Basswood

A light, soft, plain-grained hardwood used for solid guitar bodies, especially on budget and mid-priced instruments.

It is cheap, easy to machine and very light, which makes it attractive for large or heavily routed body shapes, and it is plain enough that it normally takes a solid colour. Because it is soft, screws and tremolo posts can wear their holes over years of use, and the wood dents more easily than alder or ash. Tonally it is usually described as neutral with a gentle midrange emphasis and a soft top end, which suits high-output pickups and heavy gain.

Example: many signature superstrats are basswood, because the wood's even response keeps a hot pickup from getting harsh in the upper mids.

Basswood

See also