Comparison: Alder vs Ash - Fender Custom Shop ´68 ´69 Stratocaster

Comparison between two Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster.
Which do you like more?
Gear in this Video:
Fender Custom Shop ´68 Heavy Relic Stratocaster Black - Maple Neck & Fretboard / Ash Body -
Fender ´69 Stratocaster Custom Shop Heavy Relic Reversed Headstock Sunburst / Alder Body - www.fendercusto...
Kemper Profiling Amp Rack Version - www.kemper-amp...
Profile: Marshall JCM800 boosted with a Tubescreamer - made by Guido Bungenstock - www.guidorist....
Steinberg UR22 Audio-Interface - www.steinberg....
Panasonic Lumix GX80K - www.panasonic....
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#FenderCustomShop #AlderVsAsh
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[@Jamboljazz]

For me ... alder is great

[@Sugiono666]

Tetep lah alder fer,....

[@BluzBey]

Ash + Maple neck is the perfect match to Dark Pickups like Andy Timmons Dimarzio Cruiser single coil humbuckers style. For the original Fender single coils definitely Alder + Rosewood is the sweetest ever, I believe Rory Gallagher’s 1961 Strat is the best Fender ever made…🤘🏽🎸☘️

[@scotttrezak674]

The ash shines on the clean "in between" positions. So much definition in the bottom and top

[@alexiep7972]

0:35 neck and middle then back to neck, very smooth transition, hats off

[@jongonzalez6917]

Wow! I have two swamp ash strat-styled guitars, and I was sure I’d prefer the swamp ash tone in this video....I did not. The alder sounds much fuller and I like it! Great job! Great vid!

[@davolthe1261]

Bcs these are two different guitars folks, woods in electric guitars surely can't make this much difference, it's just different electronics or different amp settings, seriously there is no way, usually woodtone difference is VERY minimal especially between these two woods, just watch comparisons with same electronics for genuine test.

[@1mihayes]

Davolthe I totally agree with you on this. It’s way more than just the woods. Ash generally is preferred by most. This seems to be more about the pickups and guitars than the body woods.

[@MrEpic-lf4gn]

@@1mihayes You are both idiots.

[@kvtar]

Funny how you may like the way a certain wood sounds when you play it, but hate it when someone else does. I slightly prefer swamp ash on most of the samples, but keep in mind the sound your HANDS make too.

[@lousekoya1803]

Me too !

[@alexiep7972]

like the way the guy plays with the switch, 0:33 smooth and rapid transition from bridge to neck

[@OneTanMan]

Unless all the parts are swapped it hard to attribute it solely to the body, due to variation in the electronics. Pots, pickups, capacitors. They all vary within tolerance.

[@marcellofreitas7356]

I have a Mexican Fender of alder with maple fingerboard and I love it more and more every day. But ash has great tone too.

[@roadtonever]

Alder for leads, ash for rhythm.

[@JudeSkyi]

Superb playing brother! That second riff is straight heat! 🔥

[@APaclin]

In some cases alder and some ash sound better, in some the same. But actually it doesn't matter how they sound by themselves, what matter is how it sits in the mix :)

[@michaelwilson8267]

Ash robs it of something magic

[@AndyNyle]

it’s grainier sound and sometimes loses high end

[@misstress1928]

I like ash with maple one piece necks, and alder with maple/rosewood necks. Such combinations sound more subtle and expressive to my ear. Alder with maple neck sounds nice for some genres, and also nice to have in the collection, but wouldn't be my primary choice.

[@snipperacoustics]

I like the sparkle on clean sound of the ash body. The Alder has more meat on mid frequencies and possibly better for heavier distorted sound but for just clean or slightly overdriven sound you get that authentic american sound with the ash.

[@bozopennywize]

Ash has fuller tone but Alder has more overtones.

[@nsc217]

What’s the difference? The alder sounds like it has more high end to me… Ash is a bit dull

[@Relicsun]

My fender custom shop 62 Strat is ash and it’s sounds amazing!

[@Jijo-tt4mb]

ASH 😍

[@jonduke3919]

I have both the ash sounds darker an duller old school that’s why I like them. I still think mohogony sounds the best.

[@Tangent_Frank]

alder; punchy and crystal clear. ash; warmer and a little more rolled off. alder would be really nice with a sort of bridge position shreddy thing while i think ash would be perfect for just a neck humbucker jazz type thing

[@skgate]

Dont forget that theres two different types of Ash that Fender uses, Swamp Ash which is lighter and Northern Ash which is heavy.. An alder body would weigh about 7.5lbs, swamp ash would be around 6.8lbs and the northern ash can be 10lbs. I believe that would make a difference. My 10lb ash Vintera strat sounds like no other strat ive heard so far

[@akkiakki79]

I am agree.you right..

[@andrewsantos3283]

This help me decide on what tonewood i will use for my custom strat build. I will go with alder.

[@mapleash9586]

Ash👍

[@gilovadya3607]

beautiful man! great test

[@jorgea3507]

Alder for me, had clarity in the notes. The Ash sounded compressed an lifeless. I have an old alder love it. I did however buy the elite, and after 4 months of live shows sold it. This video confirmed any second doubts...great riffs!!

[@davidrocha1419]

Im very impressed, the Alder sounds the best in this video and has that Hendrix vibe in the neck pickup position 👍

[@sbspulse9582]

Hendrix's Strat Blackmoor's are from Ash.

[@randallscott6]

Man...this guy is a rocker! Got the tattoos too !

[@dennisfrank1974]

I like the black one

[@i.r.theofficial]

I do not see the difference on overdrive. On a clean - barely noticeable. Thanks for comparing!

[@bayuyudhaprasetya2134]

Ash or alder?

[@Pamapamapop]

No preference over the other. They are different colours and better in different use cases. Swamp ash is definitely more clear for distorted rythms not losing definition and clarify and solos are articate as well, alder is great for in your face solo sound. So both are greeat tonewoods.

[@raditya3357]

Swamp ash has a great tone

[@canaldoguetoberra]

I will name my son Alder

[@The11eleven]

And your daughter

[@patgray5402]

@@The11eleven Mahogany

[@lestar7555]

Ash sound is amazing

[@zaldum386]

Note to my future Self: Ash all the way

[@jimo1294]

Are all things equal except body wood? Same pickups, same p/u heights? Same string brand? If so, the alder sounds better.

[@chadnedohin]

I was surprised. I was expecting ash to win... but the alder won every time. Alder for me.

[@raditya3357]

Alder has a bright tone, ash has a warm tone. Alder for lead and ash for chord

[@HiromiMaruyama]

My ear is not good enough to tell difference though I can tell based on your great video. I would rather care for the neck and pickups.

[@Morte_Deus]

I'm more impressed with that amp sounds to be honest, those kempers are the shit.

[@MikeMarkwitz]

I still think a well-miced tube amp is better, but with the modelers or profilers you can get good results quickly and easily.

[@Morte_Deus]

@@MikeMarkwitz ' I agree, i sold my kemper and went back to tube amps, kemper is great for what it is but i got tired of the constant tweaking.

[@nickrook5519]

to my ear it’s hard to compare because the sunburst sounds like ‘69 custom shop p/u’s and the other ‘50s p/u’s

[@MikeMarkwitz]

Definitely in both '69s

[@detodounpokoOficial]

Aurez-vous une vidéo jouant les guitares sans les connecter ?

[@topografer]

I have to say that the fingerboard material does a way larger difference to my ears Maybe I am wrong I don't know

[@NaRtyBand]

Clean pos 4 Alder 01:29 clean pos 4 Ash 1:51

[@benherdsant426]

Swamp ash is great. I have both guitars ( alder and ash - in maple ) captation alnico V and ceramic ...the bright on ash is wonderful, but to midles is better play with alder... 🤷🏼‍♂️😰🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jonathanrossmusic2509]

I see what you did with the toggle switch! Very slick. Great video !

[@assaulturk]

any difference? I don't know if its psychologic or not but I always prefer alder.

[@hakarl_]

Cool tones! Curious what pickups you have in them, especially bridge in the alder one.

[@rrjf432]

Depends but I'd say Ash... every ash guitar has a different and inconsistent sound. Alder every guitar has a similar sound. Alder 9 out of 10 guitars are good. Ash is like 3 to 4 out of 10 are amazing and great. But those 3 out of 4 will destroy any alder guitar. 😢

[@topografer]

I've heard that about ash, that it's too inconsistent. I don't know if it's true, I guess when a lot of people say it, it has to be. Alder on the other hand is indeed the most consistent of woods, and to my ears great sounding too.

[@berndkoelbl3852]

Hello Mike ! Maybe you could show us this comparison with clean and light distorted sounds ?

[@adrianhjordan1981]

Did you watch the whole video? He does

[@pedroadabar5706]

@@adrianhjordan1981 perhaps he meant with some crunch, this is, some overdrive, no distortion. That sound is always very interesting to listen to.

[@PulauSwan]

I don't see how this comparison is credible, what is incredible: is that some people believe it is.

[@michaelinglis8516]

Those strat pups handle higher gain(higher gain for a strat, think heavier gain from a TS9) really well but also have great spank and openness when clean. I'm building a telecaster now but next I'll probably build a strat. Are the pickups in this video the ones the fender custom shop used or aftermarket? Whatever they are I'm really digging them! I liked the Alder more but I'm not listening through my studio monitors or monitoring headphones, just my phone. I'll have to listen again later when I'm at my computer.

[@MikeMarkwitz]

My favorite Strat Single Coils. These are the right '69 from the Custom Shop.

[@michaelinglis8516]

@@MikeMarkwitz I can certainly see why they are your favorite. Again, they sound excellent. Thanks for the info!

[@hrshorty6676]

What I hate about this is you need both ☺️

[@MikeMarkwitz]

That´s it! 😆

[@blusinbarnesify]

For One I like everything Raw! No Paint. Or Clear Coats! Let it Hum Vib n Feedback n Breath. With Sweat n Playing the wood will Dye to your own natural color. Now saying Alder is Darker more residence with a Maple neck will make it a bit treble. N Ash is Warm with with a Swampy Tone. Useing Rosewood Necks will always give you more of a Warmer Feeling. Not as Brite. That's just how I hear it if I'm not tone deaf lol. I got 40 years of experience of building n tearing apart Strats n Guitars n I'm no expert. N still looking for that special one that I will say I found Her..

[@robsmith6443]

Well, as a tonewood that alder was a great classic sound, but I didn't love the Ash...I came here because I'm looking at a guitar with an Ash fretboard though. IME that does affect tone but differently, and also affects feel...I have no experience with an Ash board though.

[@detodounpokoOficial]

friend are the same pickups? on the 2 guitars?

[@MikeMarkwitz]

Yes - ´69 Custom Shop

[@Mariduano]

Need both

[@pedroadabar5706]

IMAO I find alder more subtile, clean, defined, even sweet, and the lows are more perceptible as if the middles were weaker than in ash. The Vintera 50s strato MN has that body in the Sonic Blue (SB) colour, and I do love her.

[@qua7771]

Agree. I'm finding that my ash guitars need a pickup with more mids. I like the snap of ash, and the scoop, but it needs the right pup.

[@Владычецморской]

Need to hear alder and ash top

[@vidmohit4684]

Alder sounds much more pleasing to me.

[@evks82]

what kind of pickup sounds great i want to change my yosemite pickups?

[@MikeMarkwitz]

If you like the Sounds in this Video, try the Fender '69 Custom Shop Single Coils.

[@akac7546]

ash like srv

[@desertedvoltron]

alder rhythm: 1:10 ash rhythm: 1:34

[@davidsugitanoto4708]

Ash very bright clean Alder more warm like mahogany

[@user-ts8bl3qe5t]

Hi! The noth have same pickups? I have feeling that alder strat have little bit more output

[@MikeMarkwitz]

Hi, both guitars definitely have Fender ´69 Custom Shop Single Coils. The alder strat simply has a bit more mids. You can already hear that acoustically.

[@user-ts8bl3qe5t]

@@MikeMarkwitz thanks for answer, which one you prefer?

[@MikeMarkwitz]

@@user-ts8bl3qe5t It always depends on what you want to play. Clean the ash and with gain the alder. In the meantime I have sold the ash.

[@tonefreak3403]

Alder body for me 100%

[@yuliasatyawarman4389]

Alder for strat, ash for tele

[@nsc217]

Clean Alder 1:11 Ash 1:35

[@tricolor6184]

Which WOOD does the guitar get heavier ???

[@MikeMarkwitz]

I already had a lot of Ash Guitars in my hand, which were either very heavy (over 4kg) or quite light. (2.8 - 3.3kg) The Alder Strats were mostly between 3.3 - 3.7kg

[@tricolor6184]

Ok.... THANK

[@MikeMarkwitz]

@@tricolor6184 My pleasure

[@reneotten7376]

Alder for gain, swamp for clean.

[@bryanhatch6688]

Differences are miniscule at best. Strings, pots, windings in the pups alone could account

[@obmen_veshei]

Ash❤

[@Theyrewrong827]

alder seems a hint more dynamic, but different ears....

[@mahindrajairam3635]

Its all about the fingers and who plays the guitar.

[@Gorazd1974]

Alder winner 🎉🎉🎉

[@abgm8019]

Is those guitars has same pickups ?

[@MikeMarkwitz]

Yes, ´69 CS

[@ov-studios]

Alder for me

[@parabot2]

Each is Unigue in it's own way , and we have tone knobs on the guitar and amp to pull the tone we are after .

[@ronniethomas6335]

Drop a humbucker in the ash one and it becomes Frankenstein.

[@DC180]

well ashwood is done!

[@AndyNyle]

ash for clean alder for dirty

[@MikeMarkwitz]

See it that way too.

[@tbone786]

the ash sounds like a 24 fret alder!

[@tommyharrisjr7338]

Ash is the winner 4 me.

[@tb90hm]

I think alder is better for strat with single coils!

[@ClaudioMartella]

With two different guitars you are hardly testing the body wood

[@BobK5]

They both look very scruffy to me and not much to shout about in the tone department either, might as well buy a new one 🤓

[@topografer]

I get the feels that alter sounds woodier which is not necesarily good on electrics

[@kilgoretrout321]

Ash just sounds better to me

[@branislavmandic8122]

ash more for tele alder for strat.

[@georgefromgreece4119]

Totally

[@igor309v]

Ash

[@teomankarasimsek1756]

we are listening distortion and artifacts, not the wood.

[@Dragon_rls]

For me... Both. Slight tone difference, ut probably to the untrained ear... Unnoticeable. Speaking of untrained ears... Have you listened to F.M. radio lately? Reminds me of the "white boxed generic food of the 80s. (Beef), in a can white wrapping.

[@agusriyanto7579]

Alder is the best !!!

[@minnesotajack1]

To me, ash is more of a telecaster thing

[@DiosJaguar15]

Alder Swamp ash is better than ash i guess

[@amotsfriedman6945]

Alder sound is much better when you use a lot of distortion. Because it does not have many frequencies that are too high. I have two guitars of this kind regarding Ash I do not like. Sounds colder and painful in high notes. It does not matter that it has more bottom. With a good guitar amp like Friedman you can get enough bottom. But Ash does not allow to get rid of the high tone no matter what you do.

[@boodeeish]

alder bright ash warm

[@oficinadomarcheto]

Ash is quiter and sweet and alder more screamer

[@Ulloy777]

Ash more twangy?

[@MikeMarkwitz]

I see it that way too.

[@312diag]

caramel vs. butterscotch

[@fusoperso]

Ash win

[@zemlidrakona2915]

Makes zero difference. If you do hear any difference it has nothing to do with the body wood.