Basswood vs. Alder

[taclassic]

Hello to all,

I have a question for those who have experience with both woods. I just got a hold of a Basswood bodied Drop Top. It is an awesome guitar, but I find the Single Coil sounds to be really bright and thin compared to a Alder Bodied Drop Top I own about a year ago. Can anyone chime in on their experiences with these woods.

Thanks

[michaelomiya]

Hello to all,

I have a question for those who have experience with both woods. I just got a hold of a Basswood bodied Drop Top. It is an awesome guitar, but I find the Single Coil sounds to be really bright and thin compared to a Alder Bodied Drop Top I own about a year ago. Can anyone chime in on their experiences with these woods.

Thanks

assuming you're talking solid and not hollow-body, this is my take. Alder introduces a higher- and lower-mid than basswood. Not as scooped as Swamp Ash, but more present than that of Basswood. Basswood to my ears are really even sounding across the board. IMHO, the basswood back, maple top, is the ultimate ROCK/shred combo, especially when coupled with a maple neck. I've always opted for hums in my Basswood bodies, but I'd say that the s/c p/u model s/b matched to the body wood. For example an SA p/u will be more mid-rangey, to even out the qualities of swamp ash. May want to check the serial # to determine what p/up's you've got matched with the basswood.

[taclassic]

Michael,

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking you might have great experience here. I agree that the Basswood is awesome for humbuckers. I am totally digging that sound. The guitar has SD1s in the neck and middle. In the past I have had SDs in both an Alder Bodied Classic and a Swamp Ash Bodied Classic. They were bright, but cool. I have been tweaking my amp for three days now and cannot get the sound I was hoping out of this combination. Do you think I may have beetr luck with SAs in the guitar or should I consider looking for an Alder Bodied Anderson.

[michaelomiya]

Michael,

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking you might have great experience here. I agree that the Basswood is awesome for humbuckers. I am totally digging that sound. The guitar has SD1s in the neck and middle. In the past I have had SDs in both an Alder Bodied Classic and a Swamp Ash Bodied Classic. They were bright, but cool. I have been tweaking my amp for three days now and cannot get the sound I was hoping out of this combination. Do you think I may have beetr luck with SAs in the guitar or should I consider looking for an Alder Bodied Anderson.

TAC, you may want to consult the "supreme commander" or Snr Roy on this. But IMHO, SA's on a basswood body could sound really mid-rangey, given the fullness of basswood and the mid-range emphasis of the SA's. I've had really great responses with my DT Classics (maple top, basswood back) and the SD1/SD1R for the neck and middle p/ups. I play Marshalls, and even with those heads I was able to EQ out anything that would be considered "ice pick" bright when playing in the neck p/up. YMMV.

Either way, DO NOT sell anything now.:D But if you do, call me first!:rolleyes: :p
mike.

[pluto]

Generally speaking, I've also found single coils with basswood bodies to sound thinner compared to single coils with alder bodies. As Mike already said, alder emphasizes the mids (especially the lower mids), so I'm assuming there is a perception that alder sounds fuller compared to basswood bodies when you're using pickups with less output such as single coils.