Comments on: Basswood versus Alder

By: ty millsaps

ty millsaps — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:33:56 +0000

if’n the basswood body is recorded on the left it sounds much better than the alder body on the recording.Unless my outputs are reversed.The basswood is deeper,stronger,meatier(fatter)overtones are better to my old ears.How a strat is wired has as much to do with the tone as the wood or pups.The main deal is to have the middle pup wide open(no tone control).1 volume control and tone control on bridge and neck pup(w/no load pots).This gets the only “true” position 2 and 4 tones.If this is not done 2 and 4 sound absolutely horrible.I don’t care what kind of wood,pups,relicing,finish whatever.Tone is what it’s about not how much you spend on a git.Build your own strat and have the parts “you” like on it.The closest thing to a build your own with the best parts you can afford is a Custom Shop relic around $3500.00.Pay any less than that for a Fender and you get inferior parts.Period!

By: ty millsaps

ty millsaps — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:10:05 +0000

Go to site “Stratocaster a True Thoroughbred of Electric Guitars”.Read for yourself:The company bigs came down with a mandate in the mid/late ’50′s to use alder wood(ash if required for see thru only).Tavares and everybody knew ash sounded better and stated so but had to go by the mandate(probably Randall as He ruined Fender).I have a heavy MIJ ’52 reissue ash(heavy)telecaster and it sounds wonderful(punchy like a Les Paul).I am currently building 2 custom strats with swamp ash bodies and they ring like a mo acoustically,so I know they’ll be good electrically.Also 2 of the biggest quartersawn maple necks available.A V and a U(ungodly huge).I have never owned an alder body strat that sounded worth a s..t,including my for real ’59 strat.I’ll never use alder again(Fender wouldn’t have either except for the mandate).Please don’t comment if you don’t have a decent tube amp or muck up your tone with a lot of effects.A Mexi strat is fine for you.The pine bodied Squires are better than the Mexi ones for real players!

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