Neck Wood Tone Questioin?

[jmckenzie]

Hey, I am fairly new to the forum and I am currently in line for a custom Schroeder(#57) and I wanted to get some opinions on the differences the neck wood will make on the over all tone of the guitar.

Right now I play PRS doublecut guitars that have a mahogany Body and Neck with a Rosewood fretboard and I really like the tone. I am using a black limba body with a maple top. The only problem I am running into, as of now, is neck choice. Should I go with flamed maple or indian rosewood neck and what are the sonic differences as well as the difference in feel.

Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[Benster]

Hey, I am fairly new to the forum and I am currently in line for a custom Schroeder(#57) and I wanted to get some opinions on the differences the neck wood will make on the over all tone of the guitar.

Right now I play PRS doublecut guitars that have a mahogany Body and Neck with a Rosewood fretboard and I really like the tone. I am using a black limba body with a maple top. The only problem I am running into, as of now, is neck choice. Should I go with flamed maple or indian rosewood neck and what are the sonic differences as well as the difference in feel.

Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.


From my experience

Solid Indian rosewood neck - very thick chocolatey tone, rich lower mids
may not cut through a band mix as well as other combinations, feels 'soft' sounding.
Adding an ebony fingerboard will add upper-mid bite, this is a combo with very good reviews.

Maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard - on set neck + maple-topped guitars, I find that this combination sounds totally different than on a bolt-on alder/ash-bodied guitar. gives lots of cut and highs, but also quite a 'hard' sound- not as rich or meaty as a mahogany/limba neck


Mahogany/limba neck with rosewood fingerboard - in general, my favorite combo- a very pleasant balance of all the above. Warm, sweet, just the right balance of mids. Not hard sounding. Limba has a bit more upper-mid aggression to my ears.

Brazilian rosewood has more sparkle/highs than Indian rosewood to my ears

I hope this rambling makes some sense.. lol

[jmckenzie]

From my experience

Solid Indian rosewood neck - very thick chocolatey tone, rich lower mids
may not cut through a band mix as well as other combinations, feels 'soft' sounding.
Adding an ebony fingerboard will add upper-mid bite, this is a combo with very good reviews.

Maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard - on set neck + maple-topped guitars, I find that this combination sounds totally different than on a bolt-on alder/ash-bodied guitar. gives lots of cut and highs, but also quite a 'hard' sound- not as rich or meaty as a mahogany/limba neck


Mahogany/limba neck with rosewood fingerboard - in general, my favorite combo- a very pleasant balance of all the above. Warm, sweet, just the right balance of mids. Not hard sounding. Limba has a bit more upper-mid aggression to my ears.

Brazilian rosewood has more sparkle/highs than Indian rosewood to my ears

I hope this rambling makes some sense.. lol

Thanks Man... It makes complete sense. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me. Now I know why I haven't bonded with my rosewood necked PRS McCarty. I love the way she sounds when I'm jamming by myself but once the band is playing it seems like I'm not even there.

This definitely has me leaning to a mahogany/limba neck... maybe Braz Fingerboard.

[Benster]

I had the exact same experience with a mccarty rosewood as well. Couldn't cut through a band, sold it.

Since you're using a limba body, I'd suggest a limba neck as well. I have this combo on my Schroeder #8 (see gallery) with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, it looks and sounds beautiful :)

[jmckenzie]

Thanks man... I am definitely going to go with a Limba Neck. I will discuss this with Jason whenever we finally start the final specs on my guitar. I really appreciate all the info. Really helps to have someone else's opinions and experiences to go by.

[Vinni Smith]

I had the exact same experience with a mccarty rosewood as well. Couldn't cut through a band, sold it.

Since you're using a limba body, I'd suggest a limba neck as well. I have this combo on my Schroeder #8 (see gallery) with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, it looks and sounds beautiful :)

I'll tell you what, my new one is Braz Rosewood and a Ebony fretboard. I played with the band the other night and whoa! I had to thin my tone out! it was huge. I took Jazon's advise and put the Ebony for clarity with snap and bite.

I really think the problem with the McCartys is rosewood on rosewood. A formula for a muddy, dull sound.

[jmckenzie]

I'll tell you what, my new one is Braz Rosewood and a Ebony fretboard. I played with the band the other night and whoa! I had to thin my tone out! it was huge. I took Jazon's advise and put the Ebony for clarity with snap and bite.

I really think the problem with the McCartys is rosewood on rosewood. A formula for a muddy, dull sound.

I agree with you Vinni... My McCarty just didn't cut it in the mix. I loved it when it was just me jammin, but with the whole band it was as if I wasn't playing anymore.

I appreciate the Rosewood/Ebony fretboard suggestion, I am definitely gonna talk to Jason about it and let him design what he thinks is the best woods for the tone I am going for.

You def have a killer guitar... makes me want one even more!!

[Vinni Smith]

I agree with you Vinni... My McCarty just didn't cut it in the mix. I loved it when it was just me jammin, but with the whole band it was as if I wasn't playing anymore.

I appreciate the Rosewood/Ebony fretboard suggestion, I am definitely gonna talk to Jason about it and let him design what he thinks is the best woods for the tone I am going for.

You def have a killer guitar... makes me want one even more!!
Thanks Bro. You should hear this thing. It feels and sounds as good or better than it looks! Ask Jason about the treble pickup being 1/4" forward. I think it makes a big difference. Fatter with more mids.