Why basswood???

[Bassclef46]

With a poly finish most woods are indestructible to some degree. I was stunned that the John Myung sig bongo is basswood.

I don’t discriminate against wood type anymore. I got an empress body and okoume and realized they sound just as good as alder and ash

 

[BurningSkies]

Plentiful, fairly cheap, tends to be lighter, the woodgrain is mild and generally not objectionable (can be a bit 'green'), it's a easy wood to work that is generally tonally neutral.

 

[stringthrough]

you linked to a painted body. makes me think you're just having a hard time with the idea of it. some of us want axes that don't weigh much.

i like paulownia...it's lighter than basswood! i'm on 'a paulownia kick'. it's so lightweight = it will allow me to play for another 20 years...maybe 30!

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I've had several sub-8lbs basses over the years, all made of swampash, including one made of mahogany. It's doable.

 

[Bassclef46]

I've had several sub-8lbs basses over the years, all made of swampash, including one made of mahogany. It's doable.

Or you could just be more careful. It that’s not an option then rock and roll

 

[stringthrough]

Plentiful, fairly cheap, tends to be lighter, the woodgrain is mild and generally not objectionable (can be a bit 'green'), it's a easy wood to work that is generally tonally neutral.

It's fine for the cheaper basses, but I've seen basswood bodies on basses that cost well over a grand. We the buyers should not have to be overly concerned about not hurting our basses because the manufacturers have not hunted down and purchased sufficient lightweight but harder woods.

 

[stringthrough]

Or you could just be more careful. It that’s not an option then rock and roll

I'd rather worry about what notes to play at a gig than the fragility of my bass.

 

[BurningSkies]

It's fine for the cheaper basses, but I've seen basswood bodies on basses that cost well over a grand. We the buyers should have to be overly concerned about not hurting our basses because the manufacturers have not hunted down and purchased sufficient lightweight but harder woods.

EB uses it for Bongos, I assume for weight, how easy it is to sculpt and the neutral tonality. I had a 50's RI Telecaster (MIJ) that was basswood and it was totally a great sounding guitar. I gigged it for a few years without any problems with it denting.

I'm not sure that people looking down at it as a second-class luthier material is warranted.

 

[SLPimp]

That's my point, why not build basses and guitars with harder woods so I can worry less about them. Things happen onstage, I've had a couple take a hard fall.

It's light and cheap. Put enough paint on a bass and the wood doesn't matter. I'm in the "screw tone wood" camp. Plus, chicks dig scars.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

why not build your axes any way you want them? no harm in that, right? and then the rest of us can do the same as we see fit, right?

i'd venture a guess that there are more folks on TB (and in the wild) who like lightweight instruments as there are who think heavy = good!

Amen to that!

 

[Beej]

Basswood isn't just used because it's inexpensive - it grows quickly, is smooth, does not move in service, has tight grain, takes paint/stain/sealer well and is lightweight. It is not a "lesser" wood by any stretch. Some of the woods listed above are used for reasons of tradition, but definitely not because they are superior in construction somehow. If you want a lighter instrument, there's also chambering to be had.

That Ibanez linked up above will have 1.5mm thick polyurethane on it that will provide some pretty good resistance to the influence of clumsy bassists.

 

[JRA]

those are some of the cheapest stringed instruments that I've ever seen!

you keep stating the obvious --- but i give you props for tying up bandwidth just to bi+ch about it!

I've had several sub-8lbs basses over the years, all made of swampash, including one made of mahogany. It's doable.

I'd rather worry about what notes to play at a gig than the fragility of my bass.

i believe you (FWIW: that ax i posted is a modified version of those glarry axes you're scorning --- it weighs 6.2 lbs!). and, as a bonus = i don't have to take care of it if i don't want to! it's optional!

 

[gln1955]

If you're planning on beating the crap out of your bass, then basswood is probably not the best choice. For the rest of us, it's a non-issue. I like swamp ash a lot, both for the weight and the grain.

 

[stringthrough]

It's light and cheap. Put enough paint on a bass and the wood doesn't matter. I'm in the "screw tone wood" camp. Plus, chicks dig scars.

You can apply as many coats of paint as you like but paint still depends on its underlying foundation . . . . . (heads to the bathroom to figure out where to best create a scar)

 

[stringthrough]

you keep stating the obvious --- but i give you props for tying up bandwidth just to bi+ch about it!



i believe you (FWIW: that ax i posted is a modified version of those glarry axes you're scorning --- it weighs 6.2 lbs!). and, as a bonus = i don't have to take care of it if i don't want to! it's optional!

". . . tying up bandwidth. . . "?

Storage is cheap! There, I just did it again.

 

[Bassclef46]

I'd rather worry about what notes to play at a gig than the fragility of my bass.

Seems the logical choice would be to not buy basswood then since it appears you are somehow able to destroy you bass while focusing on notes. Curious where I can go and see you in action.

 

[BurningSkies]

If you're planning on beating the crap out of your bass, then basswood is probably not the best choice. For the rest of us, it's a non-issue. I like swamp ash a lot, both for the weight and the grain.

Be prepared to find an alternative. With the Emerald Ash Borer destroying old-growth ash in North America it's becoming harder to source and many luthiers are starting to move away from it. I have both ash and alder bodied instruments (bass & guitar) and I've been favoring alder lately...though I have a featheweight Tele in swamp ash that's a stunner in tone.

 

[stringthrough]

Seems the logical choice would be to not buy basswood then since it appears you are somehow able to destroy you bass while focusing on notes. Curious where I can go and see you in action.

I have special skills.

 

[5StringBlues]

(heads to the bathroom to figure out where to best create a scar)

 

[JRA]

(heads to the bathroom to figure out where to best create a scar)

just have fun with it! be creative!

 

[gln1955]

Be prepared to find an alternative. With the Emerald Ash Borer destroying old-growth ash in North America it's becoming harder to source and many luthiers are starting to move away from it. I have both ash and alder bodied instruments (bass & guitar) and I've been favoring alder lately...though I have a featheweight Tele in swamp ash that's a stunner in tone.

EAB has been around here for quite a while. I'm trying to save eight white ash on my property. So far, so good.