Basswood - Underrated?

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

^^ Those root-beer Jems are definitely in the 'ugly cool' category .

*shrug* I have two old Ibanez Roadstars from the mid-80s with basswood bodies, one with a PAF Pro and the other with a 59/Jazz + stock ceramic screamer. Neither has any structural issues and both sound good (quite resonant acoustically too).

I think the basswood stigma has arisen due to its proliferated use on entry level axes (which tend to come with indifferent pups and hardware - big tone influencing factor surely!).

 

[always SD]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

i can talk about the js 1200 and yes
it's overrated
i prefer alder or mahogany

 

[rgand]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I asked them several times to carry roasted bodies and they said they were looking into it but wouldn't be available for a long time. Ended up forgoing the roasted body and doing a Tele project based off of something else. So glad they offer the roasted bodies, hopefully they will expand it to Basswood but the foreseeable future projects for me don't involve Basswood.

They obviously listened. Right now they only offer roasted swamp ash but others on the forum are already pushing for other woods. I'd like to see roasted mahogany, too. I just ordered a roasted swamp ash body. That'll satisfy my need to build something for a while. Looking forward to getting it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

They obviously listened. Right now they only offer roasted swamp ash but others on the forum are already pushing for other woods. I'd like to see roasted mahogany, too. I just ordered a roasted swamp ash body. That'll satisfy my need to build something for a while. Looking forward to getting it.

Roasted Mahogany would be awesome for natural finishes–especially Honduran Mahogany.

Did you go Tele or Strat? I hope you keep us posted about that project!

 

[rgand]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Roasted Mahogany would be awesome for natural finishes–especially Honduran Mahogany.

Did you go Tele or Strat? I hope you keep us posted about that project!

I decided to try something different and ordered a Jazzmaster. I'm only 2 weeks into the 8-10 week delivery period but I'll post pics when I get it started. Honduran Mahogany with a natural finish would be beautiful.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I decided to try something different and ordered a Jazzmaster. I'm only 2 weeks into the 8-10 week delivery period but I'll post pics when I get it started. Honduran Mahogany with a natural finish would be beautiful.

Ah! When they first came out they only offered (on the website that is) Roasted Ash in Tele or Strat; however, I remember browsing a day or so ago and seeing the Roasted Ash option in the drop down menu of the "custom body builder."

A Jazzmaster will be awesome! Look forward to the progress when it gets started!

 

[rgand]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Ah! When they first came out they only offered (on the website that is) Roasted Ash in Tele or Strat; however, I remember browsing a day or so ago and seeing the Roasted Ash option in the drop down menu of the "custom body builder."

A Jazzmaster will be awesome! Look forward to the progress when it gets started!

Yeah, they just put it on the builder. Evidently I am the first to order it with a transparent red finish. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it looks. It darkens considerably with a clear coat on it, but who knows?

 

[Yash]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I've tried cheap Ibanez guitars with basswood, and the sound was, not really good. But, really, don't have much experience. I really wanted to buy a Jackson Corey Beaulieu signature King V KV7, and I thought they'd make just a made in Indonesia of his US Custom shop as the production guitar, but, the totally changed it. His guitar has Alder body, ebony fingerboard. And the production model got Basswood body and rosewood fingerboard, which really put me off, though it shares the neck through construction and the Duncan Blackouts. So, yeah, basswood kinda is a no-no to me, BUT, I've not had much experience.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I'm happy as long as its actual wood. I really don't care about species nearly as much as I used to (I won't say all wood sounds the same - I will say forums over-state it/simplify it and stroke certain wood species for tradition or appearance). I just ignore the specs, play the guitar, and select a pickup based on what tonal shaping you think it needs.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I've tried cheap guitars

This is the equivalent of saying "Fenders suck!" after playing a Squier California.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

When all constituents making up the ultimate sound of the electric guitar (amps, effects, speakers, pickups, cables, mood) have been factored in, the type of the wood doesn't matter. Not to mention if it's recorded using iPhone and listened on YouTube, also using iPhone.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Own a basswood bass (I think). But not a basswood 6 string guitar. Seem to still see it more on bass guitars, maybe because of the lighter weight? Never avoided it, just coincidence or happenstance that I never bought a guitar that was basswood. More worried about the softness than the tone. I know Suhr uses it so I wouldn't suspect it can be all that bad. Though, they do top it with, mostly maple (I think). Not getting into a tonewood debate as I don't really have an opinion on it but I'm betting there are a lot of woods that aren't considered traditional tonewoods, or have been written off as "poor" tonewoods, that actually would make for nice instruments when integrated in as just one part of the whole instrument. I have 2 Godins that might be considered as examples.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

When all constituents making up the ultimate sound of the electric guitar (amps, effects, speakers, pickups, cables, mood) have been factored in, the type of the wood doesn't matter. Not to mention if it's recorded using iPhone and listened on YouTube, also using iPhone.

I would agree that it matters very little live, yes, but when you are recording in a hi-fi studio, you will find that the wood matters. Whether it's the type or the grain or whatever specific part of it is another matter, though.

 

[HotHead]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I'm not a huge believer of tonewood; I think it contributes much less than people think it does. That aside, I hate the way basswood feels. It's too light and soft. Any time I've played a basswood guitar, it felt like it was on the verge of breaking. I like a nice solid-feeling wood, like alder or mahogany.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

People's ears are different.

Basswood is what made me a believer in tonewoods–tried a JB in several Basswood Strats and couldn't stand it in anyone of them...loved it in every Alder Strat I've tried a JB in. I've tried Hotrails in multiple same spec Strats except for the wood–Alder and Basswood (not including the Jackson Soloist because it is a neck thru and not a bolt on.) The Hotrails sounded slightly smoother, more neutral and mellow in the Basswood than in the Alder.

If you don't believe tonewood makes a difference then great for you–my ears definitely hear a difference.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

I'm not a huge believer of tonewood; I think it contributes much less than people think it does. That aside, I hate the way basswood feels. It's too light and soft. Any time I've played a basswood guitar, it felt like it was on the verge of breaking. I like a nice solid-feeling wood, like alder or mahogany.

I tend to agree. Tonewood doesn't contribute as much as the quality of the plank itself. That said, it is a noticeable difference.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

When all constituents making up the ultimate sound of the electric guitar (amps, effects, speakers, pickups, cables, mood) have been factored in, the type of the wood doesn't matter. Not to mention if it's recorded using iPhone and listened on YouTube, also using iPhone.

So you only listen to guitar when its played on youtube then.

Personally I play with very little drive, and listen to the guitar right from the amp.
In those cases I notice differences even with the same pickups swapped between guitars......PAF clones into even guitars of the same construction and same wood species. The subtle nuance of a bit more treble, a bit less congestion etc.

But I do think you wouldn't notice any wood difference - no slight on your ears but I've never encountered any shred style player with a tone that would get closer than a lightyear from 'nuance'

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Maybe Malmsteen on his first album or two, or Vai when he was with DLR.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Maybe Malmsteen on his first album or two, or Vai when he was with DLR.

Petrucci.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Basswood - Underrated?

Van Halen. The basswood = crapwood argument is invalid.

That guy has as much credibility as Scott Grove.