Which wood has best tone?

Chuck Trombley · Post by **Chuck Trombley** » 10 Jun 2003 6:00 pm

Now that I'm supposed to be retired (75 and going strong) I want to make a lap steel with horseshoe PU. My problem is this? Which wood has the best sound?
Had A ZB nmade out of birdseye maple. Shart tone> I'd like a mellow sound. I realize this question is as open ended as defining tone, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Chuck Trombley

Jesse Pearson · Post by **Jesse Pearson** » 10 Jun 2003 7:13 pm

Mahogany I think would give you a mellow tone. It seems half the fun is just getting to use different woods and experiment. The Ricky pickup seems like the way to go...

R. L. Jones · Post by **R. L. Jones** » 10 Jun 2003 7:41 pm

A friend had one made of black Walnut,, had a nice mellow sound ,, Phosphor bronze strings also heip make the mellow sound

R. L. jomes

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 10 Jun 2003 8:26 pm

Ash is lightweight yet produces a fine sound.

mikey · Post by **mikey** » 10 Jun 2003 9:19 pm

if using a horseshoe single coil PU...mahogany will be warmer than maple which will be brightest...then ash...alder is brighter than mahogony but not as much as ash....my choice would be mahogany, but it is a very personal choice..( Koa LOOKS real nice, but is also bright, between maple and ash, good for humbuckers)
Aloha,
Mike<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by mikey on 10 June 2003 at 10:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Jun 2003 2:45 am

Natalie Wood.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 11 Jun 2003 5:30 am

If you get all the parts assembled, just get a few pieces of different woods, bolt it all on and have a listen.
When you find the tone you prefer, take it apart and do the carving and finishing.

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 11 Jun 2003 7:06 am

...tiger wood. No kidding, there is a wood called tiger wood....very pretty too.

There is also one called zebra wood.

Rick

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Jun 2003 7:31 am

Chuck, you'll find a lot of good info in this discussion:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/002720.html

Ed Gerhard · Post by **Ed Gerhard** » 13 Jun 2003 5:13 pm

Hi-
I've got two Oahus; a Diana (maple) and a Tonemaster (mahagony). They look to be of similar vintage and are nearly identical in every way. I gotta tell you, the Tonemaster is much brighter than the Diana. The Diana is as fat and rich as can be.
So, why not make two?

Cheers,
Ed

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 13 Jun 2003 11:15 pm

So it appears the softer woods resonate more and have a warmer tone. The harder denser woods resonate less and have a brighter tone.

I am thinking of builing a hybrid 10 string lapsteel. Basically electric, but possibly with a small resonator too. Most likely 2 bodies one normal and another with a home built resonator.
I am looking for a metal tuning head frame with rollers and tuners, like off a Sho-Bud or the like.