Comments on: Basswood versus Alder

By: James Aldridge

James Aldridge — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:43:54 +0000

This was of great help. I am in the process of building a strat to my liking. I have a basswood body and will be interested to hear the finished product with the TBX and midboost kit installed.
Live On
James

By: Jorn

Jorn — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:49:35 +0000

I am sorry to say this but i am leaning towards basswood !
It all reminds me about 10 yrs ago, i bought an expensive re issue 57 strat pickups. And replaced it on my 79 Stratocaster. I got weaker output more treble and less upper bass. Was it better ? No, just different. Switch backed after 6 mnd.
I have been playing bass for 5 yrs now, and have 7 basses.
The one i am using most is a 2000 Japanese fender jazz bass with basswood.
Evey one is telling me that i should use my USA Alder based jazz.

By: Christ

Christ — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:50:12 +0000

Thankyou James. You have helped clear something up. ‘Nothing is clear even when it is’ (I’m not an MP). I would really like to hear the samples from both guitars with very finely set up strings. The Basswood has far more midrange. I am wondering if the middle was lost on the Alder because the strings are too near the pickups. The cheaper far eastern guitar bodies are often made of Basswood. This has given me a somewhat ’snotty’ attitude towards it as a tonewood. Apparently quite wrongly. I have just ordered an Alder body from Warmoth. Maybe it should have been basswood.

Long may you shine.

By: Salv

Salv — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:14:26 +0000

This is very interesting.
I wasnt aware of how much difference there would be tone wise between basswood and alder and this comparison has been really helpfull.

i have to agree with lemmers, the alder just sounds a bit to bright for my taste but thats just me.

By: R. Lemmers

R. Lemmers — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 16:49:52 +0000

Just a matter of taste, both are tonewoods. I like the warmth of the basswood more, especially with distortion at the end of the recording.

By: Mike Webster

Mike Webster — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:21:48 +0000

James,

I have a Japnese Marvin strat basswood body fitted with Kinman Marvin pickups. I just bought a new Japanese strat in alder and fitted the same pickups.

The difference in sound is incredible. The alder is much brighter with much clearer ‘bell’ tone on the treble strings.

I am being tempted to fit a swamp ash body to my new guitar but maybe I should leave well alone!

Great we site

Thanks

Mike

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 09 May 2006 15:52:17 +0000

Thanks Jim,

Very interesting stuff that tonosity
link.

I am still tossed between Alder and Ash. As mentioned, it is realy best to try the instruments but this is not an option for me. I currently have a Mexican 70’s strat with a Olympic White ash body. Its pretty nice, not that heavy eather. I am thinking of upgrading to the now available USA model of this but hesitate because this color is only available in Alder wood. This is not a guitar commonly on the shelf, you have to order it.

You have now opened my eyes more to the Alder wood though. I favor classic rock music. I might even like the Alder better. I don’t know.

Thanks again,
Steve

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:01:55 +0000

Hey - look what I found! tonosity.com on web.archive.org

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:10:05 +0000

As did I. Watch out on the Ash thing though, there are two different types. Northern Ash, which I think was the wood used on the early Telecasters and Swamp Ash, which is more common nowadays.

According to tonosity.com, Swamp Ash can be unpredictable, simply because its tone depends on where in the swamp the tree grew!

Northern Ash tends to be heavier and denser, and delivers a tone with less middle and more highs and lows.

Wish I’d saved those pages from tonosity.com before it disappeared.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:21:10 +0000

Very interesting.
Nice demo of the two.

The Alder seems much clearer than the Basswood. I am currently debateing between Ash or Alder body for Stratocaster.

Thanks,
Steve