Opinions on Basswood? Plus pickups to compliment

[Ephemeria]

Ok, I'm looking at getting a Warmoth Strat built with a maple neck and ebony fingerboard, but I'm not too sure whether to get basswood for the body. I've also considered alder and mahogany, so I'm kinda stuck in a rut, lol. The music I'll be primarily playing on this guitar is solo type stuff - instrumentals kind of like Joe Satriani, John Petrucci. Oh, I'm also looking for a HSH BKP set for this guitar as well, so advice on this would be greatly appreciated, too. I want the guitar to really sing - rather than scream - when playing heartfelt solos, whether I'm playing fast and slow. I'd also like the pickup to play cleans nicely, as well as clean up nicely when rolling back the volume. I was thinking the Holy Diver, since I've heard it's a very expressive pickup.

So to some up,  I'm looking for a wood for the body, as well as pickups to compliment.

Cheers

[Roobubba]

Alder + holy diver.

Rock on! :)

[dave_mc]

(good) basswood normally works pretty well for that sort of melodic shred (for want of a better term) type of playing.

That's not to say it's your only option, of course. And a lot of people really don't like it, so I'd make sure you're one of the ones who does before forking out for a warmoth (LOL).

is it going to have a floyd?

[Ephemeria]

Yeah it will :)

[Denim n Leather]

Nailbombs all the way for the basswood; I would use a Trilogy Suite in the SC position. I like basswood; sounds great and is light weight -- just not pretty to look at.

For alder? Cold Sweat or Painkiller would be my first choice.

Mahog = Miracle Man; perhaps Aftermath.

[Ephemeria]

I already have Nailbombs in one guitar, and an Aftermath in another. I wanted something Alnico in this one and was really looking towards the Holy Diver. I just wanted to know how it was for playing instrumental type metal. Not really heavy stuff, just more melodic like Satriani. And what's better for this music? Basswood or Alder? And which one would the Holy Diver shine through more? I've also had people reccomend the VHII or Black Dog, but I'm not too familiar with these, lol.

[Denim n Leather]

Holy Diver in maple is divine!

[Telerocker]

Holy Diver in maple is divine!

In ash too.  :)

[dave_mc]

I already have Nailbombs in one guitar, and an Aftermath in another. I wanted something Alnico in this one and was really looking towards the Holy Diver. I just wanted to know how it was for playing instrumental type metal. Not really heavy stuff, just more melodic like Satriani. And what's better for this music? Basswood or Alder? And which one would the Holy Diver shine through more? I've also had people reccomend the VHII or Black Dog, but I'm not too familiar with these, lol.

i don't know about the pickups, but either would work... alder is a bit brighter. it's not really that bright, more balanced, but it's brighter than basswood.

Just depends on what you want.

to my ears (and I fully accept that this is subjective, and maybe even psychological :lol: ) alder sounds more hair metal, whereas basswood (or mahogany, or something like that) is more in the satriani vein of things.

Of course, in saying that... vai uses alder, as does andy timmons.

Either'll work, basically. :lol:

[Ephemeria]

I already have Nailbombs in one guitar, and an Aftermath in another. I wanted something Alnico in this one and was really looking towards the Holy Diver. I just wanted to know how it was for playing instrumental type metal. Not really heavy stuff, just more melodic like Satriani. And what's better for this music? Basswood or Alder? And which one would the Holy Diver shine through more? I've also had people reccomend the VHII or Black Dog, but I'm not too familiar with these, lol.

i don't know about the pickups, but either would work... alder is a bit brighter. it's not really that bright, more balanced, but it's brighter than basswood.

Just depends on what you want.

to my ears (and I fully accept that this is subjective, and maybe even psychological :lol: ) alder sounds more hair metal, whereas basswood (or mahogany, or something like that) is more in the satriani vein of things.

Of course, in saying that... vai uses alder, as does andy timmons.

Either'll work, basically. :lol:

Yh, I know. Although Vai used to play Basswood. I know Satriani plays basswood. It's just a really hard decision, lol.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Warpig works very well in basswood
Afghan Dave has an Ibanez Rg that is basswood and the Warpig he put in sounds great!

[dave_mc]

Yh, I know. Although Vai used to play Basswood. I know Satriani plays basswood. It's just a really hard decision, lol.

yeah, vai has some basswood guitars too

yeah, i know it's hard. :lol:

[Loomer]

Well, basswood is the same as any other wood;

If it's a shitee slab of wood, it will sound as such, and unfortunately most basswood guitars on the market today are low-end things with not so good wood quality. I personally also find basswood a little.. Bland, I guess. Hard to say.
I've owned quite a few Ibanez's over the years, and the wood has been fine but not stellar. At least to my tastes.

The RG7620 I own now is very good indeed, but it still can't hold a candle to my mahogany S7420, but then again nothing can in my mind, as I love that thing to bits.

But that's just the wood, of course. With the right pickups it will of course sound great. I've really liked the tones Madsakre has gotten from his Pig'd Ibanez RG7 and RGD, and I'm sure once I've chucked out the DiMarzios in my RG7620 it will sound like God on steroids.

[WezV]

I personally also find basswood a little.. Bland, I guess. Hard to say.

i prefer to think of it as transparent. doesn't really bring much to the melting pot, but wont hurt either

i was looking at an ebay listing earlier today where the seller claimed a guitar would have strong bass because it was made out of basswood :?

I think they were taking its common name a bit too literally there.  for a start, they are pronouncing it wrong, although i think you could argue common usage on this one.  It should really be 'bass-wood' like the fish and the beer rather than 'base-wood' like many people (myself included, on occasion) often call it when talking about guitars

[Loomer]

"The guitar is bass-wood, so it goes enormously well with a light white wine, potatoes and hollandaise sauce."