SL2H-MAHQ vs Alder with maple top

[schofnsteen]

Would the mahagony thicken the tone closer to a LP? I know it won't be the same but will it be distinctly different?

[Foulacy]

yes it will sound very different. thicker is a good adjective to use.

[Predator1]

Thicker yes. Les Paul thick no.

[HiOctane]

I think that the SL2H-MAHQ is the overall best-sounding Jackson USA production model.
I'm not a fan of an alder body with a maple top, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

For some good descriptions of the alder/maple combo (along with many others), visit www.suhrguitars.com, www.andersonguitars.com and www.warmoth.com.

[wilkinsi]

Wish they'd do an MAHQ version on other USA models, not just the SL2H.

[DonP]

Would the mahagony thicken the tone closer to a LP? I know it won't be the same but will it be distinctly different?

A 750XL with real mahogany back would get you a lot closer, like mine with a string thru. You have the correct scale length as well, along with a thick slab of mahogany, and arched maple top, etc.

[RockTheBoy]

So guys what you think about the neck-thru and set neck mahogany..
I mean this soloist is neck-thru and lp is not...
But the dark or thick tone comes from the Lp? Why?Does the scale lenght is only reason or does the floyd rose bridge makes this happen?

By the way, i really really think that jackson must cut through the extra fretboard, the space that shows serial number after 24. fret...If this happen, the neck pickup would be more closer to neck...A neck pickup sounds more warm and full when it's closer to the neck...Lp's or other 22 pret guitars are example for this...

[DonP]

By the way, i really really think that jackson must cut through the extra fretboard, the space that shows serial number after 24. fret...If this happen, the neck pickup would be more closer to neck...A neck pickup sounds more warm and full when it's closer to the neck...Lp's or other 22 pret guitars are example for this...

Sounds like you've been brainwashed by Ed Roman's spoutings.

Have you compared a 22 fret neck pickup to a 24 fret neck pickup? If you want 22 frets, get an RR1T.

What this boils down to is a waste of time. My Soloist isn't going to sound like any of my Les Pauls or SGs, and it doesn't need to. I like the way the Soloist sounds as is, and mine's the crappy regular alder version.

If you want a Les Paul tone, get a Gibson Les Paul.

[fuel0707]

If you want a Les Paul tone, get a Gibson Les Paul.

That's really about the best advice you could get in this thread. Matching types of woods between a Soloist and a LP isn't enough to make the Jackson sound like the Gibson. The scale length is a huge factor in the tonal differences and even if you went with a string-through Jackson (even though the LP isn't string-through), that still won't make up for the design differences between the two guitars. (Even the body shapes make a difference: try a PRS McCarty vs. a PRS Singlecut to hear the effect of body shape.)

Bottom line: listen to DonP and get a Paul if you want Paul. Otherwise, enjoy the Jackson for what it is.

[DonP]

Or just be happy with what a Soloist is. Mine sounds great and easily hangs with any of my LPs. The only mod done so far is a big block, and I'm going to add a coil split for the JB.

Also on the subject of 22 vs. 24 frets, the 59n is frequently called "boomy" on the SD forums. Maybe by the Soloist having 24 frets, it moves the 59n into the sweet spot for this pickup.

[Mickey_C]

While we're on the topic of Jackson tonewoods... do they make a basswood model?

I know that basswood is considered cheap by many us companies, but it's a musical wood that's been used in the frankenstein creations of a number of legendary guitarists.

Best of all... it's lightweight!

[RockTheBoy]

While we're on the topic of Jackson tonewoods... do they make a basswood model?

I know that basswood is considered cheap by many us companies, but it's a musical wood that's been used in the frankenstein creations of a number of legendary guitarists.

Best of all... it's lightweight!

I don't know on which site or forum i read it..But it was saying that alder shows pickup's characters better than basswood...I don't know if it's a %100 scientific true..But Steve Vai may have noticed it, because he's been playing his alder guitars for a long time...

[DonP]

Plenty of bolt ons from the 80s and 90s. Fusions, maybe Models.

I've never seen a neck thru spec'd with basswood other than solid color 750XLs (those are really a set neck).

[HiOctane]

While we're on the topic of Jackson tonewoods... do they make a basswood model?

I know that basswood is considered cheap by many us companies, but it's a musical wood that's been used in the frankenstein creations of a number of legendary guitarists.

Best of all... it's lightweight!

Jackson offers basswood as a custom shop option, and it is offered on some of their import guitars as well. I think that back in the 80s, when Ibanez and some other companies were using a lot of basswood, Jackson was using lots of poplar on their solid-color guitars. Poplar is a lot closer tonally to alder, but not as consistent and tends to be heavier.

Basswood is a readily available wood and relatively inexpensive, but tonally it's rather good and continues to be used a lot on top-shelf USA guitars. Premium builders like Suhr & Anderson use it frequently, and Eddie has been featuring on his guitars since the Music Man days- including his latest model. It was also used on the EVH Art Series guitars, and the Paul Gilbert & Joe Satriani models as well.

Killer with a maple neck!

[Rupe]

Basswood tends to enhance midrange frequencies...perfect for hard rock/classic metal guitar. Another model that was originally made from this material was the original Jem.

Builders like Anderson and Suhr typically use it with a maple top when combined with a trem due to the fact that it is rather soft...Floyd posts have been known to "crush" the wood in front of them or even pull out of the guitar.