GuitarMaestro Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Hi! I am going to build my first Alder body guitar. So far I only used Korina, but I love the sound of my Fender Alder Strat which is a Standard made in USA guitar from 96. I have the choice between American and European Alder. As I never worked with Alder so far I have some questions: 1. Is there a difference between Alder from America and Europe? 2. I guess Fender uses American Alder only.....right? 3. Is there anything special to look for in Alder? Like Age, Humidity, quatersawn, figure or weight? Or will any common Alder blank give me a nice Jackson Rhoads / Fender Strat Alder sound? Thanks in advance, Marcel Knapp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 (edited) The only thing I look for in any guitar body is resonance. Alder is not known for being particularly figured, but I've seen some with very slight figure. I believe there is also birdseye alder. At any rate, I wouldn't think that European Alder would be too much different from American Alder. If you are in Europe, I would say give the European Alder a shot, just try to hunt down a good piece that is highly resonant (good tap tone). If you can find a one piece body blank, even better, but I wouldn't count on it. Something that is close to Alder tonally, but is softer is poplar. It is also very inexpensive. Fender used it on strats in the late 90's. Oh wait, you have a 96, are you sure its alder? There is a good chance it is poplar! Check out the screw holes, do they have a reddish tint? Or is it white or greenish? Edited September 22, 2004 by javacody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Look VERY CAREFULLY at the wood when selecting alder. Alder tends to have alot of tiny knots that are hard to see but they are there. Also Alder tends to split at the ends after it's been cut so Make sure you get it as dry as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Librero Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Oh wait, you have a 96, are you sure its alder? There is a good chance it is poplar! Check out the screw holes, do they have a reddish tint? Or is it white or greenish? I read from a magazine in the mid 90's that US-made Fenders were made of alder. The ones made of poplar were made in Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Where can you get American or European Alder? I think I've only ever seen it as"Alder". Fender probably uses American, because it would be cheaper than shipping it in from Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kench Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Oh wait, you have a 96, are you sure its alder? There is a good chance it is poplar! Check out the screw holes, do they have a reddish tint? Or is it white or greenish? The "American Standard" series of 1996 are made of alder, not poplar. Since 2000 or 2001 Fender is not presenting "American Standard" Strats.. but naming them as "American Series" with some difference on pickups and electronics. This causes some confusions. American Standards made in 90's were different than normal Standards. Also, your guitar must have a "50 years of excellence" logo at the back of the headstock. As the year 1996 was the 50th anniversary of Fender. And the serial number must start with N6...... (Ninety 6). If your guitar is an Am.Std, it must have steel saddles (normal Standards had vintage style saddles and they still do) and 2 string retainers at the headstock holding 4 treble strings. But normal Standard series of 1996 might be made of poplar though, and they might be made in Mexico. I don't know much about those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Thanks alot for all the answers! Also, your guitar must have a "50 years of excellence" logo at the back of the headstock. As the year 1996 was the 50th anniversary of Fender. And the serial number must start with N6...... (Ninety 6). If your guitar is an Am.Std, it must have steel saddles (normal Standards had vintage style saddles and they still do) and 2 string retainers at the headstock holding 4 treble strings. Exactly! Did you deal for Fender? I was always convinced that this guitar is Alder. I guess thats correct then? Concerning American and European Alder: I can get both of them thats why I ask. I suspect what Lex said: I don't think American companies like Fender and Jackson would import Alder as their is enough arround them already. Anyway....I think I'll go with American Alder as both species cost me the same and I want to get as close to the sound of my Fender as possible. Thanks, Marcel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Leo Fender was always about price price price. There's NO WAY in the world he would import wood from overseas. He wouldn't even use semi-pricey US wood. You never even saw Gibson buying quilted maple. If the maple supplied to them had quilt or flame in it, then so be it, but they never paid extra for it back in the day. Leo used Alder because it was cheap and plentiful around him, end of story. And yes, I believe Alder is the straight path to the classic Fender SC tone. Keep us informed Marcel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Leo was so cheap, he didn't even want to include a truss rod in the guitar! LOL About the poplar on the American Standard, I believe I said it "might" be made out of poplar. I couldn't remember for sure. I knew that the MIM Standards were up until about 2001. By the way, I've owned both a poplar and alder MIM Standard, and honestly, there wasn't much difference in the tone between them. No different than what one could attribute to two guitars made of similar wood on different days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Yes.. even Fender has their own name for woods.. for example they call Swamp Ash, Lite Ash. The main reason I like Ash is for the grain pattern and good tone qualities of the wood. I have noticed a guitar we built with Hard Ash, having too bright a tone, so it does effect the sound of the guitar. I've never messed with Alder before though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Thanks!!!! And I will definately keep you informed! I will use the wood for a Rhoads V....and this time I might make in progress pics.... Thanks, MK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Haha! I just started another Rhoads-inspired V last night. Mmmmmmmmm......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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