• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why basswood???

MY favorite body wood is mahogany.

My favorite neck wood is mahogany.

My favorite fingerboard wood is... don't care.

I would be very limited if I insisted on only the above criteria.

basswood does dent easily, and I baby my g-tars, but I do have a lovely variety of woods on my instruments, including basswood.

I also like poplar and alder for bodies.
 
Wood phobia seems to a thing on Talkbass. There must be name for those who suffer from this horrible disorder. Hmm...

"Wood" in the Greek: Can't read Greek, going with Latin.
"Wood" in Latin: lignum....Lignuphobia

"Lignuphobics". Yes, there are lignuphobics running around loose on TB.

Reported!
When you buy a used Basswood bass that every screw is stripped on it, you know that piece of Basswood was too soft.
When you have strap pins tear out, you know the wood is too soft.
I guess Basswood should be chosen carefully.
The holes need to have hardener in them or very careful use of a screwdriver.
Or just use a good piece of Poplar, Alder, Ash or Mahogany, a bit smaller body than a Jazz, StingRay, Precision and then careful choice of hardware/pickup.
But I don't mind a 8.5 pound bass.
 
BassWood Eats

( TGIF bros )

upload_2021-2-19_15-24-31.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: chris70x7
When you buy a used Basswood bass that every screw is stripped on it, you know that piece of Basswood was too soft.
When you have strap pins tear out, you know that piece wood is too soft. (fixed it for ya)
I guess Basswood should be chosen carefully.

Right...*that* piece of wood. Let's be honest here, screws dislodging themselves, screw holes becoming stripped out from a few R&R's, doesn't happen often enough to warrant all this consternation. If it did, no builders would ever be using it. Talkbass hype.

(Quick!...someone alert EBMM!)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Durham52
Basswood is indeed soft. I bought a new Sterling by Music Man SUB StingRay recently, online. When I opened the package, I noticed a screw was missing from the control plate. I unscrewed the whole plate, only to see that 3 of the screws (including the missing one) were installed in a way that it “tore” through the hole, probably as they were going slightly slanted. This damaged the wood, meaning those 3 screws couldn’t get screwed in.

I could have returned the bass, but couldn’t be bothered with the hassle... plus the rest of the bass was perfect- for a £350 bass that is. The overall instrument is good and sounds good, so I was like “what if I return it and get a lemon instead?” when I could get that easily fixed by my usual tech. Which is what he did, for cheap. It’s now sorted, but conclusion is: yes, basswood is soft and if you’re not careful with your screws, you might mess up the wood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop
In many posts it's been mentioned that basswood is light. If so I'm interested in some opinions as to why my Sterling SUB bass made in Indonesia with a walnut finish weighs in at 9 lbs 6 oz? Thankyou in advance for your replies.

Bad karma? Other than that, I'm not sure.

In all seriousness, I think two things. 1) Wood is wood, meaning it isn't all the same. It may be that you have an outlier. 2) I didn't know that SUBs were basswood. When I bought mine, the website indicated that it was jabon, or something similar that I'd never heard of.
 
Bad karma? Other than that, I'm not sure.

In all seriousness, I think two things. 1) Wood is wood, meaning it isn't all the same. It may be that you have an outlier. 2) I didn't know that SUBs were basswood. When I bought mine, the website indicated that it was jabon, or something similar that I'd never heard of.

Interesting reply. It may be Jabon, however it is soft. What characteristics can I look for? Thx.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop and wvbass
Interesting reply. It may be Jabon, however it is soft. What characteristics can I look for? Thx.
No idea. I'd never heard of jabon. I'm not even sure I'm remembering that right. I do know my SUB isn't over nine pounds, so I'd say you got a heavy one.

I don't know if mine is soft or not. It has no dents or dings. I have done zero mods - I did it to prove a point to myself. It is a $300 bass that I have used on several "professional" shows. I have $3k basses as well, and while they are objectively "better," I proved to myself that all basses are "professional" basses.