Guitar Body Gurus! Is Basswood Brighter Than Alder?

[STRATDELUXER97]

I probably could do a search on this....As a rule,is basswood brighter than alder? I know basswood is Japan's Alder,but it's light and softer...What about the tonal comparisons?

[Rowan]

I don't know if I'd describe basswood as bright. I have two similar ESPs, both maple necks and rosewood fretboards. One has mahogany body, the other has basswood. The mahogany axe definately has a brighter tone, acoustically and amped up.

[Jeff_H]

John, I have a Basswood body superstrat, and have had Alder strats. I think Basswood is tonally more balanced, or has a flatter eq response as compared to Alder. I don't think of Alder as bright, but I think it resonates in the mid and uppper frequencies more than Basswood. If you had two identical strats, except one was Basswood and the other was Alder, I believe you'de find the Alder snappier and livelier.

The nice thing about Basswood is that because it's so tonally balanced, it really accentuates the different qualities of pickups that you put in it.

Hope this helps a little.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Thanks guys....I was experimenting with the Twangbanger in both an alder and a basswood(Japan)strat....The basswood strat is brighter? Both are rosewood neck 62 styling,C neck,7.25 frets,vintage bridge etc.....

Basically the American Vintage 62 reissue(to me)sounds warmer than the MIJ strat...