How do Ash Strat's sound?

[horsehead]

All of mine are alder, just thinking of trying something different. Are they denser in sound? More springy?

[dave_mc]

based on the (very limited) experience I've had, I thought they were a bit more twangy (though considering I've only tried one or two, that might just be the wood in that particular guitar). I preferred alder, but that doesn't mean you would.

[AndyR]

My experience is comparing ash/alder on teles (and bear in mind this was also maple vs. rosewood fingerboards).

I would say alder seems smoother sounding. But that could just be my imagination because I'm expecting it to.

I too have heard that an ash bodied strat might be brighter, more springy... but whether I could truthfully tell the difference is another matter... :lol:

[Denim n Leather]

Ash has a great upper mid/treble bite. Add a VH2 and burn the world!

[Frank]

My ash bodied strats are a lot brighter, twangier and more "springy" sounding than the alder ones, so much so that I have one set of presets for the alder strats and another set for the ash ones. Alder ones sound nicer with a touch of overdrive, the ash ones have the best clean sounds. To my ears anyway. Your mileage may vary.

edit: couple of quick demos.

[tekbow]

funny you say that, when i bought my start last year i tried it out against a same spec american one, i didn't find it to be springier, but a bit darker and less classic strat, less open and hollow if you know what i mean, less vowelly.. it was also heavier.  i liked the alder better

however my tele is ash (swamp ash i think) and its really grunty and aggressive, bit more raw sounding. liked it in that application

saying that, on the whole "classic strat sound" a lot of 50's atrats apparently were ash, they used whatever was handy

[Frank]

That's really odd, if I've got the amp set the way I like it for the alder body guitars then the ash guitars sound so toppy it's like someone's throwing razor blades at you. My tele is unbelievably dense and heavy alder and it's even darker sounding than the alder strats.

[tekbow]

hmm, could have just been a cr@p bit of ash on the strat?

the tele thinking about it is remarkably clear when played clean, good articulation and ringy? its still has a lot of bite and grunt tho.

the start def sounded dark to my mind. maybe just a function of the weight? was a heavy bar-steward..
or as i say, odd bit of ash?

[dave_mc]

I would say alder seems smoother sounding. But that could just be my imagination because I'm expecting it to.

yeah, that's what i noticed too with teles, but as you said, could be psychological...

[horsehead]

Them clips really helped, thanks for that Frank

[Ribboz]

They have a wide sound due to their scooped tone. It's a very resonant wood.
Probably my favorite :D
When compared to alder, the first difference I noticed was a lack in charity? But that's only because of ashes stronger high end and low end.
But, actually its not a difference in clarity, its what its used for, because generally a stronger midrange(alder) usually punches out more in a band setting. But the stronger difference in high and low end of ash seems to have more articulation. Also ash is airy and alder is chunkier, blah blah everyone knows that part.

[gwEm]

Ash has a great upper mid/treble bite. Add a VH2 and burn the world!

great description.. alders cool and stuff, but much prefer ash, its got the rocknroll energy

[dave_mc]

When compared to alder, the first difference I noticed was a lack in charity?

Really? I don't think I've ever noticed my alder tokai strat giving to charity. I've tried guilting it to make it feel bad, but it doesn't seem to help.

[Peterku]

Really? I don't think I've ever noticed my alder tokai strat giving to charity. I've tried guilting it to make it feel bad, but it doesn't seem to help.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[dave_mc]

:D