Welcome back. This will be my second guide, so if you have not read my first, check it out.

Let me establish first and foremost, that these are my opinions. Based on 35 years of building, selling, modifying, customizing, etc., you are reading one old man's opinion.

On Guitar Wood...no pun intended, but I'm going against the grain here. A hardwood solid body electric guitar is not substanially different from one wood to the next. Yes, don't drop your teeth. Swamp ash, maple, koa, mahogany, etc, etc, etc, is not going to have any substantial difference in toneality.  But, Uncle Willie, you have totally flipped out now..!  Well, as I said, it's my opinion. It may not be your's. My point is this. The days of the lone guitarist playing straight thru a single cable are long gone. In most cases, now a days, you are running a modeling amp, you've got effect units in the signal path, you are running thru a computer, get the picture..? You can make anything sound like anything you want in other words.  How does wood come into play..? Well, for one thing, different woods cost different money. So, it must stand to reason that the more expensive wood is the better sounding wood. The better resonating wood.  Give me a break. As well, that fancy flame top does nothing to improve things.  Let's go back in time and examine the Guitar Gods of the past ..what do they tell us...? Technique, style and dedication to the instrument make the difference.  More expensive and exotic wood is not going to make you a better guitarist.  It will give you some bragging rights, sure.  (My apology to you players that do in fact, use just a guitar and an amp with just basic controls)

On Guitar Finish....ditto...A Hardwood solid body electric guitar does not substantially change from good to better based on a poly or a nitro finish. Sorry, it just is what it is.  Several years ago, we put this to the test. Took an unfinished mahogany body and the same body with a nitro finish. Set both up with the exact same neck, same hardware, exact same electronics, plugged into an a/b switch and straight into a single amp. Switched between the two, left all settings exactly the same.  Guess what..?? No body in the room heard any difference.

Point is, if it gives you pleasure, go with it, certainly. But don't expect a major miracle ... you want the best your instrument can provide, it's in your fingers. Not in a magic voodoo combination of woods and finishes.

No hater messages, please. I have a heart condition. Agree or disagree, that's what makes the World go round. Give me a yes vote if you got anything from this piece, and may the force bid with you.. Uncle Willie