Basswood/Alder...

[Hendog]

I recently played a Basswood guitar and I think I like it more than the Alder. Warmer (heavier too) tone, and more sustain.

Anyone else prefer Basswood? What are the positives to Alder?

 

[balance]

Alder is a great all-around wood. More concentrated in the mids than Basswood, but not to a Mahogany extent. I saw a description of Alder once as the "taste like chicken" of woods as it is pretty good at just about everything.

Basswood seems to have a broader spectrum of sound, maybe a little looser in the bass, but a maple top blends well with it and really makes for a full sound.

 

[Hendog]

Alder is a great all-around wood. More concentrated in the mids than Basswood, but not to a Mahogany extent. I saw a description of Alder once as the "taste like chicken" of woods as it is pretty good at just about everything.

Basswood seems to have a broader spectrum of sound, maybe a little looser in the bass, but a maple top blends well with it and really makes for a full sound.

How would you compare the Basswood/Maple Top to Mahogany/Maple Top?

 

[DaPatrooch]

A lot of people bash basswood because it's "cheap." But my JP sounds amazing, so let your ears judge.

 

[robelinda2]

Depends on what pickups. Ever played a basswood strat? Woeful. Gotta be alder or ash for single coils.

 

[Hendog]

Depends on what pickups. Ever played a basswood strat? Woeful. Gotta be alder or ash for single coils.

I use my single coil on my Basswood Ibanez and it sounds pretty good.

 

[ScoobySteve]

I was thinking the same thing while tinkering with the BFR Jp's, but I forgot they are alder with a mahog tone block. So my ears are confused at the moment.

Basswood is warm, and bright, with great smooth sustain, (as contradictory as that may sound) I don't really care if people say basswood is a "cheap" wood. Kind of a silly, elitist, more $ out of pocket kind of thinking that really amounts to nothing. Besides the all RW neck on mine makes it unbelievably warm.

 

[JP7Nomad]

Basswood, to me lets your amp do the work. It's a very neutral sounding wood, and you can tweak it to your tastes. Alder has a more defining tone to it that's fairly obvious when comparing two guitars with the same settings. All of the alder guitars I've played tend to focus on the low mids and a bit more of the high end presence than mahogany does, if that helps at all.

 

[Dante]

i feel basswood is a wood that has to be played a bit more than mahogany. mahogany is full sounding and dark. basswood is not as thumpy as mahog but has a rounded treble that somewhat reminds me of it. to my ears it sounds alot more focused than most common woods, except for ash, which beats all.

 

[balance]

How would you compare the Basswood/Maple Top to Mahogany/Maple Top?

Mahogany is almost always going to be a darker, growlier tone IMO; not as much clarity in overdriven tones.


You could always snag a 25th and get both the Basswood and Mahogany with a Maple top!

 

[megaroel]

Depends on what pickups. Ever played a basswood strat? Woeful. Gotta be alder or ash for single coils.

that is so true lol
but i love the sound of bass wood cause it just sounds more focused all the way around.alder is kick ass dont get me wrong but to muddy when you need to be technical..it all depends on the pickups thats the real source of tone then comes the woods in my opinion. work your way around the music you play by playing diffrent guitars if u want a bluessy feel go with mahogony.you want a tight metal sound go with bass wood/ alder is a between wood just like everything else.

 

[Pablo]

Both alder and basswood are middy woods. However, I find alder much tighter sounding than basswood with more cut and attack. To me basswood is a tad bland sounding lacking the sparkle of alder... But as always: different strokes...

 

[ShaneV]

I like them both, but Alder is my all time favorite. It has a great sparkle unplugged that translates into a really cool growl with gain.

Everyone describing Basswood as more neutral is saying pretty much what I've always observed as well. It's like a blank slate, but I tend to like the character that alder gives- it fits my playing and preferred tone perfectly. I can see how some people would find just the opposite to be true though, and prefer the neutrality of basswood.

 

[Hendog]

I'm starting to find my alder guitars too bland. The basswood is closer to mahagony to my ears. Warmer, better sustain, etc.

In order to do the real test, I will need 3 of the same guitar and pickups with all three different cuts of wood.

 

[balance]

I'm starting to find my alder guitars too bland. The basswood is closer to mahagony to my ears. Warmer, better sustain, etc.

In order to do the real test, I will need 3 of the same guitar and pickups with all three different cuts of wood.

That's fairly easy to do:

1. JP KOA for the Mahogany Sound
2. JP BFR for Alder
3. JP for Basswood

 

[Hendog]

That's fairly easy to do:

1. JP KOA for the Mahogany Sound
2. JP BFR for Alder
3. JP for Basswood

On my way to the Dubaldo website... LOL

 

[bkrumme]

That's fairly easy to do:

1. JP KOA for the Mahogany Sound
2. JP BFR for Alder
3. JP for Basswood

Don't forget about the Mahogany tone block in the BFR. That will change the tone a bit and make it more like Mahogany...

 

[ScoobySteve]

Don't forget about the Mahogany tone block in the BFR. That will change the tone a bit and make it more like Mahogany...

I think the tone block is such a great induction into the BFR line of instruments. You get the strong meatiness of the Alder, but offset it with the mahogany's warmth and smoother sustain. Basically finger picking the best of both worlds.

I actually think the BFR JP could do wondrous things with softer pups.

 

[bkrumme]

I actually think the BFR JP could do wondrous things with softer pups.

+1 It would be cool to hear what a lower output bridge pup would sound like in the BFR.

 

[brokenvail]

Ok I used to play only basswood guitars till I played a 79 F guitar. I bought it and left basswood behind. I played strickly The F and my G guitars for almost 8 years. I bought a Rosewood ASS and love it. I have found that basswood paired with another wood does wonders for it. In my current musically setting Basswood and Mahogany seem to work the best. Alder still rocks though. I think your setting will dictate what works best.