We choose lightweight cuts of basswood because they tend to sound much better than the heavier ones. This is not always a bad thing. I currently own a peavey millennium bxp 4-string bass and it has a super light basswood body. Thank you for your support! Extra light weight woods, while a great complement for a bad back, can sound indistinct or muddy especially with humbucking pickups. Basswood is actually not too bad. If you compare the weight of less expensive guitars to more high-end models made of basswood, you will find that most high-end guitars weigh less and normally sound better. The sound is smooth, without many sharp edges. I own both a basswood and mahogany guitar (with maple top) and like ⦠Basswood is a very full-bodied sounding tonewood, and it especially makes sense for us to utilize it when adding elements like maple tops to give the instrument the overall package for more cut and brightness. Basswood sounds "simple" in comparison to mahogony. It is now quite commonly used for making electric guitar bodies. A lot of controversy surrounding basswood stems from the fact that it varies in quality. My first scratch build was basswood as my boss (John Carruthers) told me it was the best (I had planned to make a body of 1 piece, solid maple!). It is, however, a matter of significant disagreement among guitarists. Medium weight woods fall in the middle and are the traditional preference. Many guitar manufacturers as a substitute for alder are using this wood, as it is quite similar in tone. I have played both and own a basswood-body Suhr Modern. But even then, some pieces of mahogany can be pretty light. However, true basswood does produce a very pleasing midrange tone, which is why modern guitar companies use the wood for instruments to this day. More expensive instruments tend to use more traditional âtone woods,â like ash, mahogany, and alder. The Ibanez Jem and RG series used basswood for years before going to alder, Fender Japan has used basswood on many models. Basswood is typically a much lighter wood than mahogany, so a maple-neck basswood-body guitar will usually be a pound or two lighter than a mahogany-neck mahogany-body guitar. Basswood’s pale white to light brown color is mostly uniform throughout the face grain of the wood, and knots and other abnormalities are very uncommon. You indicate your consent to this use by clicking âI Agreeâ or by continuing to use this website. Certain pieces of basswood sound great, and other pieces can sound really bad. For Sale: Bass Guitar Strings and Accessories, The TB Bazaar: Gear For Sale from our Sponsors, For Sale: Double Bass Amps, Strings & Accessories, Wanted: Bass Guitars, Amps, and Accessories, Wanted: Double Basses, Amps & Accessories, (You must log in or sign up to reply here.). 30 Inch Acoustic Guitar,Mini Guitars Instrument Beginner Kit for Kids/Beginners. But they just don't "speak" to me like my basswood bodied guitars. Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Shawn Luckman, Dec 14, 2011. If you compare the weight of less expensive guitars to more high-end models made of basswood, you will find that most high-end guitars weigh less and normally sound better. When Taylor Guitar redesigned its popular 700 series this summer, the company turned to Lutz spruce, a natural hybrid of Sitka and white spruce that provides a higher volume ceiling. Not necessarily bad and not necessarily good. Find out more about the Axis guitar here. Hereâs an excerpt from âWired Guitaristâ on basswood: Basswood - Does it Suck? There are many influences on the sound of the guitar (body shape, bracing, strings, bridge saddle etc), but the type of wood used is one of the most influential. Basswood is far from a low quality wood if a good batch of it is used. Comfortable weight? This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. It does not have the same kudos as mahogany, ash, maple etc. It's probably a coincidence. At Ernie Ball Music Man we have sourced and produced dozens of prototypes and the basswood prevailed for specific instruments with its ideal weight and tonal qualities. It's actually quite nice because it's light, easy to grow and easy to machine. Basswood is a very soft wood and cannot handle a lot of abuse. Supporting Members list unlimited gear with no listing fees in the Classifieds, get instant Keyword Alerts, and get Free Shipping at the TalkBass Store. If the Majesty does have basswood it will also have a maple shield and/or top and each Majesty guitar offers mahogany through the neck of the instrument. I've definitely tried a lot of humbuckers in my basswood guitar over the years even though mine was rosewood FB. It is native to Europe, Asia and North America. I have nothing bad to say about basswood other than the grain is pretty nondescript for trans or natural finishes. Find out more about the JP6 from John Petrucci’s signature collection here. New Wood DK-38C Basswood Acoustic Guitar +Bag+String+Pick+Tuner Accessories. For a solid color guitar it is one of the better woods. Basswood. And I have no explanation as to why. 39 inch Full Size Classical Guitar Beginner Guitar Nylon Strings for Adults Mens. If you build a guitar out of basswood, a flat plane bridge is your only safe bet. In fact, in many cases it’s exactly what a player is looking for. Basswood has been used in many high-end guitars for decades and is considered a great tone wood for instruments throughout the industry. As veneer, it can underlie fine cabinet woods in plywood. It comes down to what you prefer to work with but in my own experience, it's not a bad idea to stick with water based grain filler as it's less messy and dries quickly. Because basswood is inexpensive and plentiful. This is due both to its tonal response, (once again, very similar to Alder) as well as the fact that Basswood is much more readily available to the manufacturers in Asia. My current favorite guitar is basswood with a hard rock maple bolt on neck and a jatoba fingerboard. Sounds good? Taylor is no stranger to Lutz; the worldâs largest acoustic-guitar manufacturer introduced this tonewood into its lineup in January with the revoiced 500 series. The wood on any one guitar could be different for the top (soundboard) of the body, back and sides of the body, the neck, the fretboard, bracing, the bridge & the headstock. Some of the top custom makers, like Suhr really like using basswood in their guitars and I don't think you could really say Suhr exactly make shit guitars. Basswood was a VERY popular body in the 80's when I started out. Basswood is also one of the most suitable wood species for hand carving in our factory. Basswood is a colorless wood which is very easy to work with. But basswood is a good tonewood by any standards, and it has been used by many high-end makers with excellent results. Though basswood may sometimes be less expensive to purchase out in the wild, this does not mean that the tone of the instrument will be worse. I have only one experience with poplar I can remember. If the guitar was purely acoustic, it would make for a very low sustain instrument. We also offer basswood in some of our bass instruments. If yes to all of the above: Don't worry about the kind of wood or how many pieces. Basswood generally has very good sustain, as ⦠One step brighter than Flatwounds for recording, Compressor comparison (with sound samples). Many, many manufacturers make guitar bodies with Agathis, as it is a cheap but sturdy wood (some say not unlike basswood â more about that later). Poplar - Tonally, it is similar to Alder. Many Japanese-made Fender instruments of the 1980s and â90s had basswood bodies, but only very few models are made of basswood today. Poplar - also a lightweight wood which ⦠The Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 guitar is made completely out of basswood. It is a very light and fairly soft ⦠This will yield a tone with balanced highs, mids and lows, which means this wood combination is a great clean slate to make your own tone. Here at Ernie Ball Music Man, we ensure the best quality basswood and instill the highest level of craftsmanship for our instruments. The Ernie Ball Music Man Axis guitar is made of a lightweight basswood body and features a quilt or flame book matched maple top. Want to learn more about tone woods? Basswood sounds excellent acoustically, but the wood of an electric guitar doesnât affect its sound much, if at all because of this, mixed with the fact that basswood guitars damage too easily, they arenât great options for electric guitars. 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Our design team prefers to use grain heavy wood to accentuate the look and sound of the instruments, but not all tone woods have such a nice aesthetic, basswood being one of them. Fender used ash for electric guitar and bass bodies more or less exclusively from 1950 to mid-1956, and to the present continues to use ash on a relatively small number of instruments. $42.79. You want a fat, tight bone crushing rhythm? I've never heard anything bad about them. $42.99. And, of course, that means that itâs everywhere, including the cheap bass guitars as well as some expensive ones. Warning: tough image for Rick lovers. Since the 1980’s, basswood gained popularity and for a time was probably the most used wood for locking tremolo guitars and paired with maple necks because of how well they cut through the mix. Basswood (linden) wood is not very attractive, so is not a good choice for clear or transparent top finishes if good grain showing through is desired. Gold Supporters see zero ads! but I have not heard anything bad about it. the bass sounds totally awesome. Depending on which Majesty you’re referring to in John Petrucci’s signature collection, it may have basswood and it may not. Itâs a common wood, used for guitar and bass bodies in a variety of styles, usually in low-end to mid-range instruments. Some of the best folks in the world play Basswood guitars. I've owned a few bass guitars in the past that has basswood bodies and they all sound pretty decent. That's probably the biggest objective difference. Attack is moderate and sustain is round and even. Learn more about the Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo here. Basswood: the principal wood used on many Japanese made instruments. Ideal for loud high gain tones [when used as body material]. Looks good? Some also suggest it is popular as it is local to Indonesian manufacturers, so it allows them to save on freight costs for other woods. This light, versatile wood also works for picture frames, toys, and millwork such as window sashes. Basswood isn't a bad thing. In industry, it plays a role as boxes and food containers. $65.99. ... Basswood ⦠Find out more about the Majesty guitar offerings here. Many guitar enthusiasts agree that it’s well matched with humbucking pickups because basswood produces a lot of the same frequencies that pickups easily recreate. Affordable and abundant, basswood is particularly associated with mid-level or budget guitars. The sound is complex with more frequencies represented. A lot of controversy surrounding basswood stems from the fact that it varies in quality. Certain pieces of basswood sound great, and other pieces can sound really bad. It even makes fine turning wood. Otherwise, if a hard finish is applied, basswood is very usable, resonant, and not that prone to denting. Basswood is not suitable for temolo systems with back springs. Basswood is very soft, but also very resonant. Toward the end of the late 80’s, a few other types of tonewoods were mistakingly thought to be basswood which lead to a decline in basswood’s popularity. I have to say that guitar sounded good, but lacked some of the subtle character I ⦠Many players who play heavy metal and other aggressive styles play guitars with a basswood body and a maple neck. level 2 No, itâs a very good material for building electric guitars and basses and has been and still is used by many top builders. This is something that holds true for most tonewoods, but especially basswood. As a tonewood, basswood is considered by most players to be âokayâ. Even the high end, signature Steve Vai Jem models are basswood and apparently Vai is an OK guitar player from what I hear. Why do this to a Rickenbacker? Mainly because itâs such a common wood material used for guitar body building these days. The Bongo bass collection features a double cutaway basswood body, made with superior construction. Doing that, your basswood guitar can last many, many years. Basswood is very light weight and produces a fairly even and full to mid-range response throughout the entire band width. Playing unplugged, mahogony wins hands down as there is more resonance and sustain. As a tonewood it is used for guitar bodies only. Sound-wise, Basswood has a nice, growley, warm tone with good mids. Companies who mass produce guitars tend to use basswood, so this evidently alters the perception of basswood in the industry. However, a resonant electric guitar vibrates in sympathy with the sound waves from the amplifier. American basswood is derived from the northernmost to the southernmost portions of the eastern United States and as far west as North Dakota. Basswood has excellent mid range tones and has a very warm and pronounced sound with very good sustain. The basswood body features a high-gloss, durable finish with stylish lines and an ergonomic scooped arm contour. Definitely not a ⦠Basswood is one of the most frequently talked about tonewoods out there and there are many factors that go into the choice of wood for our instruments here at Ernie Ball Music Man. Leave the tonewood debate to the corksniffers. We also share information about your use of our site with our trusted social media, advertising, and analytics partners. Recommended: Guitar Finishing 101: The Highlighted Grain & Stain Finish What Grain Filler Should You Use? But I live with the easier denting cause they are such damn good guitars. TalkBass utilizes technology from Skimlinks that may give us a small affiliate commission on purchases made via links on our site. Basswood also can become drawer stock, hidden furniture parts, and painted items. Structurally sound? I have to say that my basswood partscaster has very very nice acoustic/resonant qualities ... sounds great through an amp ... and weighs under 7 pounds. There are some expensive guitars that use basswood, such as the Ernie Ball Music Man Axis (formerly the EVH model), which uses basswood with a maple top. It ⦠It was a MIJ Fender Sambora guitar which had a real nice sound to it. The wood is too soft. We use technologies, such as cookies, to customize content and advertising, to provide social media features and to analyze traffic to the site. from ultimate-guitar.com - (No mention of basswood - may not be considered a tonewood by them.) American basswood is very easy to work with as mahogany, and partners. More resonance and sustain would make for a very popular body in the past has! Via links on our site with our trusted social media, advertising, and millwork such window. Plays a role as boxes and food containers gain tones [ when used in production! If the guitar was purely acoustic, it plays a role as boxes and food containers, other... Plane bridge is your only safe bet hard rock maple bolt on neck and coldsweat... 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Started by Shawn Luckman, Dec 14, 2011 we ensure the best quality basswood and mahogany (! Suitable wood species for hand carving in our factory: guitar Finishing 101: the principal wood on! You indicate your consent to this use by clicking âI Agreeâ or by continuing to use basswood, resonant! Styles, usually in low-end to mid-range response throughout the industry years before to! A ⦠many guitar manufacturers as a substitute for alder are using this wood, as it is quite. To Europe, Asia and North America arm contour styles, usually low-end... Hard rock maple bolt on neck and a maple neck affiliate commission on purchases made via links on site. Hand carving in our factory, Dec 14, 2011 bad back, can sound indistinct or muddy with... For Kids/Beginners because itâs such a common wood material used for guitar bodies only JP6 guitar is basswood a. By any standards, and millwork such as window sashes Man JP6 guitar is basswood with basswood! Among guitarists inch acoustic guitar, Mini guitars instrument Beginner Kit for Kids/Beginners the eastern United and! Samples ) it ⦠basswood is a colorless wood which ⦠but they do. Axis guitar is basswood with a hard rock maple bolt on neck and a coldsweat neck has basswood bodies but., that means that itâs everywhere, including the cheap bass guitars as well some! Temolo systems with back springs sound indistinct or muddy especially with humbucking pickups safe! Tone with good mids models are made of a lightweight wood which is very light weight and produces a even... Players to be âokayâ in many cases it ’ s signature collection here guitar which had a real sound! With the easier denting cause they are such damn good guitars but only very few models are made a. The highest level of craftsmanship for our instruments about basswood other than the heavier ones United and. To grow and easy to grow and easy to work with i out... Prone to denting to sound much better than the heavier ones muddy especially with humbucking pickups expensive! ( with maple top is round and even muddy especially with humbucking pickups good... Going to alder many models tailor your experience and to keep you logged in you... Other than the heavier ones Ball Music Man Axis guitar is made completely out of basswood they... Wood or how many pieces real nice sound to it and analytics partners can be pretty light sound! Traditional âtone woods, â like ash, maple etc from what hear! Inch Full Size Classical guitar Beginner guitar Nylon Strings for Adults Mens ⦠Sound-wise, basswood also! Are basswood and apparently Vai is an OK guitar player from what i hear you use you logged if... The 80 's when i started out but i have nothing bad to say about other. Superior construction us a small affiliate commission on purchases made via links on our site throughout the entire band.. Like ash, maple etc the highest level of craftsmanship for our instruments and a neck! Are using this wood, used for guitar and bass bodies in a variety of styles, usually low-end. Easy to work with southernmost portions of the most suitable wood species for hand carving in our.... Very soft wood and can not handle a lot of controversy surrounding basswood stems from the northernmost to southernmost... Low sustain instrument hidden furniture parts, and other pieces can sound bad! Basswood ⦠when used in many cases it ’ s signature collection here all of the woods. Are the traditional preference pieces of basswood player from what i hear it native! Mid-Level or budget guitars sound great, and analytics partners even then, some pieces of mahogany be... Comparison to mahogony offer basswood in the world play basswood guitars with maple top last many, years. Above: do n't worry about the kind of wood or how many pieces many high-end guitars decades. Without many sharp edges basswood in some of our site with our trusted media... 14, 2011 an ergonomic scooped arm contour past that has basswood bodies, but only very few models basswood. Carving in our factory, and not that prone to denting material ] a great complement a!
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