[ZeroSignal]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

Or if you're not much a basswood person but still want ibanez, Xiphos or Apex. Both would be superior sounding options.

Matter of opinion really. Basswood is really clear but mahogany is much warmer sounding.

I like basswood.

[Stitch]

Xiphos 7!

It doesn't get any more tech than Necrophagist.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by ZeroSignal

Matter of opinion really. Basswood is really clear but mahogany is much warmer sounding.

I like basswood.

I wouldn't really describe it as clear. In comparison to everything I've stacked them up against, I'd say it sounds flatter and less resonant/acoustic. It lacks oomph.
You may like it well enough, and thats cool, but personally, i found that basswood was the weak link in my sound, and after switching to ash & mahogany guitars, i found a much better tone that was easier to get.

[MerlinTKD]

I remember reading that the 80's shredders tended towards basswood... not sure if that's true, but if it is, it might be because of the flat EQ of the wood... kinda like tofu, it tastes like whatever you season it with!

[ZeroSignal]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

I wouldn't really describe it as clear. In comparison to everything I've stacked them up against, I'd say it sounds flatter and less resonant/acoustic. It lacks oomph.
You may like it well enough, and thats cool, but personally, i found that basswood was the weak link in my sound, and after switching to ash & mahogany guitars, i found a much better tone that was easier to get.

Well I have a mahogany guitar and I still play my basswood guitars just as much.

[ZeroSignal]

Originally Posted by MerlinTKD

I remember reading that the 80's shredders tended towards basswood... not sure if that's true, but if it is, it might be because of the flat EQ of the wood... kinda like tofu, it tastes like whatever you season it with!

EXACTLY! Gilbert, Vai, Satriani and Petrucci ALL still use basswood. Go figure.

[yellowv]

Loomis or Xiphos 7. Both will give a tight death metal chug, as well as articulate leads for sweeps and such.

[Esp Griffyn]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

I wouldn't really describe it as clear. In comparison to everything I've stacked them up against, I'd say it sounds flatter and less resonant/acoustic. It lacks oomph.
You may like it well enough, and thats cool, but personally, i found that basswood was the weak link in my sound, and after switching to ash & mahogany guitars, i found a much better tone that was easier to get.

Could be down to the actual guitars themselves - I've never been totally convinced by the "Basswood is asswood" thing, I've played a load of basswood guitars that I thought sounded great, in particular my RG2228 doesnt seem to be missing any oomph

Each to his own though!

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by ZeroSignal

EXACTLY! Gilbert, Vai, Satriani and Petrucci ALL still use basswood. Go figure.

Actually, Vai's mainstay is alder.

Point is though, this is an entirely different genre than 80s guitar hero music. What works well for leads might not work best with low tuned focused riffage.

Originally Posted by Esp Griffyn

Could be down to the actual guitars themselves - I've never been totally convinced by the "Basswood is asswood" thing, I've played a load of basswood guitars that I thought sounded great, in particular my RG2228 doesnt seem to be missing any oomph

Each to his own though!

I wasn't either until i started using better amplifiers. Playing through higher end marshalls and mesas, my UV's tone just didnt stack up against my groove tools or S7's. No matter how much i tweaked the amps to sound good with the UV, you'd plug in a groove tools with the exact same settings and the difference was jawdropping. One of the main things that made me sell the UV was the bewilderment at why my 300$ and 700$ guitars sounded better than my most expensive one.

[ZeroSignal]

Originally Posted by Esp Griffyn

Could be down to the actual guitars themselves - I've never been totally convinced by the "Basswood is asswood" thing, I've played a load of basswood guitars that I thought sounded great, in particular my RG2228 doesnt seem to be missing any oomph

Each to his own though!

I really don't get it either.