Basswood
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J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Basswood
I don't perceive a lack of bass from my JEM 7DBK -- another $2k guitar with a basswood body.
I don't perceive a lack of bass from my JEM 7DBK -- another $2k guitar with a basswood body.
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Basswood
Very middy, warm, and can cut through the mix very well. It is a bit of a softer wood so it can get dinged a bit easier, but it also is a lighter wood so it won't kill your back.
Very middy, warm, and can cut through the mix very well. It is a bit of a softer wood so it can get dinged a bit easier, but it also is a lighter wood so it won't kill your back.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Basswood
From my experience it sucks. Bad. Obviously there is some testament to the fact that great sound has been achieved with Basswood, but thats mostly with very middy pickups like the JB under high gain with Marshalls and screamers.
From my recent experience, the Basswood NECK position has that bright poppy tone lots of people with cheap guitars like, and its a snappy ,happy sound, without a lot of needless complexity. Very fun and addictive.
The bridge with basswood on the other hand is very very difficult to work with IMO- everything sounds way to dark and muddy. Almost the opposite of anything you'd expect from a good warmish tone wood like Mahogany ..
I'm looking at a bright Humbucker like the Demon to fix the bridge of my Basswood guitar, because the Prails in the bridge doesn't do it whatsoever in Basswood, again, IMO, but in general do yourself a favor and steer clear unless you know what your getting yourself into...IMO.
From my experience it sucks. Bad. Obviously there is some testament to the fact that great sound has been achieved with Basswood, but thats mostly with very middy pickups like the JB under high gain with Marshalls and screamers.
From my recent experience, the Basswood NECK position has that bright poppy tone lots of people with cheap guitars like, and its a snappy ,happy sound, without a lot of needless complexity. Very fun and addictive.
The bridge with basswood on the other hand is very very difficult to work with IMO- everything sounds way to dark and muddy. Almost the opposite of anything you'd expect from a good warmish tone wood like Mahogany ..
I'm looking at a bright Humbucker like the Demon to fix the bridge of my Basswood guitar, because the Prails in the bridge doesn't do it whatsoever in Basswood, again, IMO, but in general do yourself a favor and steer clear unless you know what your getting yourself into...IMO.
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J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Basswood
DiMarzio Breeds. I've had 'em in two different Ibanez bolt-ons with lo-pro Edge trems. One had a maple board, the other rosewood. In each case, a perfect combination. The overall vibe is hot PAF.
DiMarzio Breeds. I've had 'em in two different Ibanez bolt-ons with lo-pro Edge trems. One had a maple board, the other rosewood. In each case, a perfect combination. The overall vibe is hot PAF.
eschoendorff
New member
Re: Basswood
I have a JB (bridge position) in a cheap bolt-on basswood guitar and it is anything but muddy. The tone cuts through much like an EMG 81. Very clear.
I have a JB (bridge position) in a cheap bolt-on basswood guitar and it is anything but muddy. The tone cuts through much like an EMG 81. Very clear.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
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Diego
New member
Re: Basswood
You want a pickup with a lot of character to it. Basswood is kind of neutral, and the string attack isn't that prominent.
I had a JB and a Dimarzio Breed in a Japanese RG, and they were bread and butter.
The tone was very clear, not glassy of course since we're talking humbuckers, but it was good.
John Petrucci gets super glassy clean sounds out of his basswood Ibanezes/Musicmans with clever pickup wirings.
You want a pickup with a lot of character to it. Basswood is kind of neutral, and the string attack isn't that prominent.
I had a JB and a Dimarzio Breed in a Japanese RG, and they were bread and butter.
The tone was very clear, not glassy of course since we're talking humbuckers, but it was good.
John Petrucci gets super glassy clean sounds out of his basswood Ibanezes/Musicmans with clever pickup wirings.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Basswood
Love basswood. Light in the weight department and accepts just about every pickup out there. EQ is basically right in the middle with a little mid grit to it.
Love basswood. Light in the weight department and accepts just about every pickup out there. EQ is basically right in the middle with a little mid grit to it.
timhatimay
New member
Re: Basswood
I love my basswood guitars. They are pretty flat in the EQ i feel, but the highs are a little tamed (I like that). It does seem to cut through nicely as well, and I feel it has great clarity. If i strike a chord you can hear the definition in the notes, and if I pick under the chord the notes are very clear (if playing acoustically). I can't imagine a Prail in the bridge being great, but I have one in the neck and I really enjoy it. I have a demon and full shred in the bridges of my basswood guitars, and they are a great compliment to basswood. Fairly even sound, its still got lots of mids, tight bass, and smooth highs, can't go wrong if you ask me...I don't hear any mud (even with a neck prail in series) in the neck or bridge.
Tim
I love my basswood guitars. They are pretty flat in the EQ i feel, but the highs are a little tamed (I like that). It does seem to cut through nicely as well, and I feel it has great clarity. If i strike a chord you can hear the definition in the notes, and if I pick under the chord the notes are very clear (if playing acoustically). I can't imagine a Prail in the bridge being great, but I have one in the neck and I really enjoy it. I have a demon and full shred in the bridges of my basswood guitars, and they are a great compliment to basswood. Fairly even sound, its still got lots of mids, tight bass, and smooth highs, can't go wrong if you ask me...I don't hear any mud (even with a neck prail in series) in the neck or bridge.
Tim
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Basswood
Me2..I'm thinking a Full Shred or Demon would eb clear and less veiled. Yeah, the P90 neck basswood is nice!
Me2..I'm thinking a Full Shred or Demon would eb clear and less veiled. Yeah, the P90 neck basswood is nice!
JordanM82
New member
Re: Basswood
I really like basswood (real quality basswood) with the right pickup choices, it is a very neutral wood that responds well with other wood combinations, particularly a maple top. John Suhr uses that combo A LOT and considers it to be the holy grail of tone combo, not sure if I agree fully; but it does sounds good none the less.
I think basswood can have good clarity and cut through well in the mix. Not too heavy on the bass. YMMV though and remember every piece of wood is different...
I really like basswood (real quality basswood) with the right pickup choices, it is a very neutral wood that responds well with other wood combinations, particularly a maple top. John Suhr uses that combo A LOT and considers it to be the holy grail of tone combo, not sure if I agree fully; but it does sounds good none the less.
I think basswood can have good clarity and cut through well in the mix. Not too heavy on the bass. YMMV though and remember every piece of wood is different...
Re: Basswood
O.K. here is an opinion JMO....and I am entitled to it.
For several years of my life I built communion tables, pews, alter benches, doors, cabinets, etc, etc. I had the opportunity to work with some quality woods.
I am not a guitar guru, nor do I hold infinite wisdom regarding luthiery, basicly a guitar newby.BUT.
Last year I bought a Basswood body and started hot rodding it. I had the chance to drill, cut, router and generally work this thing over, like I said JMO
Basswood grows REALLY fast and replaces itself at an etremely low cost and does it QUICKLY as opposed to other woods;alder birch, ash, mahogany,etc, etc.
Basswood is light because its about 1-2 steps ahead of balsa wood. It has no density in the fiber nor would it be considered a strong stable wood in (other than guitar) woodworking industry. The reason it is so comfortable to play is because of the wieght. The reason there is no wieght is because of fiber density.. Now you can talk about tone, reasonance, wood characteristics, sustain, etc.....All of these qualities you say you hear are created by factory set up and mechanics iof the guitar. The electronic components of the manufacturer contribute greatly to achieve this sound you credit to the wood. Here is an experiment you can try yourself....
Get 3-4 pieces of wood, lets say mahogany, alder, ash and throw in a piece of Basswood. Get them in identical 1/2 x 1/2" squares.....
Using nothing but your fingers try and crush and disassemble those small pieces of wood...no gloves...no tools...nothing but your fingertips.
I rest my case! Basswood is doo doo..you guys can hear this tone you can visualize sustain. It barks, It bites, its warm its hot.......BS
Its Basswood its crap and you have bought into the multi million dollar marketing scheme.
I talked to some guys I know still in the woodworking industry about this Basswood thing we all LAO.
Ha,Ha,Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys bought the marketing ploy.....do ya git it? huh?
You might be great pickers and have wonderfull skills in many areas but ya know nothing about wood!
DO NOT TRUST my perspective! Do some hard research on your own.
Base your decisions on things you know for a fact....not what some tallywacker marketing guy printed so often it is now regarded as fact!!!!!!!!
There .... I have vented
good luck on your research
Basswood........Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
O.K. here is an opinion JMO....and I am entitled to it.
For several years of my life I built communion tables, pews, alter benches, doors, cabinets, etc, etc. I had the opportunity to work with some quality woods.
I am not a guitar guru, nor do I hold infinite wisdom regarding luthiery, basicly a guitar newby.BUT.
Last year I bought a Basswood body and started hot rodding it. I had the chance to drill, cut, router and generally work this thing over, like I said JMO
Basswood grows REALLY fast and replaces itself at an etremely low cost and does it QUICKLY as opposed to other woods;alder birch, ash, mahogany,etc, etc.
Basswood is light because its about 1-2 steps ahead of balsa wood. It has no density in the fiber nor would it be considered a strong stable wood in (other than guitar) woodworking industry. The reason it is so comfortable to play is because of the wieght. The reason there is no wieght is because of fiber density.. Now you can talk about tone, reasonance, wood characteristics, sustain, etc.....All of these qualities you say you hear are created by factory set up and mechanics iof the guitar. The electronic components of the manufacturer contribute greatly to achieve this sound you credit to the wood. Here is an experiment you can try yourself....
Get 3-4 pieces of wood, lets say mahogany, alder, ash and throw in a piece of Basswood. Get them in identical 1/2 x 1/2" squares.....
Using nothing but your fingers try and crush and disassemble those small pieces of wood...no gloves...no tools...nothing but your fingertips.
I rest my case! Basswood is doo doo..you guys can hear this tone you can visualize sustain. It barks, It bites, its warm its hot.......BS
Its Basswood its crap and you have bought into the multi million dollar marketing scheme.
I talked to some guys I know still in the woodworking industry about this Basswood thing we all LAO.
Ha,Ha,Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys bought the marketing ploy.....do ya git it? huh?
You might be great pickers and have wonderfull skills in many areas but ya know nothing about wood!
DO NOT TRUST my perspective! Do some hard research on your own.
Base your decisions on things you know for a fact....not what some tallywacker marketing guy printed so often it is now regarded as fact!!!!!!!!
There .... I have vented
good luck on your research
Basswood........Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
Re: Basswood
i like Basswood... one of the nicest sounding guitars i ever owned i wrecked saddly, but it was just a parts guitar from strat parts made by the Godin factory back in the late 80's... they used to make replacement strat necks and bodies at one point... it had a basswood body and an all birdseye neck, a gotoh vintage style trem and a single Dimarzio Double Whammy.... that thing sounded thicker then my Les Paul did...
sad i destroyed the body and neck with endless mods to the point it needs some wood filled in and a whole re-finnish just to save it
i like Basswood... one of the nicest sounding guitars i ever owned i wrecked saddly, but it was just a parts guitar from strat parts made by the Godin factory back in the late 80's... they used to make replacement strat necks and bodies at one point... it had a basswood body and an all birdseye neck, a gotoh vintage style trem and a single Dimarzio Double Whammy.... that thing sounded thicker then my Les Paul did...
sad i destroyed the body and neck with endless mods to the point it needs some wood filled in and a whole re-finnish just to save it
Diego
New member
Re: Basswood
Basswood is soft, no discussion there.
But Eddie Van Halen, Petrucci, Vai, Satriani and many many others must be really tonedeaf. I mean, why would they choose basswood over other woods for their instruments?
A good piece of basswood has nothing to envy about the other woods you mentioned, particularly if matched to a maple cap. Even if your woodworking buddies (who probably don't know as much as John Suhr) disagree.
You're supposed to play the things, not just mash them with your fingers, y'know.
I'll follow your advice. I choose my guitars according to how they play and sound. That's why I play tons of them, all the time.
Blindly following self-proclaimed tone gurus that allegedly know everything is stupid.
I've had guitars out of ash, alder, basswood, mahogany and, of course, plywood.
All of them, even the plywood ones, have had redeeming qualities to their sound.
Cheap basswood, now that's a different story. You can't compare what Ibanez puts in their Gio RGs next to what they use on the Prestige series. Not even close.
Both are soft and easy to work with, but sound nothing alike.
O.K. here is an opinion JMO....and I am entitled to it.
For several years of my life I built communion tables, pews, alter benches, doors, cabinets, etc, etc. I had the opportunity to work with some quality woods.
I am not a guitar guru, nor do I hold infinite wisdom regarding luthiery, basicly a guitar newby.BUT.
Last year I bought a Basswood body and started hot rodding it. I had the chance to drill, cut, router and generally work this thing over, like I said JMO
Basswood grows REALLY fast and replaces itself at an etremely low cost and does it QUICKLY as opposed to other woods;alder birch, ash, mahogany,etc, etc.
Basswood is light because its about 1-2 steps ahead of balsa wood. It has no density in the fiber nor would it be considered a strong stable wood in (other than guitar) woodworking industry. The reason it is so comfortable to play is because of the wieght. The reason there is no wieght is because of fiber density.. Now you can talk about tone, reasonance, wood characteristics, sustain, etc.....All of these qualities you say you hear are created by factory set up and mechanics iof the guitar. The electronic components of the manufacturer contribute greatly to achieve this sound you credit to the wood. Here is an experiment you can try yourself....
Get 3-4 pieces of wood, lets say mahogany, alder, ash and throw in a piece of Basswood. Get them in identical 1/2 x 1/2" squares.....
Using nothing but your fingers try and crush and disassemble those small pieces of wood...no gloves...no tools...nothing but your fingertips.
I rest my case! Basswood is doo doo..you guys can hear this tone you can visualize sustain. It barks, It bites, its warm its hot.......BS
Its Basswood its crap and you have bought into the multi million dollar marketing scheme.
I talked to some guys I know still in the woodworking industry about this Basswood thing we all LAO.
Ha,Ha,Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys bought the marketing ploy.....do ya git it? huh?
You might be great pickers and have wonderfull skills in many areas but ya know nothing about wood!
DO NOT TRUST my perspective! Do some hard research on your own.
Base your decisions on things you know for a fact....not what some tallywacker marketing guy printed so often it is now regarded as fact!!!!!!!!
There .... I have vented
good luck on your research
Basswood........Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
Basswood is soft, no discussion there.
But Eddie Van Halen, Petrucci, Vai, Satriani and many many others must be really tonedeaf. I mean, why would they choose basswood over other woods for their instruments?
A good piece of basswood has nothing to envy about the other woods you mentioned, particularly if matched to a maple cap. Even if your woodworking buddies (who probably don't know as much as John Suhr) disagree.
You're supposed to play the things, not just mash them with your fingers, y'know.
I'll follow your advice. I choose my guitars according to how they play and sound. That's why I play tons of them, all the time.
Blindly following self-proclaimed tone gurus that allegedly know everything is stupid.
I've had guitars out of ash, alder, basswood, mahogany and, of course, plywood.
All of them, even the plywood ones, have had redeeming qualities to their sound.
Cheap basswood, now that's a different story. You can't compare what Ibanez puts in their Gio RGs next to what they use on the Prestige series. Not even close.
Both are soft and easy to work with, but sound nothing alike.
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