What's the Difference

So I'm an acoustic lover. (like you didn't know) So forgive me for this question.

Does it matter what an electric guitar is made of or how it looks when it comes to sound?

Isn't nearly 100% of the sound generated from the strings moving over the pickups?

I realize that effects and amps play a role but if you took all the electronics out of a les paul and wired them into a canoe paddle wouldn't the sound produced be pretty much the same?

Blast away I really want to know.

The shape only came in to play if its a hole or solid body, the wood come s in majorly not only for looks but durability and sound, a Basswood body has better sustain and tonality then a Alder body, as the more expensive the wood you would find it gives better sustain, tone and quality to the sound.

Well that's what I found anyway..

Regarding sustain, archtops (like Les Pauls) are considered to produce more of it than flat tops (like strats). But that's only what I've heard. It's a hard thing to prove on a 15 watt practice amp!

yes it does, in fact the diff between a gibson nd a epi is tht epis are made of "a" mahogony necks and gibsons r made of "aaa" mahogony necks. tht nd some othr stuff but thts the major diff.

I would say that it is really it is just as important on an electric as an acoustic. maple fretboard sound different than rosewood or ebony. mahogany necks sound different than maple. alder, ash, poplar and maple bodies all alter the sound. then you have the option of set vs. bolt on neck and the endless world of hardware.

yes the sound is generated form the strings vibration on pickups but some woods like pine have no acoustic properties and even though it is electric it still must have some of these properties otherwise the sound/vibration will not hold.

so the wood still resonates and affects the sound? I figured that the resonance really came from the sound waves produced by the amp causing the strings to vibrate. That's why if you get to close to the amp it overloads and you get feedback?

I guess the question is does the wood vibrate because of the string moving or because of the sound waves hitting the wood. Kind of a which came first the chicken or the egg.

If the wood begins to vibrate because the string is moving then I can see how that might make some difference. But an electric gives off so little sound (unplugged)it's hard to imagine the sound waves would cause the wood to resonate.

yes, but the amp is also a lot of it. u wont be able to get ur guitar to sound good unless u use a good amp. no amp will sound soft and bad, or if u got bad hearing from 2 many gigs, u wont be able 2 hear it at all. so u need a good amp.

absolutely. I agree. The reason I ask is that when (if ever) I buy an electric I don't want to pay for expensive exotic wood if it makes very little difference.

I love the way Gibson's LP's look but I'm not paying that much for looks when I can get the same or better sound by getting a good amp and effects

lol the gibson lp has some of the best sound ever. thats y its so much, not 4 look. also try the epiphones, dont get the cheaper ones because they go outta tune fast and dont play as well in my opinion.try the epi custom or the epi custom. also look at fenders, i wouldnt reomemnd an ibanez cause i guess ur not used 2 shredding like tht since u got an acustic, but maybe im wrong.

My advice is listen to the sounds your fav players make and find out what they are playing. go form there. but if you are mostly an acoustic player you might want to look away form solid bodies and look at semi-hollow's. like the dot or Gretch or something like that.