chadd
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Demon sounds perfect in basswood, it's a great combination.
Demon sounds perfect in basswood, it's a great combination.
Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
- Thread starter knight_yyz
- Start date
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
1 word. Suhr.
Also Jeff Beck's and Joe Satriani's main guitars are made of basswood.
Basswood is fine.
1 word. Suhr.
Also Jeff Beck's and Joe Satriani's main guitars are made of basswood.
Basswood is fine.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
+1
I used to not like basswood, but in the last few years I've discovered that it just needs different pickups or possibly hardware than an alder guitar; it's no different than ash or mahogany in that respect. Grover Jackson liked basswood for superstrats because it helped counter-balance some of the tinniness a Floyd can impart. Remember that this was back in the day before anyone thought of using an oversized brass or titanium trem block. Likewise my Strat is a Charvel Model 1A with a basswood body and Gotoh 6-bolt trem with a zinc block. I have it set up with a SSL-2/SSL-2/SSL-6T combo and you'd have a hard time telling it wasn't alder unless I told you.
+1
I used to not like basswood, but in the last few years I've discovered that it just needs different pickups or possibly hardware than an alder guitar; it's no different than ash or mahogany in that respect. Grover Jackson liked basswood for superstrats because it helped counter-balance some of the tinniness a Floyd can impart. Remember that this was back in the day before anyone thought of using an oversized brass or titanium trem block. Likewise my Strat is a Charvel Model 1A with a basswood body and Gotoh 6-bolt trem with a zinc block. I have it set up with a SSL-2/SSL-2/SSL-6T combo and you'd have a hard time telling it wasn't alder unless I told you.
knight_yyz
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Well, I'm not convinced that this body is a genuine fender. I'm sending it back. It's really hard to tell from the pictures, but I swear this was machined on a CNC, and then went straight to the spray can for paint even before they blew the sawdust out of it. From 5 feet away the guitar looks good, but take a close look and you can see the body wasn't prepped very well before painting. I have my eye on a 62 MIJ reissue body which I will probably grab when I send this one back. The MIJ reissue is foam green as well. Love that color. The only thing that bugs me about that is I have already ordered a new pick guard in mint green for the 8 hole 57 reissue (which I am saying is fake) and the 62 reissue is 11 hole. And the dude that sold me the fake 57 will just go back on ebay and sell it again, and I get burned for return shipping...
Well, I'm not convinced that this body is a genuine fender. I'm sending it back. It's really hard to tell from the pictures, but I swear this was machined on a CNC, and then went straight to the spray can for paint even before they blew the sawdust out of it. From 5 feet away the guitar looks good, but take a close look and you can see the body wasn't prepped very well before painting. I have my eye on a 62 MIJ reissue body which I will probably grab when I send this one back. The MIJ reissue is foam green as well. Love that color. The only thing that bugs me about that is I have already ordered a new pick guard in mint green for the 8 hole 57 reissue (which I am saying is fake) and the 62 reissue is 11 hole. And the dude that sold me the fake 57 will just go back on ebay and sell it again, and I get burned for return shipping...
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
That finish doesn't look up to the quality of any MIJ Fender I've ever seen. IME, MIJ Fenders always have near perfect finish work, even under the pick guards.
Also, that neck fit looks worse than any MIJ neck fit I've ever seen. In fact, I've never owned, and I don't recall ever even seeing, any MIJ Fender that had any gap whatsoever.
And every MIJ Fender body I've ever owned has had a code stamped in the neck pocket that says the model number and/or paint color.
Additionally, you seem to think that because it's a MIJ reissue, that it should be alder. That is not anywhere close to being the case. MIJ reissues have been made in many different woods over the years. I have two '50's reissues; one is basswood and the other is poplar. I've had alder and sen ("Japanese ash") MIJs as well over the years (all '50's or '60's reissues).
As for what that wood actually is, it's impossible to tell, since your photos aren't sharp or color calibrated.
That finish doesn't look up to the quality of any MIJ Fender I've ever seen. IME, MIJ Fenders always have near perfect finish work, even under the pick guards.
Also, that neck fit looks worse than any MIJ neck fit I've ever seen. In fact, I've never owned, and I don't recall ever even seeing, any MIJ Fender that had any gap whatsoever.
And every MIJ Fender body I've ever owned has had a code stamped in the neck pocket that says the model number and/or paint color.
Additionally, you seem to think that because it's a MIJ reissue, that it should be alder. That is not anywhere close to being the case. MIJ reissues have been made in many different woods over the years. I have two '50's reissues; one is basswood and the other is poplar. I've had alder and sen ("Japanese ash") MIJs as well over the years (all '50's or '60's reissues).
As for what that wood actually is, it's impossible to tell, since your photos aren't sharp or color calibrated.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
I guess guys like Satch, EVH, John Suhr and Grover Jackson are all chumps with no idea what tone is because they all like basswood
I guess guys like Satch, EVH, John Suhr and Grover Jackson are all chumps with no idea what tone is because they all like basswood
knight_yyz
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Well unfortunately, when buying online you can never tell what you are getting until it is in your hands. I took a look at some samples of alder and basswood and to tell the truth when you Google both, the grains almost look the same to me. But I'm a toolmaker not a woodworker so I don't know jack about wood. Give me any piece of steel, and as long as I have a sample of it somewhere else I can tell you what kind of steel it is with a spark test.
And I thought that all MIJ fenders would have a stamp but after researching I also found that during the 80's the MIJ's don't always have the correct markings. The seller of the item swore up and down that this was a mid 80's authentic Fender 57 reissue . After I got the item and confronted him he refused to tell me why he thought this was an MIJ fender. He kept telling me I must have a made in Mexico neck... SMH at that one, it is without a doubt a Made in Japan 57 reissue Fender neck. It does not say made in Mexico. I am going to send the idiot an apology email with a picture showing Made in Japan, and tell him "I'm so sorry. You are correct it does say made in Mexico".... After asking him like 10 times "why do you believe this is an MIJ 57 reissue" he kept changing the subject. I complained to fleabay and I will be getting my money back. I still think he should be punished somehow because he is going to relist this and make the sale and burn someone else.
Well unfortunately, when buying online you can never tell what you are getting until it is in your hands. I took a look at some samples of alder and basswood and to tell the truth when you Google both, the grains almost look the same to me. But I'm a toolmaker not a woodworker so I don't know jack about wood. Give me any piece of steel, and as long as I have a sample of it somewhere else I can tell you what kind of steel it is with a spark test.
And I thought that all MIJ fenders would have a stamp but after researching I also found that during the 80's the MIJ's don't always have the correct markings. The seller of the item swore up and down that this was a mid 80's authentic Fender 57 reissue . After I got the item and confronted him he refused to tell me why he thought this was an MIJ fender. He kept telling me I must have a made in Mexico neck... SMH at that one, it is without a doubt a Made in Japan 57 reissue Fender neck. It does not say made in Mexico. I am going to send the idiot an apology email with a picture showing Made in Japan, and tell him "I'm so sorry. You are correct it does say made in Mexico".... After asking him like 10 times "why do you believe this is an MIJ 57 reissue" he kept changing the subject. I complained to fleabay and I will be getting my money back. I still think he should be punished somehow because he is going to relist this and make the sale and burn someone else.
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treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Well, I had a MIM Fender that was Poplar. Sounded incredible.
Well, I had a MIM Fender that was Poplar. Sounded incredible.
knight_yyz
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
I think some of the Japanese Fenders may still be basswood
I think some of the Japanese Fenders may still be basswood
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Fools include:
Jeff Beck
Allan Holdsworth
Eddie Van Halen
Joe Satriani
John Petrucci
Tom Anderson
and so on.
Damn, I wish these people have great amps and know good tone.
Fools include:
Jeff Beck
Allan Holdsworth
Eddie Van Halen
Joe Satriani
John Petrucci
Tom Anderson
and so on.
Damn, I wish these people have great amps and know good tone.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
I respect none of them now.
Yup, some serious fools indeed
I respect none of them now.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
A good piece of basswood is no different than a good piece of alder or poplar and so on. Good wood is good wood. Of course there will be bad pieces of basswood sometimes, but I've played some pretty terrible mahogany guitars in my day too (along with many, many great mahogany guitars as well).
A good piece of basswood is no different than a good piece of alder or poplar and so on. Good wood is good wood. Of course there will be bad pieces of basswood sometimes, but I've played some pretty terrible mahogany guitars in my day too (along with many, many great mahogany guitars as well).
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
You clearly are delusional, Basswood is for fools who think tone is a relative and not concrete to just Alder and Mahogany. I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper!
You clearly are delusional, Basswood is for fools who think tone is a relative and not concrete to just Alder and Mahogany. I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper!
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
You're right, I should probably unfriend myself at this point.
You're right, I should probably unfriend myself at this point.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Alder or basswood? Help me identify this please
Yes you should, you tone heathen! :chairshot
Yes you should, you tone heathen! :chairshot
