Basswood vs. Mahogany

SirJackdeFuzz

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
So my good friends . . .


. . . can anyone tell me the tonal diff's between Basswood & a good 'ol slab of Mahog ?

With Mahogany that is so heavy, i can only assume that Basswood is a lighter wood ?

So what is the tonal character of Basswood ?
Seems like i know nothing about this tone wood.

Any info very welcome.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

Mahogany can be all over the place. If you make a thin guitar from it it can become piercing bright. Weight varies greatly, too.

Basswood is a bit more consistent. I like it because it gives a nice form of "singing" mids and it goes well with A2 pickups.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

uOpt said:
Mahogany can be all over the place. If you make a thin guitar from it it can become piercing bright. Weight varies greatly, too.

Basswood is a bit more consistent. I like it because it gives a nice form of "singing" mids and it goes well with A2 pickups.
Click to expand...

So, when we are talking in the direction of a Firebird size body . . . with mini hums, what will suit that guitar/pick up combo better ?

Mahog or Basswood ?
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

More something like this body :


GBEGT1840S.jpg
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

I ended up getting rid of my mahogany guitars because the tone was too dark for me. I tried swapping pups but nothing sounded good so I was just spending a bunch money trying make the guitars work, now I just start with basswood.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

uOpt said:
Some of the fancier SGs might disagree. It probably depends on what kind of bridge is in play there.
Click to expand...

True? i have never played one so i wouldn't know. The sabre would have to be the thinnest factory guitar out there and they sound warm and full of life.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

Basswood I've been liking more than Mahogany for its consistency. Basswood tends to have the qualities of a good piece of mahogany, whereas mahogany varies, and there's so many species of mahogany that it's tough to be consistent
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

I would also like to see what people say since I want to get a Jackson Rhoads again but my friend keeps telling me that basswood is crap, so I don't buy it but I love how they play and they are basswood... so wood you say that Mahogany is better then Basswood?
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

epi said:
I would also like to see what people say since I want to get a Jackson Rhoads again but my friend keeps telling me that basswood is crap, so I don't buy it but I love how they play and they are basswood... so wood you say that Mahogany is better then Basswood?
Click to expand...

I think you haven't been listening (hehe, but yes you haven't).
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

Basswood is lighter than a similarly-sized chunk of Honduran Mahogany. It's extremely soft and dents easily, and has a very boring grain to it so it's usually chosen for solid opaque colors. I can't imagine using it on a Firebird body because you need the weight of Mahogany to balance the guitar properly on the strap - I would think a Basswood body would really be prone to neck dive on a guitar like that.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

From the internet because there's always someone who's said it better:

"Sound-wise, Basswood has a nice, growley, warm tone with good mids. A favorite tone wood for shredders in the 80s since its defined sound cuts through a mix well."

"Affordable and abundant, basswood is particularly associated with mid-level or budget guitars. But basswood is a good tonewood by any standards, and it has been used by many high-end makers with excellent results. It is a very light and fairly soft wood, and it’s light in color, too, with minimal grain. Solid basswood bodies have a fat, but well-balanced tonality. There’s a muscular midrange, but also a certain softness and breathiness. On a well-made guitar, basswood can yield good dynamics and definition with enough grind to give the sound some oomph."

Personally, it's my favorite tonewood. :D
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

I look down on Basswood.I don't believe it belongs on a great guitar, only cheap ones. Since its a cheap wood, of course many people are going to try and say it sounds good so they can make more money off it.It is really a aweful tonewood. It sucks. Those of you with Basswood , get rid f it and get some Alder or mahogany.
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

kramersteen said:
This isn't the case in any ibby sabre i have played.
Click to expand...

Same here..mine, if anything, is slightly dark. So is my 7 string Saber (but I guess it would be)

I read somewhere that it has something to do with the carve/arch & thicker middle section of Saber bodies..it's their design that makes them sound pretty balanced. If I'm not mistaken, there are basswood Sabers with maple caps out there, which, on on paper.. should be pretty bright, but apparently are'nt (from what I've heard)
 
Re: Basswood vs. Mahogany

TheLivingDead said:
From the internet because there's always someone who's said it better:

"Sound-wise, Basswood has a nice, growley, warm tone with good mids. A favorite tone wood for shredders in the 80s since its defined sound cuts through a mix well."

"Affordable and abundant, basswood is particularly associated with mid-level or budget guitars. But basswood is a good tonewood by any standards, and it has been used by many high-end makers with excellent results. It is a very light and fairly soft wood, and it’s light in color, too, with minimal grain. Solid basswood bodies have a fat, but well-balanced tonality. There’s a muscular midrange, but also a certain softness and breathiness. On a well-made guitar, basswood can yield good dynamics and definition with enough grind to give the sound some oomph."

Personally, it's my favorite tonewood. :D
Click to expand...



Ahhh, this is what i was looking for . . . thanks dude !
 
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