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Darrell · April 27th, 2003, 08:14 PM

I sat with my guitar tech here in Houston last week. He has been setting up just about every stringed instrument know for over 25 years...full time. He is well known in Houston.

We talked about wood and tone. He said there is very little difference in poplar and alder.

They are both "softer" woods.

The main difference is the graining and color of the wood. Poplar has large dark spots, which is doesn't look good for clear finish work, unless you cut around the dark spots.

Alder is pretty even colored but it has various grain types. And a lot more grain than poplar. It will have lines it is that seam "usual" in "unusal" places...but it adds unique character. It finishes very well. That is why you see a lot of the clear finish Fenders in Alder.

We didn't talk about ash because I can't afford it...ha ha.

April 27th, 2003, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Darrell Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 48 Posts: 2,444	It is debatable but... I sat with my guitar tech here in Houston last week. He has been setting up just about every stringed instrument know for over 25 years...full time. He is well known in Houston. We talked about wood and tone. He said there is very little difference in poplar and alder. They are both "softer" woods. The main difference is the graining and color of the wood. Poplar has large dark spots, which is doesn't look good for clear finish work, unless you cut around the dark spots. Alder is pretty even colored but it has various grain types. And a lot more grain than poplar. It will have lines it is that seam "usual" in "unusal" places...but it adds unique character. It finishes very well. That is why you see a lot of the clear finish Fenders in Alder. We didn't talk about ash because I can't afford it...ha ha.