Which is a better tone wood: Korina or Mahogany?

[Swamp ash]

I like to play clean, but I like to get dirty, too. I want the high highs and clear lows that come from a bi-polar funk-rock ska-punk machine.

Opinions, please. What's the best build for a semi-hollow:

The Okoume-Korina; all mahogany or straight ash?

[Swamp ash]

Gee, I must have visited the wrong web forum....

I was looking for guitar information and thought I was amongst a musical crowd. Instead, this must be the retirement home on Fender Ave in Fullerton.

Perhaps some of you have memories of Savannah Collection guitars you've never played, mahogany bodies you've never seen or ash axes that don't exist. I am ever so interested in hearing these stories, as I have a semi-hollow build in mind that I'd really like to complete before they come to change bedpans.

[NickHorne]

Many variables each alter an instrument a little.
You really need to experience how much (or, indeed, how little) these differences mean to you first-hand.

[Boogie Bill]

Semi-hollow, mmm. Well, what kind of music do you play, what kind of pickups do you want to use, how loud do you play?

I lke all three. The ash worked well for the ASAT Classic SH I had. The lam. maple bodies Gibson uses for 335s is classic. Korina is similar to mahogany, but tends to be lighter weight...might be a hair more airy and open than a hog body. I LOVE the Korina in a Vee or Explorer. I would love to try a PRS Mira in the two woods side by side.

When I think of Korina...I think PAF.

BUT...these woods might be too soft for a successful SH. Ash would certainly be more structurally sound...but it will sound different...less dynamic and more focused, in my experience. And some would say they prefer the ash for cosmetic reasons.

Btw, the Savannahs are REALLY nice. I wish they would do a Legacy version.

But specifically...I would do either mahogany or korina in a solid body with PAFs or P-90s, and a semi in ash.

And to close, I find your comments rude and offensive. Probably not the best way to get the advice you seek. Hopefully karma will bite you in the ass and you'll remember this moment when your sitting in a nursing home soiling yourself.

Bill

[louis cyfer]

you posed a silly question. there is no best tonewood, only different.

[Ahryn]

LoL.

Hilarious.

If I had to pick of the two I would go with Mahogany but that's mostly because I like the one that I have even if it's solid and not semi-hollow.

I have also heard that sonically Korina and Mahogany are very similar sounding so if it comes down to aesthetics it's up to you.

[crfowler]

The odds of being able to distinguish Mahogany and Korina in a blind test are pretty slim, I'd imagine.

[Elwood]

Or...
YOU could have it all !!
(and a little more glue than usual...LOL)




..still in carving .

[Swamp ash]

Or...
YOU could have it all !!
(and a little more glue than usual...LOL)




..still in carving .

Interesting riff on an SG. That looks very cool - you do neat work! Unfortunately, I have to rely on someone else to build mine....

Whatever I do, I seek to retain as much brightness as possible. Therefore, I am not interested as much in the PAFs or P-90s, which is a strike against the Savannah collection. My thoughts are a modified Special semi-hollow, or a boutique build. I just was curious if anyone had first-hand experience with these combinations on a G&L. Where I am, there are not too many G&Ls in stock. I've always been happy with the ash/maple on my F-100 but it sis a different beast altogether.

[Swamp ash]

you posed a silly question. there is no best tonewood, only different.

Everything counts in small amounts...

I would think the resonance of a semi-hollow owes much to the material, certainly not as much as an acoustic but more so than a solid body. But heck, what do I know - I don't own a semi-hollow nor do I have various versions of the same git-fiddle, but in different woods. There are also not appropriate music stores whereby I can try out numerous builds. SInce folks here on GBL literally have "walls of guitars" and others are in fact dealers, I thought people may have collective insight from which I could ponder.

The true fact is I cannot get exactly what I want from G&L and may have to make some compromise. Whatever I do, I wish to avoid the stinking pick guard and I am having a hard time warming up to the Gibson style of the Deluxe II and Jr, although those guitars are beautiful. Further, I don't want the Seymour Ds of the Deluxe...

[Swamp ash]

Semi-hollow, mmm. Well, what kind of music do you play, what kind of pickups do you want to use, how loud do you play?

I lke all three. The ash worked well for the ASAT Classic SH I had. The lam. maple bodies Gibson uses for 335s is classic. Korina is similar to mahogany, but tends to be lighter weight...might be a hair more airy and open than a hog body. I LOVE the Korina in a Vee or Explorer. I would love to try a PRS Mira in the two woods side by side.

When I think of Korina...I think PAF.

BUT...these woods might be too soft for a successful SH. Ash would certainly be more structurally sound...but it will sound different...less dynamic and more focused, in my experience. And some would say they prefer the ash for cosmetic reasons.

Btw, the Savannahs are REALLY nice. I wish they would do a Legacy version.

But specifically...I would do either mahogany or korina in a solid body with PAFs or P-90s, and a semi in ash.

And to close, I find your comments rude and offensive. Probably not the best way to get the advice you seek. Hopefully karma will bite you in the ass and you'll remember this moment when your sitting in a nursing home soiling yourself.

Bill

Appreciate your detailed response!!! I like all of the choices I've narrowed down, right now, from a visual perspective, but have no experience with the Korina, okoume/mahogany on semi-hollow. I hope to have clear lows but retain a bright sound, too. I want it all, baby....

I play only as loud as necessary to cover up all other noises.

My comments were "Rude and offensive" !?! I don't think you would have lasted long in the mosh pit, then, nor enjoy my more "tender" moments of songwriting...
Folks in my tribe tend to check out early, so no fear here of the retirement home blues, but thanks for the best wishes!

[Swamp ash]

The odds of being able to distinguish Mahogany and Korina in a blind test are pretty slim, I'd imagine.

That's what I've heard. Therefore, I wonder what advantage I get from the Korina that I could not get from the already-on-the-menu mahogany? Of course with the Savannah the korina is on top and I have no idea about Okoume.

I was actually wondering about a semi-hollow with mahogany body, an ash top and maple neck and maple fret board, (or mahogany neck and ebony board). That configuration is what I thought may be the best.

[KenC]

I have several pairs of similar instruments in different woods. I can absolutely feel a difference between most of them, but I don't know whether that really translates to differences in amplieified tone in all cases. My 'hog L-2000E has a fuller bottom end than my swamp ash ASAT Bass and the 'hog F-100 is definitely more mellow than its swamp ash counterpart, but that was a different type of mahogany than what is being used today. On the other hand, an '86 ASAT will sound quite different from an '82 SC-2, even though they are both built from soft maple and have the same pickups. There is quite a difference in the mass of the bodies, though.

Sorry if this is a bit dated, but my experience has all been with G&Ls from the '80s and '90s. I have yet to play a semi-hollow.

Ken