JEMs and basswood

[xklusivly4u]

As you know a lot of JEMs are made of basswood. I am just wondering why people pay so much money for basswood body guitars.

The reason I am asking is I like JEM 77 FP so much and thinking to get one but it has basswood body. I read it somewhere that basswoods are used for low end guitars and the sound is not as great as alder.

I am confused.

Can you consider basswood as same level of alder, mahogany etc?

[jemsite]

please do a forum search for alot of info on body woods.

jems (except the VWH) are made of basswood becuase that is what Vai wanted in the original 777s in terms of weight and tone... since then he must still want it or it would be changed. At their current price, Ibanez could use any wood they want, charge more and sell the same number of JEMs.

i would wager you read this on a vintage site or from romanoff.

closing this thread now... glen