frets? Frets!

[Will]

Surely its something to do with the different acoustic sound of an acoustic Vs a Les Paul.
Acoustic construction doesn't suit every style, but an electric guitar can be constructed with wood with a good acoustic tone.

I don't really see what you are getting at though :?

[Twinfan]

Anyway, to reiterate my point: if "the better the acoustic tone, the better the electric tone" were true, then why not just use amplified acoustics?

Because electrics were designed to be amplified as their primary purpose and as a result we've learned how to use that 'different' sound.  We could all use amplified acoustics but they won't sound like the rock n roll records we love.  When comparing solidbody electrics, acoustic differences do make a difference.

Asking us all to play amplified acoustics is like asking a Ferrari driver to take it across Will's farmland  :lol:

[Zaned]

They don't make archtop acoustics?

Anyway, to reiterate my point: if "the better the acoustic tone, the better the electric tone" were true, then why not just use amplified acoustics?

I am really not trying to be a pain here, for years I believed the formula.

That is comparing apples to oranges. The Ferrari analogy given was quite good :D

Even though acoustic guitar sounds 'better' played acoustically versus an electric played acoustically, luthiers strive for a good acoustic tone on electric guitars too. After all, all the pickups do are pick up that and add their own tonality on them. Better acoustic tone tends to translate to a better electric tone.

Good acoustic tone requires good quality wood and other good materials, of course.

[MDV]

found it, jonathan linked to this a while back - i think he was interested in trying the idea

http://www.jetfretz.com/

According to the video they make your guitar sound like tinny processed overeffected shitee.

[Prawnik]

The solidbody electrics I build usually end up sounding decent acoustically, although I don't build guitars specifically with acoustic tone in mind.

One of them is almost as loud and resonant as a flattop. It sounds good electrically, or at least I like it.

The one exception sounds mediocre acoustically, very thin and tinny, even with .011 strings and tuned down a half step. Plugged in, it makes me sound like Slash. It also Creedence, Derek and the Dominoes and countr-ee musikk.

Go figure.

That is comparing apples to oranges. The Ferrari analogy given was quite good :D

Even though acoustic guitar sounds 'better' played acoustically versus an electric played acoustically, luthiers strive for a good acoustic tone on electric guitars too. After all, all the pickups do are pick up that and add their own tonality on them. Better acoustic tone tends to translate to a better electric tone.

Good acoustic tone requires good quality wood and other good materials, of course.

[FELINEGUITARS]

If you have an electric guitar that has a great acostic sound you often are forced to rethink your choice of pickups that you would usually use- hot pickups can prove way too lively if you are playing in a loud live environment and you may well get the response you need from underwound pickups .

[Prawnik]

If you have an electric guitar that has a great acostic sound you often are forced to rethink your choice of pickups that you would usually use- hot pickups can prove way too lively if you are playing in a loud live environment and you may well get the response you need from underwound pickups .

Interesting point. My more acoustically lively builds do seem to like underwound pickups, although none of them have anything like metal pickups. For that matter my Gibson 335 studio is pretty lively and it came from the factory with Dirty Fingers, which are pretty hot.

Still, you do have to be careful with that guitar, and sometimes keep the volume controls down for it to sound its best.