Basswood? Anyone?
Can anyone get woodytone out of a solid basswood guitar body? Or is this just the worst guitar wood ever?
Here’s my ear experience with it.
1. Not even the great EVH can get a true woodytone out of basswood, though he has come close on stage with the EVH Art Series Charvels.
2. Yes, Satch and Vai use it, but they use their guitars more as a vocal instrument. I don’t hear, nor get, any wood from their tones — usually, anyway.
3. I once played several Peavey Wolfgangs in a row. The non-maple-capped Wolfies sounded like crap to my ears. I found one maple-capped one that gave me a tone-swoody, but only because I was sounding like EVH.
On the other side, tone authority John Suhr says he believes basswood with a maple top is the best tone combo for guitars. C’mon, John, really? I mean, I don’t have the creds to doubt the guy, but for woodytone?
How about revisiting the golden-era Fender and Gibby woods like alder, northern ash, mahogany (must have a maple cap except in SGs and Firebirds) and even maple? I assume they are more expensive than basswood now since basswood and other “weird” woods pop up all over the place in mass-produced guitars now?
Anyone?
Category: Basswood, Edward Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Peavey, Steve Vai
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