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Topic: Steel Guitars Wood Body or Mica? |
Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 23 Jan 2008 1:50 pm |
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Here is a question I want to post and sure want your thoughts if you'd share on this.
Soon I'll be getting a new steel made and even though I have played a mica guitar for years, recently I've been reconsidering and thinking of a custom built wood body guitar.
Your thoughts as to which one, and why you think one sounds better than the other.
THanks!
Terry Wood |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 23 Jan 2008 2:01 pm
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| If your on the road I would stay with Mica, sooner or later lacquer finish will get damaged. IMHO |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 23 Jan 2008 2:56 pm
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| I love the look of my lacquered wood steel, but, I felt heartbroken everytime I found a scratch or dent in it. And, unfortunately, a lot were not made by me. I bought a new Zum in 05', which is mica covered and I don't worry so much about damaging the finish. If you're gigging a lot or on the road, it's inevitable that your steel is going to get banged up, no matter how careful you are with it. But, it's your choice. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Jan 2008 3:02 pm
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IMHO, I sort of go along with John. If you play out, I'd stick with mica. And if you play strictly at home, I'd go for the wood. As far as the sound goes, I feel that the mica's role is rather small. Many other factors affect the sound more than the guitar's finish, so I'd decide what finish I liked, and then go "brand shopping".  |
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Terry Wood
From:
Lebanon, MO
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 12:54 pm
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Any more comments from any would be appreciated!
I am interested in why you prefer the wood and or mica body as far as tone or is it more in the pickups?
Terry |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 3:20 pm w vs m
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| To me it doesn't really matter either way. I believe it's in how the amps are set and the pickups your using along with any effects. Under the mica is wood anyway that's usually not lacquered. The major difference I've found is in the carbon fiber body. It doesn't sustain like the wood body when you get into the high volume area or past the 15th fret. Just my opinion from having one. If I were buying one for looks, it would be a wood body, lacquered with the inlay. Otherwise, I'd get a mica guitar and save the extra 600 to 1000 bucks. |
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Stan Paxton
From:
1/2 & 1/2 Florida and Tenn, USA (old Missouri boy gone South)
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 3:27 pm
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Hey Terry,
Probably what you will get for answers is typical of the beast; it is mostly personal preference. I love the wood guitar, and I also have a mica. Both same brand, but to my ear, the wood instrument has a softer more mellow sound, where as the mica has more thin "bite" to the sound. Same brand of strings. Now maybe this is not apples to apples so to speak, as 1 is SD10 & 1 is SD12. Anyway, I cannot get the same sound out of the mica as I do the wood one, using the same amp. Maybe it's just me, I don't have too good an ear anyway anymore, having lost most of my high frequency hearing. 
God Bless and have a Great '08...
_________________
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.- |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 3:28 pm
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Get a wood body. Nice figured maple.
You will never get tired of looking at a beautiful figured maple body guitar, dings or no dings. |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 3:51 pm
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| You will never get tired of looking at a beautiful figured maple body guitar, dings or no dings. |
do you mean , like looking a the Mona lisa with flakey paint... |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 4:46 pm
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
Get a wood body. Nice figured maple.
You will never get tired of looking at a beautiful figured maple body guitar, dings or no dings. |
I'm with Bill.
There is something so beautifully pleasing to the eye with natural wood.
Take a table top made out of wood and one out of formica. Sure..the mica top is durable, withstands dongs, heat etc. but where is the beauty?
The Bigsby guitars old old Sho Buds that we love the sound of..they were built out of Birdseye maple.
The natural grain pattern vs. the one-color mica, or, at best, imitated wood grain. It's an easy choice for me.
I can put up with a few dings.
But eventually it is you who have to decide. I venture to say that you will play better on something that is the most pleasing to YOUR eye.
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 5:04 pm
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| Then your not interested in what is best for what you need's... just looks |
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Bernie Gonyea
From:
Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 7:10 pm Steel Guitars/ Wood or Formicca
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I'm with you, Bill; To me, beauty is in the EYE of the beholder; or is it in the ear; All my D-10's were Birds-eye Maple; mainly because I loved the tone and sound of my wooden body guitar; and as an added bonus, I had the extrordinary BEAUTY, of a fine pedal steel. I also owned a few of the formicca guitars, which held up very well, under all the strain of playing the nite clubs and dingy halls; but when I was in a large hall or arena type setting; I wanted the public to enjoy the looks of my wooden bodied guitars, and to enjoy the great sound which they put out. Terry, yes, this is a decision only you can satisfy..Good luck..Bernie  
[/b]
_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 8:51 pm
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Bernie-I agree , I like the beauty of my wood lacquer guitars and the mellow tone.
But it is all a matter of an individual's opinion.....al.
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 9:11 pm
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| John Roche wrote: |
| Then your not interested in what is best for what you need's... just looks |
Your needs change when something looks good. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 9:13 pm
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| John Roche wrote: |
| Quote: |
| You will never get tired of looking at a beautiful figured maple body guitar, dings or no dings. |
do you mean , like looking a the Mona lisa with flakey paint... |
Still the Mona Lisa. Better than looking at the Mona Lisa covered in plastic. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 24 Jan 2008 10:09 pm
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I always wanted a beautiful wood body guitar. I was looking over Mark Giles's work in St Louis and decided it was time. I'm hoping to have it by the Texas show. I am going to put it right to work. I'm not concerned with dings. Those old wood Sho Buds look fine to me.
I have heard differences between wood and mica Franklins. Its subtle. The mica seems more focused and the wood has more flavor. I don't know what the differences are with other brands yet.
_________________
Bob |
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Bernie Gonyea
From:
Sherman Tx. 75092 ,U.S.A. (deceased)
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Posted 26 Jan 2008 12:57 pm Bob's New Guitar
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Bob; what is the name of the guitar Co. that is building your new wooden bodied pedal steel. I've never heard of this Mark Giles you speak of. there are so many folks building them now. It would be a tough decision to pick the right one; Correct, Terry?? Bernie  
_________________
2007 Zum S-10; 1967 Sho-Bud [ D-10 ]; 85 S-10 Sierra; 1953 Multi-Kord [ 6 String- 4 pedals ] A Sho-Bro six String Resonator Guitar; Nashville 112 Amp; hilton Vol. Pedal |
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ebb
From:
nj
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 8:56 am
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Bernie,
Mark Giles makes the wood bodies for Rains, MSA, Fessenden and his own company Star. The guitar that blew my mind was a blue Star pedalsteel with an ebony neck. Just amazing.
http://www.starsteelguitars.com/
_________________
Bob |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 9:50 am
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| I don't know why you are asking that question with a name like Wood? |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 12:59 pm
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I don't think Mica has anything to do with it! Mica is, what, 1/32' thick? Most Mica guitars don't use solid wood under the Mica. They use dieboard, or birch ply. Very dense material. I think that's what accounts for the sonic differences. I love wood guitars. Got 4 Shobuds. But I also have a Mica Kline. When I went to buy it, I had my choice: Mica, or a gorgeous Maple-Walnut guitar. I loved the wood body, but I was giggin' 6 nights a week. I knew it would get trashed.
I'd bet that the tonal differences between a wood bodied guitar, and a Mica guitar with solid Maple instead of ply, wouldn't be very great at all. I know some "Mica" guitars are built this way. My Kline is! My GFI was Dieboard(plywood). |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 1:32 pm
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I know it's been mentioned here before, but I tend to carry over my guitar player sensibility to steel, so I don't mind a little wear and tear on a lacquer finish. It gives what Bobbe recently called the "funk factor". I try to avoid damage as much as possible, but a somewhat worn instrument gives a broken-in, old-friend feel.
When I've gotten a brand new (six-string) guitar, it always distresses me greatly when it gets that first ding, but after that I'm more relaxed when playing the instrument. When it's all shiny and perfect I almost don't feel comfortable, like it's wrong to risk that purty finish, so don't dare make an emphatic strum! The heck with that, let's make music!
I've had only lacquer finish steels with only one exception, and I never get tired of looking at them--it's inspiring to me. |
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Scott Truax
From:
Florida
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 3:14 pm Wood Body Guitars
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Just wanted to add my 2 cents to the post.
As I am temporarily displaced from Florida to Vermont; And, have no camera with me, I can't show you photos of my new guitar. But, MAYBE, Mark
Giles or Jerry Fessenden can put up a pic.
Mark just built a gorgeous Emerald Green "Burst"
body for my new Fessenden. Both Mark and Jerry outdid themselves...I think.
I have a Carter mica guitar also. But, this new Fessy is my "never to leave home" guitar.
And, I want to publicly thank them both. It's one
beautiful looking, sounding and playing machine!!!
It is a high point for me at a very low point in my life.
Thanks guys....
Scott Truax |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 4:07 pm
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Scott-I imagine you will love the wood body guitar by Mark.There is somthing about them just sitting in the music room. After all, you might just as well have a beautiful guitar to look at. It inspires me to play it more and you will too....al..
_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.
My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus |
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Randy Sevearance
From:
Crouse, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2008 6:05 pm wood or not?
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Not to be a smart*&@# Terry but most guitars are made of wood just wooden bodies that are covered with mica aren't as nice as a peice that is going to be finished. Mica is like having a armor on the guitar to protect it against things such as bar dings scrapes and scratches..
_________________
Emmons D-10, Performance D-10, 2 Nashville 1000s, Nashville 400 W/fox Mod. Peavey VK112, Ibanez delay & Jordan Boss Tone,Hilton V/Pedal, Steeler Choice Seat Loaded,Micheal Kelly Dobro, 84 OMI Dobro, Quilter Steelaire combo,Redeemer,Holy fire pedal. |
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