Author Topic: Goncolo Alves/Mothers Milk (Read 2113 times)

Lizard on Ice · « **on:** September 14, 2006, 09:21:40 PM »

I'm wanting a Warmoth Strat badly... and a set of Mother's Milks even more. Would a Goncolo Alves neck with an Ebony fretboard end up with a warmer tone, or a brighter tone? Alves has a warm tone, and Ebony would balance it out, but would it be similar to rosewood tone or maple? I think I would go with the Mothers Milk instead of Apaches either way, but I'm just curious.

Eric · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2006, 09:29:16 PM »

I would think with an ebony board it's going to be fairly bright regardless of the neck wood. The neck wood as far I can tell affects the stability and rigidity of the neck far more than the tone.

Lizard on Ice · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2006, 03:30:21 PM »

Hmm, maybe I'll opt for Brazillian Rosewood instead.

robyogi · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2006, 07:29:53 PM »

I have exactly that wood combo on my tele. It sounds big and fat - more fatness than brightness, but there's still clarity, even with the somewhat mushy P90 I have in the neck position. Of course mine is also a Warmoth boatneck contour, which is physically fat (1" thick), so that contributes to the fat sound. I like the combo. The Goncolo Alves I'd say is more like mahogany than anything else, while the ebony keeps things clear. Because of the Gonc's density, you can play the whole neck raw as well (no finish), which feels smooth and fast.

In my experience, the neck material determines the sound more than the fingerboard material (a matter of mass really), much like the body contributes more to the sound than a veneer top on the body does. Both play a role, but the one with more mass contributes more to the tone.

Lizard on Ice · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2006, 08:01:14 PM »

The ability to play with no finish on the neck is what caught my attention in the first place. I love the feel of raw wood.

Bainzy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2006, 08:24:33 PM »

I'd say get Brazilian Rosewood now while you still can - ebony isn't an endangered species but BRW is pretty scarce and doesn't appear to be getting any easier to get. It's a bit less dark and a bit crunchier than Indian Rosewood, but nowhere near as bright as ebony.