80s jackson soloist poplar wings?

[hopkinsWFG]

wonder if the 80s jackson soloist were made with poplar wings too? am tending to chase a anniversary soloist but it beats me off knowing it has gotta cheap poplar wing in place ?

but never know much on the earliest jackson if anyone knows back then they were using poplar wing too with active emg pickups ?

[pianoguyy]

if not poplar, what would you rather it be made of?

[Mudlark]

Poplar was indeed used on some '80's Soloists.

[neilli]

They used poplar a decent amount in the late 80s. It's slightly heavier than alder, and I think it sounds a little different - not sure I can put it into words that would make much sense though.

[JonSick]

I have had an 80s soloist which I can only assume had poplar wings too. There isn't a whole lot of difference. At most I would say that guitar was a little spikier in the high end but nothing you can't sort out with your amp's EQ.

Personally, if an 80s Anniversary soloist was in my future, I don't think I would let a trivial thing like Poplar wings put me off.

[j2379]

No clue but I can't tell poplar from alder tone wise. I just assumed my Jacksons were poplar but I found out some are alder.

[xenophobe]

I honestly think it makes no difference. Even with all the same components... you're not gonna build two identical guitars with cuts of wood from the identical spots on similar trees... because I'm willing to bet that any tonal differences between species is mitigated when factors such as age of the tree, the environment it grew up in (rainfall, sunlight, altitude, soil conditions, etc), how big it was, where the specific cut was taken from (density) , etc... There are too many variables, most of which are meaningless individually...

[Tetsuo]

I honestly think it makes no difference. Even with all the same components... you're not gonna build two identical guitars with cuts of wood from the identical spots on similar trees... because I'm willing to bet that any tonal differences between species is mitigated when factors such as age of the tree, the environment it grew up in (rainfall, sunlight, altitude, soil conditions, etc), how big it was, where the specific cut was taken from (density) , etc... There are too many variables, most of which are meaningless individually...

Agreed. Woods in general are a bit overrated imho. Not saying they don't make a difference by any means just don't think the woods can be counted on as you said. Strings and pickups are far more consistent than woods and higher up the signal chain. I believe they make a bigger difference (although with my starts I am a plastic snob only the most resonate pick guards for me) and are more predictable than wood.

[straycat]

Poplar was commonly used by all guitar makers because it was easy to obtain and cost effective so why not use it?
Its heavier in weight but I can't tell a difference tone wise either.
People need to get over wood snobbery IMO.

[xenophobe]

Agreed. Woods in general are a bit overrated imho. Not saying they don't make a difference by any means just don't think the woods can be counted on as you said. Strings and pickups are far more consistent than woods and higher up the signal chain. I believe they make a bigger difference (although with my starts I am a plastic snob only the most resonate pick guards for me) and are more predictable than wood.

Agreed. Could I pick a guitar and tell you it's mahogany or alder just by playing it? Probably not... but often times when I ask what wood a guitar I've just played is because I like it, most often turns out to be a mahogany species... or koa.

[hopkinsWFG]

Agreed. Could I pick a guitar and tell you it's mahogany or alder just by playing it? Probably not... but often times when I ask what wood a guitar I've just played is because I like it, most often turns out to be a mahogany species... or koa.

thats what i read about and they always been saying the pickups strings height hardwares have more contribution to tonality than what kinda wood you have on your guitar... that's why up till now i still wonder if its worth in going with a 250usd upcharge on magohany wings when jackson will have thick lacquer over it...

will an SL2H all mahogany be fairly different from the maple neck with alder wings ?

and having to know that least you paid a 4k guitar with valuable guitar wood in it rather than something cheaper in builders cost.... and you know it will be value higher on more valuable wood.

[straycat]

Just remember a 4k guitar once you walk out the door at the store with it its only worth 2k street value.
Just the way it is.
Would I pay the up charge for mahogany? Nope.
If I wanted a mahogany neck and bodied Jackson I would find a used soloist arch top.

[Tetsuo]

thats what i read about and they always been saying the pickups strings height hardwares have more contribution to tonality than what kinda wood you have on your guitar... that's why up till now i still wonder if its worth in going with a 250usd upcharge on magohany wings when jackson will have thick lacquer over it...

will an SL2H all mahogany be fairly different from the maple neck with alder wings ?

and having to know that least you paid a 4k guitar with valuable guitar wood in it rather than something cheaper in builders cost.... and you know it will be value higher on more valuable wood.

Will mahogany have an effect on the tone? Yes it will. It is just down the line of what effects the tone. Good wood does sound better and enhances the other aspects you mentioned. That is why a really good sounding say basswood can kill an alder that isn't resonate.

IMHO mahogany is a little more consistent in tone. That is just me though and I know I am going in with a bias already and that effects my ears.

[straycat]

I love basswood too because it seems consistent no matter what pick up you use.
Alder not so much.

[pianoguyy]

Will mahogany have an effect on the tone? Yes it will.

I have never been much of a wood guy. In fact, when people ask me what wood things are, my answer has always been --- TREE.

But today, I happen to pick up my Tregan, which has a mahogany neck and body. And I got to tell ya, OMG, I was getting some killer tones.