When making Fender guitar bodies What are the two main woods used?

For the most part, tone woods are a detail of electric guitar construction that are often considered but rarely well understood. Today we will be having a look at two of the most popular, specifically for the bodies of Fender guitars; ash and alder.

Why did fender stop using Rosewood?

Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here). Some say that this tone wood has more “snap” than rosewood (a characteristic more consistent with maple).

Which wood is heavier ash or alder?

Alder. It’s a medium-weight wood, although quality cuts of alder used for guitar bodies will often weigh less than denser cuts of ash. Alder has a strong, clear, full-bodied sound, with beefy mids and excellent lows. Its highs sizzle slightly, but are rarely harsh, and it offers a decent amount of sustain.

Why is Fender using pau ferro?

“The reason that Pau Ferro was one of the best options is that we’ve had experience with it for a long time,” Born noted. “It’s got a very similar hardness and oil content to rosewood. We know it’s got a good tone to it. And it’s got a nice, dark color.”

When did Fender stop using Brazilian?

Almost all Fender and Gibson instruments until 1965 are equipped with Brazilian rosewood fretboards, unless they have one-piece maple necks (Fender until mid-1959 ) or were equipped with fingerboard and bridge of ebony , such as the Gibson Les Paul Custom or Super 400.

Where does fender get its wood?

Fender gets their alder, swamp ash, and maple from US and Canadian sources for both MIM and MIA instruments.

Why are American Strats more expensive?

The main reason why a US-made Stratocaster is pricier is because of its superior tone and quality control. Mexican Stratocasters are of great quality as well and with enough time and patience, you’ll be sure to find an excellent MIM Strat.

When did fender stop using ash?

Fender used ash for electric guitar and bass bodies more or less exclusively from 1950 to mid-1956, and to the present continues to use ash on a relatively small number of instruments. Guitars and basses with blonde finishes typically have ash bodies because the wood “takes” that particular finish especially well.

What is the difference between the American and Mexican Stratocaster?

It’s a small difference, but it does help improve the performance of the American Strat. One of the significant differences between the Mexican and American Strat is the wood used for their bodies. The American one has a three-piece body made of ash while the Mexican is made with alder.

How much does a Fender Stratocaster cost?

Also, the American Professional Strat runs about $1,450. Some Fender American made Stratocasters can cost $2,200 or more depending the configuration. Prices may fluctuate, but the Fender website usually has the most up to date information when it comes to pricing.

How many pieces on a Fender Strat body?

Fender hasn’t offered a one piece body on a production Strat in generations. Most FMIC Custom Shop bodies are 2-3 pieces; very few are one. The Average USA Fender body these days is 2, sometimes 3 pieces. Ensenada does enough Veneer bodies; there’s no way of knowing how many pieces are under there.

What is the best wood for a Fender guitar body?

While alder remains to be the most popular hardwood for Fender bodies, the American giant’s ties to ash cannot be understated – it was pretty much all they used for guitars and basses made between 1950 to 1956 and continues to sell successfully to this day.