Wood Quality of current Imports

[AlexL]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

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I have seen people claim that there's a significant tonal difference between say, the RR5 and the RR1T - that the RR5 sounds mushier somehow. I think we'd need to get Eric (AlexL) in here to shed more light on that.

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I've owned an RR5 and an RR1 with identical pickups (JB in Bridge, Jazz in neck), and there was a difference in tone. I would suspect it had more to do with the difference in bridges and fretboard wood than in the body wood. It sounded to my ears that the on the RR1, the Jazz pickup sounded a bit brighter than on the RR5. I didn't notice an obvious difference in the tone of the Bridge pickup. But I wouldn't go so far as to say that the tone on the RR5 was "mushy". I think the RR5s are great playing, great sounding guitars, and any difference in tone is minimal at best. Certainly nothing to get hung up on.

My RR1T has EMGs in it, so I can't really compare the tone to the RR5 in that respect.


- E.

[noodlesatf]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

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I've owned an RR5 and an RR1 with identical pickups (JB in Bridge, Jazz in neck), and there was a difference in tone. I would suspect it had more to do with the difference in bridges and fretboard wood than in the body wood. It sounded to my ears that the on the RR1, the Jazz pickup sounded a bit brighter than on the RR5. I didn't notice an obvious difference in the tone of the Bridge pickup.

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Most likely that is the rosewood versus ebony fretboard. Roswewood is very oily, and sucks up some of the highs, while ebony is more like maple, dry and dense with a ton of attack.

[slayer]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

While all mahogany guitars are my favorite, I would haver to say Lacewood is 2nd, similar to mahogany, but with a touch more highs and good looking also. Jack.

[slash]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

I don't know this for a fact just speculation. Perhaps JCMktgGuy can verify or tell me off my rocker. I suspect that the import bodies that are made of alder are several pieces glued together, probably at least 3 maybe more. The USA bodies (dinky, no wings) is probably 1 or 2 piece alder. Of course the neck-thru select is 2 wings, ususally alder. This is just something that this thread made me think about... anyone know for sure?

[StarRider]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

Dont Know for sure, but on my DKMG Trans Black I cant see any seems on the back

[noodlesatf]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

I doubt the imports are made out of three or more pieces of Alder per body, but I bet that both USA and import lines share the same supply of wood. The custom shop gets the really nice stuff, the next best goes to the USA line, and so on down the line to the entry-level Japanese imports.

Since the only way to pick through to find the nice wood is to buy it in bulk, and pay extra for the right to reject a portion of the stock as not being up to high enough standards. The most a lumber supplier can promise you is no voids--he won't be looking at the wood for weight and grain. Since rejecting is expensive, the best solution is to keep it all, and use the lower grade stuff on the imports.

It doesn't mean the imports don't have good wood. It just means they don't have choice wood. That's why you pay so much more for a USA. It really is better in every single way.

[Chrisb]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

I would imagine as well that the custom shop probably keeps a small supply of "exotic" woods. I have no idea how many or what particular woods they carry but I presume they don't special order for example based on a custom piece.

I was prepared for the custom shop to say no to my fingerboard wood but they seemed fine with it. So either they carry a supply of Zircote or they order it specifically if requested. Not sure how that works exactly. I was however a bit suprised to find they would not use Gold Mother of Pearl for a headstock logo. Its pretty readily available from most luthier suppliers so I was suprised by that one. Maybe its harder to work with? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

I always kinda figured Jackson worked the way you outlined above Noodles because unlike many companies they don't use cheaper lower quality woods for their import line. So I gathered they just took the nicer grained pieces for custom shop but it all came from the same supply. Shame other guitar companies (*cough* BC Rich *cough*) don't take the hint.

While we are discussing the woods, with the top woods, the imports for the most part use veneer tops but are the nicest flame/quilt figures left for the USA/Custom shop? I ask because when I was doing my custom shop order I mentioned a few times in the revisions about AAAA and it was never put down on the spec sheet. Led me to believe that perhaps all the tops the custom shop uses are at least AAAA or better?

[agresivo]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

I'm glad Jackson doesn't use crap like agathis, hardwood or plywood for their cheaper import guitars.

[StarRider]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

"While we are discussing the woods, with the top woods, the imports for the most part use veneer tops"

This is from the Jackson Website:
BODY Alder with Carved Top and Flame Maple Veneer on Transparent Colors
NECK Bolt-On Rock Maple

This is my DKMG. The Flame Maple Veneer is outstanding on this guitar

[noodlesatf]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

Veneers are almost always outstanding, because they can get about 24 of them out of a chunk of wood that would make a 3/4" top. The thicker you want the top, the harder it gets to find that piece of figured wood. Remember, for 3/4" top, they need a 1 5/8" chunk of wood. 1/8" gets turned to sawdust by the saw, and you hope that you have two figured pieces with no voids when you open it up.

[Chrisb]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

I thought it was 1 and 7/8" [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img] Well anyways yea, though I wouldn't say the veneer on that import is AAAA, certainly not AAAAA. Those figures I imagine would go to the custom shop which is what I was asking (it was directed more at John if he is still watching). I'm mostly trying to figure out what sort of figure the archtop on my custom will be, purely selfish question [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Back on topic, I've never seen a bad import top really, though I have seen some crappy ones from BC Rich, all the Jackson ones I have seen are nice. And really as long as its not a photo top, its fine in my book [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[shadowcat]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

Indeed, my JS30WR Warrior has a great unplugged sound... I was really surprised when I got it, didn't expect much. Not bad, this Indian Cedro stuff.

Sounds better than my basswood DKMGT, however the DKMGT is much better in the feel/playability/looks department.

[Chrisb]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

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Indeed, my JS30WR Warrior has a great unplugged sound... I was really surprised when I got it, didn't expect much. Not bad, this Indian Cedro stuff.

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According to the jackson website its Alder, but based on what John said it sounds like it would be Cedro. Not sure which is true.

[Jacksonite]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

so very cool.. allthis info

[StarRider]

Re: Wood Quality of current Imports

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Indeed, my JS30WR Warrior has a great unplugged sound... I was really surprised when I got it, didn't expect much. Not bad, this Indian Cedro stuff.

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According to the jackson website its Alder, but based on what John said it sounds like it would be Cedro. Not sure which is true.

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Yup according to Jackson its Alder and my DKMG sounds very nice without an amp too. Has a nice weight to it as well.