Most 'versatile' tonewood?

V-Spot

New member
IYO, what would be the most versatile tonewood? I've heard both basswood and poplar thrown around here.

Having no experience with this, I'm just wanting to know your opinions on this.
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

Alder can do everything, its just great wood. Poplar and Basswood to me are only versatile because they have no character.
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

I really like my basswood body/maple neck strat style guitar. It has 2 sc-sized humbuckers and sounds really Les Paulish. I've had single coils in it and it sounded pretty sweet with those too, although thinner than my MIA strat, it was nice. Maybe the "lack of character" lets the pups character come through more, but I like it. Hope it helps.
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

ALL of them!

Versatility doesnt come from the wood.

It comes from the player!
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

Alder can probably do the most, but I'd say that mahogany does the most well.
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

Watroba said:
Alder can probably do the most, but I'd say that mahogany does the most well.


+Infinity
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

asian basswood, for serious

real flat EQ, so that depends on your amp & pickups

can't get more versatile than that
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

Ash is kindds soft, floyd rose will one fine day have their nuts raked forward.

Maple top, mahogany backs and sides my choice =)
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

I think koa is probably the best bet, but it's not cheap. Realistically, mahogany or alder would be the best way to go. They don't call alder the "chicken of wood" if it didn't have some truth to it ;)
 
Re: Most 'versatile' tonewood?

Davey said:
ALL of them!

Versatility doesnt come from the wood.

It comes from the player!

To quote DSS, "+Infinite" ;)

Although what I wanted to specify in my first post (it was 3 in the morning, I forgot some things) was which tonewood would sound good with pretty much any pickup (e.g. not too trebly, not too bassy, real flat EQ). But keep going, it's interesting to see what everybody thinks.
 
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