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Why basswood???

#61
stringthrough said:
It's such a soft, easy to dent wood!

With Ash, maple, poplar, mahogany and other good sounding, though often heavier (but not always) woods with which to build bass bodies.
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I have a first generation made in China Classic Vibe Squier P-Bass that is made of basswood and has been totally tricked out with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickup, USA pots + orange drop cap and a Gotoh 201 bridge that really plays and sounds good. The basswood body is soft, but I really take care of my stuff and if it gets a ding on it, I'll get over it.
 
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#62
stringthrough said:
I have special skills. :)
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If your skills include the ability to finish a set with auto-destruct panache, then you may just find basswood provides that pleasing "breakup" you seek.

Don't be this chick.

tenor.gif
 
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#66
Much ado about nothing.

The mass producers will use this as generally it's cheaper to buy, and cheaper to produce (saw blades, drill bits, etc., last longer), and these costs combine to keep a given product in a lower price range, though you do see a few more expensive axes with it but not often. Some people do feel they hear an inherent tone to it, Eddie decreed that all the EVH guitars were to be basswood bodied, he was convinced he heard something from it.

The answer is simple: DON'T buy a bass made out of basswood if it bothers you, there are lots of other choices out there.
 
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#68
stringthrough said:
With CNC machines most woods are easily shaped, so why not produce a bass that can take a little punishment once it leaves the factory?
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CNC machines aren’t immune to maintenance issues. Harder woods are harder on cutting tools necessitating frequent cutter changes and sharpening. Harder woods also take longer to machine since you risk burning and tearouts if you try to go too fast.
 
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#70
For all the obsession around here over the condition of instruments, I'm astonished at most of the responses in this thread. I've done enough woodcarving and laughed often enough at how you can add designs to basswood with your fingernail, I'd never buy an instrument made out of it.

Unless it's super inexpensive and temporary, or maybe I'm hoping to get a shortcut to "natural" relicking. But for anything I've spent much money on, anything I want to take seriously, nah, build it out of something worthwhile.
 
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#72
stringthrough said:
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.
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Ever consider installing strap locks? Or not jumping around so much if you do? Or even just slip a large rubber washer over your strap buttons after you’ve attached the strap?
 
#76
I have a couple basswood basses. They are holding up rather well

JRA said:
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'm with you there, love the lightness. So far I have built two basses using paulownia. Both are a few years old, and were in regular gig/rehearsal rotation pre Vid. I don't baby my instruments, but not reckless either. They have both taken minor hits, but so far.....nary a dent.
 
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#77
blmeier7 said:
I’ve had (and gigged) two basswood basses for around 5 years. The basswood hasn’t been any more susceptible to dents and dings compared to any of the other 40+ basses I’ve owned over the years. If you’re reasonably careful with your instruments then I don’t see any concern.
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Yea, It's simple: most people are neglecting their instruments, don't care about them then blame it on the wood. The guitar can't fall on it's own face by itself. Can't ding itself.
 
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