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I was just looking at prices for swamp ash and I can't believe the prices I'm seeing. I don't want to spend 116 for a body blank, I just want the wood. To me, $50 is reasonable.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Yes, $50 is reasonable. But if you want a blank, pay up.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I was just reading about this issue this morning as I was searching for a Paulownia blank.

As I understand it, the Emerald Ash Borer has devastated Swamp Ash yields and thus the prices are and will likely continue to rise.

Maybe I'll avoid swamp ash!

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Here's one for $50, http://guitarwoodexperts.com/swamp-ash- ... gIQtfD_BwE.
I've got some white oak I've cut off my property that I'm waiting to get dry. It has an open grain too. The quartersawn pieces look pretty cool.

Swamp Ash vs other species of Ash, is it mostly an issue of weight? I bought some good Ash from my local lumber supply for $8 bd/ft. But as a body it is heavier than swamp ash bodies I've held

Was the weight a big problem?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

According to all my taxonomic info there is only Ash.....
"Swamp Ash" is a marketing name. There is no such tree, no such lumber...... usually applied to billits with mass under 35blb./sq.ft. but there are no rules. A seller can literally call any piece of ash swamp ash.

The term comes from that fact that tress grown in wetter, swampy areas are lighter when dried due to extra moisture content.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Heavy?
I'm sure it will.
Not a problem if you are young, strong, or sit whilst playing.
Alan

Nope, I was just curious.

The lighter blanks come from the base of the tree and get heavier as you get closer to the top.
Every board has a heavy end and side,especially those wide enough for 1 pc blanks.
Having cut a lot of body blanks in my days, take that as a given in swamp ash.

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How long is that in luthyears?

Try Catalpa. It looks like swamp ash. It weighs less. It’s cheaper. And .... it’s a great tone wood! One of the most underestimated tone woods in my opinion.

Absolutely. And if you find a substantial and dependable supply, please let us know. I think catalpa should be the next big domestic tonewood of choice.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I just read a scientific american story about the demise of swamp ash.
And yes, they went through the “tone wood” aspects according to famous musicians.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Swamp ash is overrated IMO. It’s OK but, there are better choices. Keep in mind, Leo Fender’s philosophy was always “what ever is easiest and cheapest” He even wanted to use knotty pine in the early days of the Telecaster. Knotty Pine!!!! That’s construction grade lumber! They use it for scaffold planking. Leo settled on swamp ash because no one was using it for anything else and he could get large amounts of it, cheaply. It could have just as easily have been poplar. It’s overrated but we are accustomed to that telecaster sound now. Swamp ash plays a very small part in getting that sound, so if you are obsessed with that sound, then swamp ash is what you need. Or you could just buy a fender. Either way if you are making your own guitar, with your own design. Look for something better.

I'm not an electric expert by any means but am putting together materials for a strat and tele build later this year.

Part of my research was looking at wood in my stash that might work for body wood. There was a good tone comparison on youtube and I was surprised I could tell a difference (and personal preference) in ash, mahogany and alder and I thought it was a well designed comparison.

So I looked up some woods that had similar characteristics to those commonly used body woods. Here is the list of common name woods and weight/ft3. Of course based on average weight. I expect tone, durability, weight, and esthetics are the primary criteria of choice.

I'm not into paint and wanted to see what might work and look decent on it's own.

There is so much variation within species, pieces can always be selected for weight.

White Ash 41#
"Swamp ash" which is just lighter weight ash (wht or blk) 33#
Black ash is supposed to be lighter than white ash in general
Walnut 38#
Spanish Cedar 30#
Sapele 39#
Red oak 44#
Poplar 31#
Peruvian walnut 37#
Red maple 39#
Honduran hog 40#
Birch 44#
Cherry 36#

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I've worked on a few European made Strats with bodies of laurel, that seemed to be similar to ash in weight with good tones (even equipped with budget pickups).

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince