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waygorked · May 2nd, 2012, 04:03 PM

I have an opportunity to bag a quartersawn maple replacement neck for one of my Fenderoid projects at a really great price. It has an IRW fingerboard with a grain pattern that is nice and straight for the first octave, then starts to curve toward the high strings from there. Does this grain pattern have the potential to negatively affect the tone in any significant way?

redstringuitar · May 2nd, 2012, 04:06 PM

Look out for any grain pattern remotely resembling plaid.

That one will pitch your guitar much higher, with never ending sustain.

jstream · May 2nd, 2012, 04:31 PM

For the most part, no. It will not effect tone. Of course, you will always find some who will maintain it does, but in reality, if you believe it does, then to you, it will. I don't believe for a minute that the grain you describe will have any real effect on tone. Now if the density of the wood changes...

czook · May 2nd, 2012, 04:43 PM

IMO, the woods used only affect the acoustic sound, not the electric. There are varying opinions, but I would have to see a scientific study analyzing the tone electronically before I would buy into anything like that.

Now if you want to talk cosmetically or aesthically speaking...

I heard a concrete guitar that sounded just like a solid ash guitar.

I hear no difference between a 1 piece maple, rosewood or maple capped neck and I doubt in a blind test nobody else can either.

RogerC · May 2nd, 2012, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czook

I heard a concrete guitar that sounded just like a solid ash guitar.

What?! that's crazy talk!

anyone · May 2nd, 2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerC

What?! that's crazy talk!

Crafty Fox · May 4th, 2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redstringuitar

Look out for any grain pattern remotely resembling plaid.

That one will pitch your guitar much higher, with never ending sustain.

Isn't plaid tartan? I want to build a tartan Tele soon, just wondering about the structural ramifications of gluing end grain; maybe 3mm pattern on 3mm backing board perhaps. That's it. I'm ready for a Tartarcaster!

kman900 · May 4th, 2012, 06:52 AM

I think that anything has an influence on tone . . air pressure, your mood . . did you have coffee already . . do you need to go to the bathroom . . somethings more, others less.

guitarbuilder · May 4th, 2012, 12:19 PM

Of course it affects tone. You only want 50 year old+ perfectly quartersawn lumber with no runout...preferably from the North side of a tree grown in ideal soil conditions with wide climatic temperature swings.

63dot · May 4th, 2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kman900

I think that anything has an influence on tone . . air pressure, your mood . . did you have coffee already . . do you need to go to the bathroom . . somethings more, others less.

That whole bathroom thing really affects everything. I have not found a way around that.

vtcyclist · May 4th, 2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarbuilder

Of course it affects tone. You only want 50 year old+ perfectly quartersawn lumber with no runout...preferably from the North side of a tree grown in ideal soil conditions with wide climatic temperature swings.

What Ph???

guitarbuilder · May 4th, 2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtcyclist

What Ph???

Are you kidding me, all the good luthiers know you want it slightly acidic to bond with the ancient lac flakes ( minimum 45 year old bugs) and alcohol you distill yourself, not to mention the freshly rendered hide glue from wild hides.
Domesticated hides do not possess the qualities needed for luthiery.

bigp7099 · May 4th, 2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarbuilder

Of course it affects tone. You only want 50 year old+ perfectly quartersawn lumber with no runout...preferably from the North side of a tree grown in ideal soil conditions with wide climatic temperature swings.

personally i believe you want exactly the opposite of all those things

DoodlySquat · May 4th, 2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by czook

I heard a concrete guitar that sounded just like a solid ash guitar.

Was it a WET signal? Was there a sign indicating this WET signal CONCRETE guitar?

Or was it HARD to play?

CoachJM · May 4th, 2012, 01:06 PM

waygorked,

I believe the helpful forum members who have replied are saying, "No".

JM

coolpool · May 4th, 2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crafty Fox

Isn't plaid tartan? I want to build a tartan Tele soon, just wondering about the structural ramifications of gluing end grain; maybe 3mm pattern on 3mm backing board perhaps. That's it. I'm ready for a Tartarcaster!

a Tartarcaster? So white and green? I'd relish that.

Wouldn't it be a Kiltocaster if it were a tartan?

Erwin · May 7th, 2012, 03:27 PM

The fret board grain has about the same influence on your tone as the colour of the bathroom tiles of your two-houses-on-left-of-your-house-neighbour.
Real lazy luthiers would be inclined to describe this as less than nothing.

PinewoodRo · May 7th, 2012, 03:30 PM

I find that needing the bathroom can also affect tempo...

Jack Wells · May 7th, 2012, 05:43 PM

If the grain pattern ran perpendicular to the norm, it would affect tune.

Jack Wells · May 7th, 2012, 05:43 PM

If the grain pattern ran perpendicular to the norm, it would affect tune.

May 2nd, 2012, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
waygorked TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 42	Does fingerboard grain pattern affect tone? I have an opportunity to bag a quartersawn maple replacement neck for one of my Fenderoid projects at a really great price. It has an IRW fingerboard with a grain pattern that is nice and straight for the first octave, then starts to curve toward the high strings from there. Does this grain pattern have the potential to negatively affect the tone in any significant way?

May 2nd, 2012, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
redstringuitar Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 5,546	Look out for any grain pattern remotely resembling plaid. That one will pitch your guitar much higher, with never ending sustain. __________________ *Don't blame the view, blame the scenery*

May 2nd, 2012, 04:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
czook Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NW MO Age: 59 Posts: 1,074	IMO, the woods used only affect the acoustic sound, not the electric. There are varying opinions, but I would have to see a scientific study analyzing the tone electronically before I would buy into anything like that. Now if you want to talk cosmetically or aesthically speaking... I heard a concrete guitar that sounded just like a solid ash guitar. I hear no difference between a 1 piece maple, rosewood or maple capped neck and I doubt in a blind test nobody else can either. __________________ Chuck

May 4th, 2012, 06:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
kman900 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Trier, Germany Age: 54 Posts: 1,087 1 Photos	I think that anything has an influence on tone . . air pressure, your mood . . did you have coffee already . . do you need to go to the bathroom . . somethings more, others less. __________________ Romani ite domum!

May 4th, 2012, 12:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
guitarbuilder Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hemlock, NY Age: 59 Posts: 6,517	Of course it affects tone. You only want 50 year old+ perfectly quartersawn lumber with no runout...preferably from the North side of a tree grown in ideal soil conditions with wide climatic temperature swings. __________________ .....That's All Folks!.....

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May 2nd, 2012, 04:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
jstream Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 51 Posts: 277	For the most part, no. It will not effect tone. Of course, you will always find some who will maintain it does, but in reality, if you believe it does, then to you, it will. I don't believe for a minute that the grain you describe will have any real effect on tone. Now if the density of the wood changes...

May 4th, 2012, 01:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
CoachJM TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NW Suburbs of Chicago, IL Age: 57 Posts: 79	waygorked, I believe the helpful forum members who have replied are saying, "No". JM __________________ "Finally, be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all."

May 7th, 2012, 03:27 PM	#17 (permalink)
Erwin TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Affligem Posts: 70	The fret board grain has about the same influence on your tone as the colour of the bathroom tiles of your two-houses-on-left-of-your-house-neighbour. Real lazy luthiers would be inclined to describe this as less than nothing.

May 7th, 2012, 03:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
PinewoodRo Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bath UK Age: 49 Posts: 819	I find that needing the bathroom can also affect tempo... __________________ The mighty oak was once a nut that stood its ground

May 7th, 2012, 05:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
Jack Wells Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 69 Posts: 18,387 101 Photos	If the grain pattern ran perpendicular to the norm, it would affect tune. __________________ . Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person. I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.

May 7th, 2012, 05:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
Jack Wells Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 69 Posts: 18,387 101 Photos	If the grain pattern ran perpendicular to the norm, it would affect tune. __________________ . Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person. I'm a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.

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