Jimmie Vaughan Strat body wood?

[DavidP]

I',m looking at a used 2001 model--owner says the body is alder but going through the Fender catalogs, I'm not sure when they switched from poplar to alder. Anyone know the time frame on this??

[Russinator]

That's *about* the time. But you will never know what it is for sure unless you actually look at bare wood! :)

[DavidP]

So, any sure-fire way of verifying alder vs polra (this is an Olympic white body). Thanks!!

[Mark Davis]

Like Russ said there was a big overlap. I had a 2001 model that was poplar. I tried 5 sets of pickups in it and couldnt get a good Strat like sound out of it.

If it would have been alder I bet it would have sounded good with at least 1 of the 5 sets of pups I tried.

If your shopping for a Jimmie Vaughan I'd look for a new 2003 model.

[Loco]

It shouldn't really matter - contrary to popular belief poplar isn't a poor quality tonewood.

[Mark Davis]

I agree the wood species shouldnt matter because I have had poplar Strats that did sound good. The MN8 Burgundy Mist 60's Classic I had was poplar and it sounded awesome.

But for some reason that JV body didnt produce the tones I liked it sounded thin no matter what pickup I tried.

[DavidP]

I guess the only way to go is to get it here and PLAY it!! I'll see it at my door in about a week--plug n play review to follow!!

[Russinator]

...but you play it first and tell us what you think it is, then take off the neck and look at the bare wood in the neck pocket and tell us what it really is! Deal?

[skilback]

hi guys,

I'm the seller...here's the neck pocket pic:



cheers,
Sean

Originally Posted by Russinator

...but you play it first and tell us what you think it is, then take off the neck and look at the bare wood in the neck pocket and tell us what it really is! Deal?

[DavidP]

..."blindtest" it is!!

[DavidP]

Ok folks the verdict is in! Got the JV about a week ago, strung it w Daddario 11-49s and did the requisite tweaking. It was a little lighter than my US Std Roadhouse (w Vintage Hots) and S-500 (w stock MFDs)... Played it acoustically first and its a tad brighter than the Roadhouse and on par with the S-500. Plugged it in and its slightly darker than the Roadhouse and not hifi like the S-500. Ok, good, another sound texture to work with! Hmm, I'll guess alder... Take it to a local luthier and we pop the neck--he says alder! BUT... the neck on this guitar is to die for, and I wouldn't care if he had said poplar!!!
So, I'm a VERY happy camper--absolutely divine playability and it sounds great (Thanks Sean!!). I'm gigging with it tonight! I do plan to put in a blender pot (maybe even a Fat-O) and a no-load master tone in the future, then assess the Tex-Mex pups. Anyhow, this JV model has to be the best bang for the buck out there!

[Mark Davis]

The neckpocket looks like alder to me too.

The Jimmie Vaughan Strat has the best neck Fender makes.

I really wish they would just use that JV profile on every Fender neck they make I'd be a happy camper.

[ewan]

hey guys. i just picked up a 2004 jv. it says the body is apparently poplar according to the little sticker that comes on the pick gaurd. alder or poplar, it still sounds as good as my swamp ash tele.

[Mark Davis]

They just never changed the sticker thats why it says poplar. The older ones were veneered poplar. Not sure if the newer alder ones are veneered or not.

[ewan]

hey Mark. why do they bother veneering over the alder if you can't even see the grain?

[Mark Davis]

They can use several pieces of wood then veneer over it to make it look like a 1 piece or 2 piece body.

You can see if yours is veneered or not by removing the screws that hold the tremelo plate on and look there you will see the veneer inside the screw holes.