In today’s article, we’re going to discuss the science of wood and resonance and describe the different tonal qualities of a number of popular tonewoods.
But first, if you are wondering does the wood your electric guitar is made from influence tone in any way? The answer is:
Yes, the wood used in an electric guitar does influence its tone. Different woods have distinct densities, resonant frequencies, and cellular structures, which can impact the guitar's sustain, resonance, and overall tonal characteristics.
The more important question is, how much of an influence does it play?
the influence of body woods on electric guitar tone
If we were discussing acoustic guitars, it would be a different story, but for electric guitars the tone is shaped by many different factors aside from the tonewoods used, including:
| Component | Influence on Tone |
|---|---|
| Pickups | The type of pickup/s (single-coil, humbucker, P-90, etc.), quality, configuration, and wiring play a significant role in determining tone. |
| Guitar Construction | Factors like neck joint (set neck, bolt-on, neck-through), body type (solid, semi-hollow, hollow), scale length, and overall build quality also impact tone. |
| Strings | The material, gauge, age, and how they’re wound e.g. flat-wound, and round wound can influence tone. |
| Hardware | The bridge type (tremolo, hardtail), tuners, and nut material affect the tone. |
| Electronics | Potentiometers, capacitors, and wiring configurations within the guitar’s electronics influence tone. |
| Playing Technique | How and where a player strikes the strings, the type of pick used, and finger dynamics all contribute to the tone of the guitar. |
| Amplification | The type of amplifier (tube, solid-state, digital modeling), speaker size, and settings can drastically shape the guitar’s tone. |
| Effects | Pedals and processors also play a large role, adding effects like distortion, delay, reverb, and modulation. |
| Guitar Setup | The action (string height), fret condition, and intonation influence playability and subsequently clarity. |
| Environment | The room’s acoustics, humidity, and temperature can even play a part in how an electric guitar sounds, especially when recorded. |
| Instrument Age | Older instruments sometimes develop a distinct tonal character due to wood aging and prolonged vibrations through the wood over time. |
Hearing tonal differences in electric guitars
The challenge of discerning tonal differences in electric guitars, especially when taking into account the different components from one guitar to the next is akin to trying to identify the flavor of one ingredient in a complex dish: it’s intricate and subjective. For the following reasons:
- Interplay: Each component—wood, pickups, construction, hardware—affects the overall tone. If you’re attempting to identify the influence of just one variable (like wood), it becomes a challenge if other factors aren’t equal.
- Lack of Baseline: Without standardized comparison elements, there’s no reference point or bassline for comparison. For instance, if we want to understand how mahogany as a body wood differs from ash, we’d ideally have two guitars identical in every aspect—same pickups, same construction, same strings—except for the body wood. In the real world, it’s almost impossible to make such a comparison.
- External Influences: The environment in which the guitar is played, the amplifier used, pedals in the chain, and the room’s acoustics can all produce variations in tone. Without controlling for these, discerning the tonal influence of any single element becomes challenging.
- Construction Variabilities: Even when all appear equal in terms of the guitar and model, there can be slight variations. Two pickups of the same model might have minor production differences. Similarly, two guitars of the same model might have tiny construction differences due to human involvement in the crafting process or natural variances in materials.
This is why guitar tone is such a complex and interesting topic, it’s largely the interplay and combination of tonewoods, components, and pickups, along with amplification, environmental factors, and the characteristics of the players themselves. Only by reducing, or at least minimizing, the influence of extraneous variables can one aim to accurately discern the tonal impact of a specific component of an electric guitar.
The Science of Sound: Wood and Resonance
So while it can be difficult to gauge the influence different tonewoods have on electric guitars, wood density and resonance do play critical roles in the transmission of sound, especially in musical instruments. Here’s an explanation of their influence:
- Wood Density:
- Transmission Speed: Denser woods tend to transmit sound faster than less dense woods. This rapid transmission can result in a brighter tone with more pronounced high frequencies.
- Sustain: Denser woods often provide greater sustain. The dense structure allows vibrations (or sound waves) to travel through the material without dissipating quickly.
- Damping: Denser woods have a higher damping factor, meaning they can absorb and reduce unwanted overtones or resonances, producing a more focused tone.
- Attack: Instruments made from denser woods can have a quicker attack, meaning the onset of the note might be more defined or sharp.
- Wood Resonance:
- Natural Frequencies: Every piece of wood has natural frequencies at which it resonates most efficiently. When a musical instrument is played, and it generates frequencies that match the wood’s natural resonant frequencies, the wood will amplify those frequencies, making them more prominent in the sound.
- Tonal Color: The resonant frequencies of the wood influence the tonal color or timbre of the instrument. Woods with resonances in the lower frequency range might give the instrument a warmer or muddier sound, while those with resonances in the higher range can result in a brighter tone.
- Feedback: In the context of amplified instruments, the resonance can lead to feedback issues. If an amplified sound matches the resonant frequency of the wood, it can cause the instrument to resonate uncontrollably.
- Volume: The ability of the wood to resonate effectively at certain frequencies can also influence the perceived volume or projection of the instrument. Woods with a broad resonance might offer a fuller sound.
In essence, the density and resonance of wood dictate how sound waves travel through it and how the wood itself vibrates in response to those waves.
How Pickups interact With the natural resonance of wood
Electric guitar pickups are fundamentally magnets surrounded by wire. As the guitar’s metal strings vibrate, they disturb the magnetic field of the pickups.
This disturbance induces an electrical signal in the coil, which is then sent to the amplifier. But, the vibration of the strings isn’t just influenced by the player’s touch; the wood of the guitar plays a crucial role too. When a string is plucked, the vibration resonates through the guitar’s body and neck. Each type of wood has its unique resonance characteristics, amplifying certain frequencies and dampening others. This natural resonance subtly shapes the vibration of the strings before it’s picked up by the magnetic field of the pickups.
So, while pickups are responsible for translating the vibration into an electric signal and certainly have a major influence on tone in their own right, the wood’s resonance plays a foundational role in determining the character and tonality of that vibration. The interplay between the organic resonance of the wood and the electronic translation by the pickups is what gives each electric guitar its distinctive voice.
In the following section, we’ll take a look at each of the tonewoods we offer when designing your own electric guitar and explain the characteristics of each and their tonal properties.
Paulownia
Paulownia, often referred to as the “Empress Tree,” originates from East Asia, predominantly China. This lightweight wood is renowned for its fast growth and resilience to adverse conditions. As a tonewood for guitars, Paulownia is favored for its balanced sound profile, offering a warm tone with a hint of brightness. Moreover, its lightness contributes to the overall comfort and playability of the guitar, making it a popular choice for guitar bodies.
| Characteristics | Light and airy |
| Tonal Qualities | Bright with a pronounced midrange |
| Applications | Often found in more affordable guitars due to its cost and weight benefits |
| Pros & Cons | Advantageous for its lightness but may lack in sustain |
Basswood
Basswood is native to North America and some parts of Asia. It is a softwood known for its lightweight and fine texture. Its prevalence in the guitar-making industry can be attributed to its even grain, making it relatively easy to work with and finish. As a tonewood, basswood is balanced, offering a neutral tone, and providing a smooth midrange without any pronounced peaks or troughs in the frequency response. This makes it a favorite for many guitar manufacturers, especially for electric guitar bodies, as it complements a wide range of playing styles and musical genres.
| Characteristics | Soft and lightweight |
| Tonal Qualities | Balanced sound spectrum with a defined midrange |
| Applications | Regularly featured in modern rock guitars |
| Pros & Cons | Celebrated for its sound balance, yet can be more susceptible to physical wear |
You can read more here, about basswood as a tonewood.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a dense hardwood primarily harvested from tropical rainforests in parts of Central America, Africa, and the Caribbean. As a tonewood for guitars, mahogany is favored for its warm, full-bodied sound with emphasized low frequencies and smooth sustain. The durability and workability of mahogany also make it a popular choice for guitar necks and bodies, especially in acoustic and vintage-style electric guitars.
| Characteristics | Robust and on the heavier side |
| Tonal Qualities | Delivers a warm sound with enhanced lows and a subdued high end |
| Applications | Delivers a warm sound with enhanced lows and a subdued high-end |
| Pros & Cons | Renowned for its sustain and rich tone, but its weight might not suit all |
Alder
Alder is a medium-weight wood predominantly found in the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in North America and Europe. Known for its light tan to reddish-brown hue, alder is characterized by its even grain and relatively soft texture. In the realm of guitar construction, alder is prized for its balanced and clear tone, offering a nuanced blend of highs, mids, and lows. Due to its sonic versatility, it’s a favored wood for electric guitar bodies, especially in models produced by brands like Fender.
| Characteristics | Medium weight composition |
| Tonal Qualities | Crisp sound with balanced highs and lows |
| Applications | Common in iconic electric guitars throughout history |
| Pros & Cons | Widely appreciated for its sound versatility, yet lacks the deep lows of mahogany |
Ashwood
Ashwood, originating from North America, is a hardwood that is characterized by its pale-yellow hue with pronounced grain patterns. It’s split into two main varieties: Northern Hard Ash and Swamp Ash, with the latter being lighter and more resonant. When it comes to guitars, ash is highly regarded for its bright, piercing highs and strong sustain, making it a popular choice for electric guitars that require pronounced clarity and punch.
| Characteristics | Variants include Northern (hard) and Swamp (soft) |
| Tonal Qualities | Distinct sharp highs and resonant lows, with nuances between its types |
| Applications | Popular in vintage-inspired guitar models |
| Pros & Cons | Offers aesthetic appeal with its grain, though weight can vary considerably |
Final Thoughts
In closing, keep in mind that the relationship between a guitar’s tonewood and its resulting tonal qualities is a fusion of science and nature. Every wood, from Paulownia to Ashwood, has its own unique palette of sonic characteristics. An electric guitar’s tone, rich in nuances and tonal variations, can be attributed in part to these natural timbres. While pickups, hardware, and construction techniques also play a critical role.
With this in mind, if designing our own guitar it’s crucial to understand that the true essence of a guitar goes far beyond the sum of its parts. It encompasses the history of the tree from which it was crafted, the hands that shaped it, and the components installed upon the guitar.
