buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Dings, and in some cases I have seen issues with screws after repeatedly being drilled in and out. Same thing with any softer wood, like poplar.
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The only thing better than basswood is tacos. Check for taco addiction in anybody professing a dislike of basswood.
AND- we don't rule out soft shell tacos just because sometimes they blow out, we just exercise caution. Exercise caution when screwing into basswood.
AND- we don't rule out soft shell tacos just because sometimes they blow out, we just exercise caution. Exercise caution when screwing into basswood.
The reasons you listed are exactly why people don't gravitate to it. It is light because it is soft, which means it is prone to damage, doesn't have the heft in tone some people want, and a body that is too light can lead to neck dive. For building or maintenance it also means you can strip the screw holes very quickly if you aren't careful.
As a tone wood, some people don't like a lot of honk in their mids, so a denser wood like alder, ash, or mahogany is preferred.
People are wary of things that are inexpensive because with instruments you generally get what you pay for. If it is cheap, there is a reason.
Because the grain of the wood isn't particularly attractive, stains, bursts, and natural finishes aren't too common, so it limits what you can do with the appearance of the instrument.
I'm not anti-basswood, but I've never been impressed with it either. It might change my mind if someone constructed something boutique-ish with it, but it just has the taint of being "low rent" stuck to it.
I haven't owned a basswood body (that I know of). However, I've become a fan of G&L empress wood bodies. The criticisms I hear of them are similar to basswood, too soft. However, I have three G&L's with empress bodies (a J, P, and L) and I love the sound of all three. The body does ding easily but for me that drawback is acceptable given the weight advantage. All 3 of mine are under 8 lbs. Two are upper 7s and balance great. One is 7.2lbs and is neck heavy but a 1/2lb weight on the straplock near the bridge fixes the balance the bass is still under 8. My back and neck love the weight so I can deal with the dings. Now if in 5 years all of my bridges rip off I might think differently. Here is one of the G&L empress threads (there are more if you search): Remaining G&L Empress Basses
basswood is fine ... just don't remove/replace any screws to many times times ... !! screw holes easily turn to dust ... !
have the carpenters glue or wood putty handy ...
have the carpenters glue or wood putty handy ...
If they started making strings and pickup magnets out of basswood I'd be concerned about how basswood impacts tone.
If it makes the bass lighter, I don't have to worry about neck dive or body slap when I'm playing, I'm all for it.
If I want a bass to last a lifetime... I might look to a more durable wood.
If it makes the bass lighter, I don't have to worry about neck dive or body slap when I'm playing, I'm all for it.
If I want a bass to last a lifetime... I might look to a more durable wood.
I've liked plenty of instruments made of basswood, it's a perfectly fine wood. I think it's just a cheaper hardwood and there's a stigma attached to it because it's cheaper and goes into cheaper basses. It's just got a very closed grain, and has a very plain look to it, as opposed to walnut or ash. It's also fairly soft, so while it's easier to machine, as others have mentioned it's easy for it to wear out in places that screws are put into it. It also dings easily. That being said though, it's perfectly fine wood.
Alleva-Coppola: (sold) Basswood.
MANNE "Soulmover") Basswood:
No hate for either of these fine-sounding awesome instruments.
MANNE "Soulmover") Basswood:
No hate for either of these fine-sounding awesome instruments.
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In a world where people purposefully ding their instruments...
Anyway I have two basswood guitars and they’re great.
Anyway I have two basswood guitars and they’re great.
Basswood isn’t always light weight. Both of mine (Squier CV jazz & Freeman P) are an ounce or two over 9lbs and balance nicely on a strap.
I also forgot the pickups too in my reply.. the pickups have a huge part of the tone as well as the strings too .
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
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My Jazz Bass is basswood. It's fine. My Ursa 1 is basswood, it sounds and plays exactly like a P bass should... My Ursa 3 is Alder, it's noticeably heavier than the Ursa 1, and the extra pickup and pot don't account for the weight difference...
I don't particularly love, or hate basswood. It is what it is, does what it does and I am not going to fuss one way or another.
Now agathis, which has an awful tendency to spit screws out at a rapid pace, no thank you...
I don't particularly love, or hate basswood. It is what it is, does what it does and I am not going to fuss one way or another.
Now agathis, which has an awful tendency to spit screws out at a rapid pace, no thank you...
I simply don't care. It either plays or it doesn't, regardless of price of wood slab.
If it dents too easy, maybe one needs to pay more attention to what one is doing.
As far as screws, there are folks that could strip a screw hole out in anything with a stick of butter.
I am always gentle with screws, especially on a customer's guitar.
Toothpicks, TB, SG, and deadhorse are on the shelf if someone has stripped holes,
which I have seen on about every wood a guitar has ever been built with.
Guard screws do not have to be very tight at all. Flat surface on flat surface.
Resist the urge to crank down.
If it dents too easy, maybe one needs to pay more attention to what one is doing.
As far as screws, there are folks that could strip a screw hole out in anything with a stick of butter.
I am always gentle with screws, especially on a customer's guitar.
Toothpicks, TB, SG, and deadhorse are on the shelf if someone has stripped holes,
which I have seen on about every wood a guitar has ever been built with.
Guard screws do not have to be very tight at all. Flat surface on flat surface.
Resist the urge to crank down.
Not really, agathis has more in common with mahogany tone wise.
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