Author Topic: How can I tell which wood a body is made from? (Read 7250 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** March 19, 2006, 07:49:36 PM »

I have an old strat copy which I am considering doing up, as I love its neck, it feels perfect. However I dont know if its worth sticking some bareknuckles in the guitar, as its fairly cheap (£250) so I dont know wether the wood will be any good. How can I determine the wood type? Indy told me that if its in layers, then its plywood, and it doesnt look like that so thats good. I had a look on the Warmoth site but that wasnt amazingly helpful either. I could probably take a photo of the inside tomorrow, so perhaps someone can identify it that way?

Cheers

dave_mc · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2006, 08:21:09 PM »

you can kind of tell by the grain of the wood. If you can post a pic, that'd help.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:29:20 PM »

i can tell by taste..

sambo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:30:07 PM »

i can tell by smell....

JamesHealey · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:30:40 PM »

colour of the wood, tonal quality, grain and generally knowing whats likely to have been used helps.

tewboss · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2006, 06:55:53 PM »

my Aria weighs more than a Les Paul. I'd be interested in knowing what wood it could be - I can't tell by colour as the whole thing is stained red.

_tom_ · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2006, 07:02:01 PM »

Quote from: tewboss

my Aria weighs more than a Les Paul. I'd be interested in knowing what wood it could be - I can't tell by colour as the whole thing is stained red.

Yeah my friends Jackson weighs more than my LP, because mine doesnt have a maple cap I guess

Anyway I can get a pic of the wood tomorrow hopefully :D

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2006, 03:08:32 PM »

Well it has a thick ish coat of clear lacquer inside the trem cavity bit.. anyway heres a pic. Hopefully you can tell from the grain or wahtever but I doubt it. I'll try and get some of the lacquer off sometime if no one can work it out from this.

Cheers

Searcher · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2006, 03:53:42 PM »

I think the chances of people working it out from that pic are pretty slim! It might be maple, from the lightness of the wood, but at this point I'm pretty much just guessing.

sambo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2006, 04:12:47 PM »

well its not mahogany :D

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2006, 04:13:23 PM »

^yeah, i haven't got a notion, but like searcher, if i HAD to give an answer, i'd probably second the maple.

sambo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2006, 04:16:47 PM »

Dakine · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2006, 04:34:23 PM »

give it a squeeze and see if any syrup comes out, then ya know it's maple :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2006, 05:09:21 PM »

Quote from: Searcher

I think the chances of people working it out from that pic are pretty slim! It might be maple, from the lightness of the wood, but at this point I'm pretty much just guessing.

Yeah I thought it would be hard :lol: How could I take a better pic to make it easier to identify?!

Also if it IS maple, is that worth doing up?

sambo · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2006, 05:17:15 PM »

well in general im guessing yes.... but of course it could be absolutely shitee maple couldnt it....