

+ over 9000

ash, maple, maple neck and ebony board is guna be BRIIIGHHHTTT

i'd personally try to break it up a little... maybe do the 5 piece map/mahog neck they have, and/or a mahogany body.

Personally, i'd get both of those features because even then, a maple cap, part maple neck and ebony board will be fairly bright.

now, for other features....
tuners: doesn't matter. Locking tuners are faster to tune, regular ones are regular...
Bridge, i'd do tune-o-matic and string-thru. Sustains SOOO well.
Pickup rings: none, direct mounted pickups have better sustain and mesh with the tonewood more.
For nut, i'd go with bone. Graphite wears down and brass is heavy and in some cases can absorb sustain :(

as for cosmetics (inlays, paint, bindings etc) and controls i can't comment because tyhats ALLLL you.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:06:27 AM »

Quote from: the_bleeding

Quote from: noodleplugerine
OH MY GOD I JUST CAME

+ over 9000

ash, maple, maple neck and ebony board is guna be BRIIIGHHHTTT

i'd personally try to break it up a little... maybe do the 5 piece map/mahog neck they have, and/or a mahogany body.

Personally, i'd get both of those features because even then, a maple cap, part maple neck and ebony board will be fairly bright.

now, for other features....
tuners: doesn't matter. Locking tuners are faster to tune, regular ones are regular...
Bridge, i'd do tune-o-matic and string-thru. Sustains SOOO well.
Pickup rings: none, direct mounted pickups have better sustain and mesh with the tonewood more.
For nut, i'd go with bone. Graphite wears down and brass is heavy and in some cases can absorb sustain :(

as for cosmetics (inlays, paint, bindings etc) and controls i can't comment because tyhats ALLLL you.

All of the above except an Earvana nut instead of a bone nut.

Nolly · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:30:16 AM »

It's worth noting that Pete is talking about swamp ash rather than hard ash. From what I've heard, and from speaking to Doug at Blackmachine, they are two very different woods. Apparently swamp ash is quite middy and fat sounding, as well as being very clear.

I do think that a 5-piece neck is a good idea; it might be worth looking into woods such as rosewood, mahogany and wenge for the fillets.

And +1 on the locking tuners, tune-o-matic, and Earvana nut too.

MDV · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:55:38 AM »

For warm and fat I'd make the body koa

To keep it clear and let it sing have a maple/mahogany through (bear in mind that most of the tone is from the neck. I'd say koa in the neck, too, but I dont know how well suited it is to it).

Rosewood board, obviously.

Just my 2p

I aint no luthier (I just learned a bit about woods, mainly from choosing them for my custom and therefore talking with a luthier (bob johnson @ legra: outstanding and outstandingly knowledgable bloke))

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2008, 04:20:59 PM »

^ i'd echo that (other than koa... have no experience with koa). mahogany and maple in the neck gives a good balance of warmth and tightness. though if you aren't going with a floyd, that'll undoubtedly change things a lot too. :) EDIT: i ain't no luthier either. :lol:

the_bleeding · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2008, 07:25:35 PM »

i find it really interesting that theres more people suggesting rosewood boards here. I'm so used to everybody just screaming EBONY EBONY all the time hahahha.

I have a guitar with each board. (Both are mahog body/neck and maple top) and the ebony boarded one is much brighter. I also like its amplified tone alot more... but thats because my rosewood gitter has baaaaad pickups.
Also, i find ebony to be alot faster playing, its almost slippery. Lots of fun, but then again the rosewood board resonates better... might have to do with the type of mahogany though, because one is alot heavier and dense feeling.

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2008, 07:30:10 PM »

ebony's really nice, but as you say, a bit brighter. at least it seems like that. :)

MDV · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:36:57 PM »

Yeah, I think ebony has a bit of a scream to it. Its got a sharp high end.

Rosewood is warmer and smoother.

dave_mc · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:44:35 PM »

agreed. :)

jt · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:05:19 PM »

:D I would advice against having a Bridge, Middle no Neck P/U configuration. I cant see that this will create much tonal difference or sound difference between the 2 P/U`s to make it worth while. And you will need to be aware of a certain reality [ gulp ! ] There may come a time no matter what you think now today but a time in the future when you may have to or need to or just decide to sell this guitar. How many players will want a 2 P/U guitar with no Neck P/U ?

This will dramatically decrease your market and the value of the instrument. As for what woods, if you`ve played other guitars what ones did you like ? What were they made of ? what pots were in them ? What fret wire did they have that you felt confortable with ? As someone who has a custom made guitar [ Feline - Preacher] its very easy to get it wrong and end up with a well made guitar you actually dont like so take your time do your research correctly dont let others choose your woods inc members of this forum and try as many different guitars out as possible to help you narrow down the wide number of choices so that you`ll end up with a guitar you`ll actually like playing and will want to play. Go into guitar shops and try out different guitars so you can here the tones of the wood use clean sounds or slightly gainy sounds nothing to harse or it`ll disguise the tone of the woods and be aware that the P/U`s play a huge part in the sound of an instrument as well as the woods so think carefully about what P/U`s you want to get.

:D 8)

PeteyG · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:04:02 PM »

My reasons for going with a pickup placement I've mentioned is purely because it's a pickup placement I like, I've played extensively on guitars with this kind of pickup placement and the varying in tone that I do get, I quite simply prefer to that of a neck pickup. And by the by, I'm never selling any of my guitars, I'll happily sell amps, I'll happily sell my body to the highest bidder before selling my guitars, it's simply something that'll never happen, as much as you feel it might ;)

And I'm not letting anyone here choose my woods for me, I'm just looking to hear from other peoples' experiences with the various woods and hearing what their opinions on them are so that I can get a chance to atleast learn about the basic tonal qualities of them all.