Eastern maple also called "hard rock" maple is just that - dense, heavy & unforgiving to work. Western, or "big leaf" maple is softer and yields more flame, curl, and quilt. Much more forgiving to work with and has a tone closer to alder than it's easter cousin. So called "swamp ash" is a monster tone wood, but if you're building from scratch, or getting a raw body be prepared to fill, fill & fill that grain some more. ;) Eastern maple for necks, western maple for bodies, tops, etc.