How the Electric Guitar is Made
Even electric guitars are made from wood!

Wood that will be used to manufacture electric guitars is stored as thick planks in rooms with carefully controlled temperature and humidity. The photo below shows a plank of maple. Often called "tiger wood," it features a dazzling wood grain. Although the surface may look uneven, it is smooth to the touch.

Both types of wood are very valuable. Although some guitars are created from a single thick plank, other guitars are created by cutting these planks into several panels and installing them on the front as decoration, or using them along with other kinds of wood to adjust the timbre.

In addition to maple, other kinds of wood such as ash and alder are often used for the body of a guitar. The properties of alder wood vary greatly depending on which country the wood comes from.
Generally speaking, ash produces a sharply-defined sound, while that of alder is more supple and polished. However, the difference is not always so clear cut as even two instruments made from the same kind of wood may have different sounds depending on the texture of the wood or the direction of the grain.

Prior to processing, head and neck materials are stored in the state shown in the photo below. If you look closely you will see that the wood is cut clean through at an angle. The cut portion will be turned over and attached to form the angled head.