AXE'S 2

AXES’S by Ron Bernard


Charly and Doublefat, my two guitars. Charly is my Charvel 625c acoustic and Doublefat is my custom setup Fender Stratocaster. They both have rosewood fret boards, guitar strings and tuning pegs. Either can be strummed or picked, and that is where the similarities end. They are of different designs, made from different woods, and have very different tones or sounds and used to accent different types of music. I have never really been asked to write about their differences in contrast, but over the years, I’ve learned how to play a little guitar, found out a few things about their construction and the reasons for the use of particular woods and certain designs and instinctively know which to use with any given song or tune. Therefore, the following paragraphs contain MY preferences and should not be considered the rule. And probably the reasons I have a Charvel and a Strat. Here is what I know and like. Jeez, I’m already starting to sound like the Bog Bopper.
I will start with construction and the use of different types of woods. Charly my acoustic guitar has a body made from dark mahogany with a spruce top or face. The use of mahogany and spruce is widespread with acoustic guitar makers because of the woods density. Since acoustic guitars depend on sound projection, the mechanics of their internal construction and their design are usually patented. The placement and dimensions of braces inside the guitar body coupled with the density of the wood influences determines how the vibration of the strings are interpreted and projected… Pheew! Say that five times fast. Again, it goes to musicians’ preference. Now, compared to Doublefat my electric guitar, a Fender which has a body made of solid maple and does not depend on acoustics, construction and projection to produce the sound. The maple provides a tightly defined string vibration. Here the vibrations are gathered by and picked up electronically and amplified. Pickups are the key with electric guitars, and their designs are patented as well. Each type of pickup delivers a unique tone. In addition, add some electronic enhancements like reverb, time delay and distortion, they can accomplish almost any sound desired. Again, this is the player’s choice. My Doublefat, a Fender has two humbucking pickups, wired in the usual fender 5-position selector setup. Humbuckings are used in Gibson Les Paul’s and can produce a variety of heavy, clear sound. Les Paul’s have oak laminated with maple in the body and weigh about 35 pounds. Oak is much heavier and denser than maple and produces a unique vibration when both are combined. A signature Gibson sound. I used to play a Les Paul for years until my arthritis forced me to put it down, it hurt my neck to much. Try hanging one around your neck for four hours a night, it gets old very quick. Anyway, I like the feel of the fender necks and their lightness and love the Gibson pick-up sound, so I have the Gibson pickups in my fender.
Now, about design. In acoustic guitars, the internal and overall body design is extremely important to how the guitar sounds. Its tone and loudness depend ultimately on the combination of the hardness or softness of the woods it is made from. The body shape and internal construction play a big part in how the overall tone will be as well. I like the way Charly sounds, and it is because of what and how she is made. Compared to electric guitars where the body shape isn’t that important, except for the type of wood used to make it, the sound falls almost totally on the electronic gear on board. Besides that, the appearance would be the only other consideration. I like Doublefat for the lightness and feel, coupled with the electronic installed, I’m a happy man. Guitars come in many shapes and colors and their designs and appearances are usually the signature of the manufacturer. Keeping in mind what I have said about the use of different woods, construction and electronic gear, each manufacturer will combine all three in their own way to produce an instrument that has a sound and feel unique only to their brand. Depends on what you like.
Now, about their use. I like to use Charly on most folk and country songs. The soft, clear tones she has can really help shape a songs emotion and imagery. Songs with that natural down home feel. Lyrics usually associated human feelings like love, happiness or sadness. There is nothing like a sweet acoustic guitar to set the stage for a sad or happy story. Compared to my electric, I can use Doublefat on just about everything, Jazz, Rock, and Country. I use Doublefat when performing on stage and or with other musicians and the sounds need amplification. With the effects I can get almost any expression I want. It is all a matter of attitude. Here is a good analogy; you have never seen Jimi Hendrix playing an acoustic guitar or James Taylor burning one of his guitars on stage!
Well there you have it. My limited knowledge of guitar construction, design and use. It simply turns out that I like the sound of an acoustic guitar made of dark mahogany and spruce and the feel and lightness of a fender with the sound of a Gibson. Not really rocket surgery after all.