Botanical Name: Alnus rubra (Red Alder)

Average Dried Weight: 28 lbs/ft³ (450 kg/m³)

Acoustic Properties & Overview:
Alder is one of the most iconic and historically significant tonewoods for solid-body electric guitars. It is renowned for its perfectly balanced, full-bodied tone. It produces robust lows, clear, cutting highs, and a pronounced, punchy upper midrange that helps the instrument sit perfectly in a mix. Its excellent resonance and relatively light weight make it a favorite for long playing sessions and touring musicians.

Workability & Appearance:
Visually, Alder typically features a light tan to pale reddish-brown color with a relatively subtle, straight, and uniform grain. It is a soft hardwood that machines, sands, and glues exceptionally well. Because its tight, closed pores do not require grain filling, Alder is famous for taking solid finishes, sunbursts, and clear coats flawlessly, making it the undeniable industry standard for solid-body guitar manufacturing.