diff --git a/src/basis_structure.jl b/src/basis_structure.jl
index 70120bc..961567b 100644
--- a/src/basis_structure.jl
+++ b/src/basis_structure.jl
@@ -273,19 +273,34 @@ function BasisMatrix{N,BT,T2}(::Type{T2}, basis::Basis{N,BT}, ::Tensor,
     BasisMatrix{Tensor,val_type}(out_order, vals)
 end
 
+# When the user doesn't supply a ABSR, we pick one for them.
+# for x::AbstractMatrix we pick direct
+# for x::TensorX we pick Tensor
+function BasisMatrix{T2}(::Type{T2}, basis::Basis, x::AbstractArray, order=0)
+    BasisMatrix(T2, basis, Direct(), x, order)
+end
+
+function BasisMatrix{T2}(::Type{T2}, basis::Basis, x::TensorX, order=0)
+    BasisMatrix(T2, basis, Tensor(), x, order)
+end
+
 
 # method to allow passing types instead of instances of ABSR
 function BasisMatrix{BST<:ABSR,T2}(::Type{T2}, basis, ::Type{BST}, x, order=0)
     BasisMatrix(T2, basis, BST(), x, order)
 end
 
-# default method without intermediate types
+function BasisMatrix{BST<:ABSR}(basis, ::Type{BST}, x, order=0)
+    BasisMatrix(basis, BST(), x, order)
+end
+
+# method without vals eltypes
 function BasisMatrix{TBM<:ABSR}(basis::Basis, tbm::TBM, x, order=0)
     BasisMatrix(Void, basis, tbm, x, order)
 end
 
-function BasisMatrix{BST<:ABSR}(basis, ::Type{BST}, x, order=0)
-    BasisMatrix(basis, BST(), x, order)
+function BasisMatrix(basis::Basis, x, order=0)
+    BasisMatrix(Void, basis, x, order)
 end
 
 # method without x
diff --git a/test/basis_structure.jl b/test/basis_structure.jl
index 3d8a461..090d2c3 100644
--- a/test/basis_structure.jl
+++ b/test/basis_structure.jl
@@ -206,4 +206,20 @@
         @test eltype(bs3.vals) == SplineSparse{Float32,Int}
     end
 
+    @testset "no ABSR" begin
+        bmd = BasisMatrix(mb, X)
+        bmt = BasisMatrix(mb, x123)
+        @test isa(bmd, BasisMatrix{Direct})
+        @test isa(bmt, BasisMatrix{Tensor})
+
+        bmd2 = BasisMatrix(SplineSparse, mb, X)
+        bmt2 = BasisMatrix(SplineSparse, mb, x123)
+        @test isa(bmd2.vals[1], SplineSparse)
+        @test isa(bmd2.vals[2], Matrix)
+        @test isa(bmd2.vals[3], SplineSparse)
+        @test isa(bmt2.vals[1], SplineSparse)
+        @test isa(bmt2.vals[2], Matrix)
+        @test isa(bmt2.vals[3], SplineSparse)
+    end
+
 end  # testset