Do you think a plywood body could ever sound good?

[TerryD]

You know, the kind they made on that little island...after they lost the war.  I just picked up a jazz bass from the pawn shop whith a beautiful maple neck, good hardware and a plywood body.

[simonallaway]

In the context of a solid body guitar I don't think it makes much of a difference. Over the years I've played a variety of woods and for me it all comes down to the density of the wood, which affects stiffness.

I tend to favour dense (and heavy) mahogany or ash bodies, but I've also played strats that have very light poplar bodies which sounds amazing when not plugged in as well as when amplified.

All that aside, actually engineering a plywood body would be a pain as it's hard to machine softwood based ply to useful tolerances. So if you made a ply body out of hardwood, you might be on to something.

My favourite all-rounder guitar is a Steinberger which is made of dense/stiff material (epoxy resin and fiber) but there isn't much of it.

And them there's the notion that in the right hands any old piece of crap will still sound amazing. I bet your bass will sound just fine. My sons $125 Squire Strat sounds just as good as my order-of-magnitude more expensive steinberger *kicks self*

[G._Hoffman]

It all depends on what you are after.  We have a Silvertone in the shop right now that was made by Danelectro - the top and back are made out of masonite, but it sounds pretty damn cool.  Now, its not going to give you any kind of clean/smooth sound.  Its pretty wonky sounding - but still cool and useful.  Its just a different flavor. 


Gabriel

[Platefire]

I read that plywood bodies shouldn't sound good because the layers of cheap wood with glue joining them together would not reflect the vibrations/tone as normal good solid tone woods.

Someone needs to tell that to my 1987 MIK Squire Bullet---it didn't get the message. I picked this guitar up and played it in the 90's and fell in love with it right off the bat. I've played it all over the place. Only years later when I was working on it discovered it was plywood---I was surprised. It's very heavy like a les paul. It's a strat configuration, 3/4 size body like a mustang with a tele like headstock and maple neck. It now has american standard strat pickups and a different pickguard I got off e-bay. I've had it for the better part of 20 years now. Yep I think plywood can sound fine. Platefire

[tubenit]

I had a Squire Bullet also. The only thing I changed was to throw away the plywood body for an Ash body. It sounded alot better to me. Of course tone is a subjective thing. I am not saying that plywood can't sound good, but it does not sound as good to me as something in Ash, Mahoganey, Prima Vera, or Sapele.

I can tell you the body wood makes a HUGE difference in tone in a solidbody.

With respect, Tubenit

[Platefire]

I bought it from a friend who decided he wanted a real strat. Well I've played it all over Louisiana and had some great experiances with it--so its more than just making it into something that sounds better--its sentimental! With this one when I pick it up, I want just the same as when I've had all those great experiances with---and even more to come I hope! Plate

[tubenit]

Well I've played it all over Louisiana and had some great experiances with it--so its more than just making it into something that sounds better--its sentimental!

With that history ......... I'd do the same thing and leave it alone! Glad you've had wonderful experiences with it. That counts!
 

With respect, Tubenit

[TerryD]

But....were there any papers or anything that the Devil made you sign?

[Platefire]

Well no papers, Like I mentioned above--when I was having some of those great experiances, I didn't even know it was plywood at the time! I was kind of shocked when I was changing the pickups out and discovered it.  :shocked:   I have quite a few electrics and tend to rotate them so they all get played and the Bullet is still in the lineup with everything else. Plate

[Jim Coash]

Every component in a guitar can have impact on sound but with a solid body instrument I would consider the body material about the last.  On the other hand, quality wood is the primary reason good acoustic instruments are all unique.  Stradivarius proved that.  If a solid body guitar is made of a strong rigid material whether metal, wood, concrete or plastic, my only consideration is weight and looks.  I love the way a "blond" or "natural wood finish looks.  Once you paint a solid body guitar I find little difference in what it is made of, sound-wise.  Jim

[alerich]

Yes. I think a plywood body can sound good and I think a guitar made out of higher grade wood can sound bland. Sometimes it depend on how you are going to use it.

I have a mid 70s Ibanez Les Paul copy. Maple bolt on neck with maple fingerboard, painted inlays and gloss lacquer. Very bright. The body literally looks like someone glued together a bunch of wood shop scraps into this multi pieced pancake and then cut it into the shape of a Les Paul and applied a nice maple veneer to the front and back. Not my favorite go to guitar for regular play. The fingerboard is a little narrow and being maple/gloss it's very bright. The body has a few of what I suspect were unintended "chambers" where the wood pieces did not meet up... long before chambering became fashionable. The body is a bit to resonant and rings a bit. Not what I like for classic rock and hard rock. Might be great for jazz.

Now, for bottleneck slide I love this guitar. The narrow, dense maple neck and resonant body that I loathe for regular playing are perfect for slide. The tone rings like a bell and notes are crystal clear. The picked/slide notes seem to take dominance and little or no muting is required. Love it. It's become my go to slide guitar. Sometimes plywood works.

[Jim Coash]

I have owned and played several Les Pauls and I love them.  I even have a "blank" that I retrieved from the junk bin at 225 Parsons once.  The construction is clear; a solid hardwood body with a "sculptured" maple top and back, each a bout 1/2" thick maximum.  I installed an axe handle on it along with some old hardware and I call it "The Axe".  It makes for a good conversation piece.  It also explains why they get so heavy on stage.  My Heritage H-555 weighs a lot less and it plays beautifully.  I do miss my 1967 Gibson Goldtop Les Paul but I made a lot of money on that one.  My blond 1977 is now my sons favorite player and the Black Heritage H-150/gold package became a trade item for some tube gear.  They were all great guitars.  Jim

[Willabe]

The construction is clear; a solid hardwood body with a "sculptured" maple top and back, each a bout 1/2" thick maximum. 

I never saw a real Gibby LP with maple on the back. (Nor any LP copy for that mater with maple on the back.)

My Heritage LP doesn't have maple on it's back either.

For a top yes, but not on the back of the body.

             Brad   

[alerich]

I owned a cherry sunburst Heritage Les Paul when they first came out. I recall it being a really nice guitar that I never could quite bond with. I was always picking up my Gibson so I sold the Heritage.

[Willabe]

Mines from the 1st year they came out. Early to mid 80's?   

I never played out at a gig with it, was too in love with my strat.       I did record with it as a second guitar with the strat, nice compliment.

I keep it tuned to E for slide. I use a nickel wound .010 set, then put a .012 and a .014 for the E/B strings, I leave the rest the same. I do raise up the high (E/B/G) side a bit but not a lot. With the heaver strings their tension is greater, so when you lay the slide down on them they don't fret out. Sings like a bird. Very happy with it.


               Brad     

[Jim Coash]

The NOVA special on violin technology seemed to indicate that wood quality was less important than construction methods.  I can see that.  Of all the guitars I have owned the solid body instruments seem to be little influenced by materials.  BTW I did look at my "axe" and I was wrong.  The maple top is glued to a mahogany body.  There is no maple on the back.  What I can say for sure is that the hollow body instruments I have played do seem to be entirely unique from one to the other.  The Gibson J-45 flat top my brother owned since 1962 is nearly identical to the ones John and George used in "The Beatles" other than being a cherry sunburst.  He fitted a D'Armond pickup to it and we love the way it projects.  The Martin D-28 I owned in 1969 was a great guitar.  Easily the one I would like to have back over any other I foolishly sold.  My eyes were opened when I opted to have my Heritage H-550 "Tap Tuned" at the factory.  I watched Rendall Wall use tuning forks and long, sharp trimming knives to carefully remove wood from the bracing inside the guitar, working though the F-Holes.  He would tap the fork, hold it to the top, near the bridge and listen, carefully to the resonance.  After at least 3 hours of careful work he had the top "singing" along with the chords he played.  I was so impressed I had that done on two other instruments.  That H-550 plays beautifully both acoustically and amplified.  After the tuning it sustains better yet seems to be resistant to feedback.  Make any sense?  Jim

[Jim Coash]

I was watching while the tap tuning was done.  After removing the hardware from the guitar, several tuning forks were tapped on the edge of a wood block to make them vibrate.  Then the stem was touched to the wood top in various places around the bridge and sound holes.  The tone was amplified by the guitar body.  Listening carefully, the tech used a series of carving tools, inserted through the "f" holes to remove shavings of wood from the internal bracing.  After a little carving, the tone was again evaluated.  I could tell that the tone became louder, clearer and more pure as the work progressed.  After about 3 hours there was a very obvious improvement in the instruments ability to resonate cleanly with each of the tuning forks applied in the same places.  Quite a bit of wood was removed and shaken out of the body.
I was told that the more expensive instruments had this "tap tuning" done routinely and that the best guitars were deemed most benefited by the process.  My guitar was noticeably different and I think, better sounding.  It cost about $350.  I also upgraded the pickups to the HRW model as part of the package.  That was another $200 and another noticeable difference in the way it sounds.  Worth it?  I hope so.  Jim

[MakerDP]

After hearing what Glen Kaiser and others can do with a three-string cigar-box guitar, I'm convinced more than ever that it's what the player is made of, not the guitar.

[Ed_Chambley]

Dan Armstrong made a Lucite guitar in the early 70's.  Had one.  Sounded like a les paul.

Since PUPS are not microphones I would bet if you take a plywood body Les Paul like the old Hondo II (it is plywood) and put the same pups as in a Gibson in a blind test I would bet you could not consistently tell which one is which.

Say 9 times out of 10.

I have a Samick Telecaster with blue lace PUPS in it and it sounds great.  Body is some strange asian plywood.  Not sure if it is Birch or what.

[Platefire]

Well after about 20 years of having various plywood guitars, I'm now plywood free. Traded my Peavey Predator International for a 1984 Electra/Westone with a maple body a few weeks ago. Had a 1987 Squire Bullet strat that was a good player and traded it several years back for the Predator. Also my X son in law wanted his Epiphone Special back, so it's now gone. Guess I'm open for some new plywood!!! Yes they can sound good depending on which one.

[MakerDP]

Dan Armstrong made a Lucite guitar in the early 70's.  Had one.  Sounded like a les paul.

Didn't Skunk Baxter use to play one of those?

[Willabe]

I think so, so did somebody (maybe a few of them) in the Stones and Joe Perry has/had 1 too.

Their heavy though.


              Brad     

[Ed_Chambley]

Ronnie Wood used one while playing in the Faces, that is why I had one when I was younger.  My second favorite Rock song was played on it.  Stay With ME is the tune and of course the no 1 song is Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.

Here is a clip back when you had to have talent.  Check out One Take Ronnie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DDtljVDV_I

[TIMBO]

Hi guys, Check this out.http://www.guitargear.net.au/discussion/index.php?topic=41436.0

[supro66]

Remember the electric guitar started out as a 2 x 4 with strings
called the log he latter put guitar sides on it

[Toxophilite]

I have a couple of 1964 Gretsch hollowbodies
Both lovely sounding guitars, particularly clean, which is a more demanding application
Both plywood


I think bhis is more of an issue with actual acoustic instruments.
One you put electric pickups on an instrument and pile on the metal hardware it's very different animal

[supro66]

No really  the Amish make their lumber 2x4 but when we [English get it we plane it down to look nice ]

[Toxophilite]

Looking at the 'log' I think that's a 4x4 !