Members c0kenp0pr0ckz Posted August 5, 2005 Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 I'm pretty sure this is going to be parodied because of the title, but I was just wondering which kind of wood is best for the body of a bass?specifically, which is better, ash or alder? but then i'd also like to know generally what is the heirarchy of body woods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted August 5, 2005 Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 Originally posted by c0kenp0pr0ckz I'm pretty sure this is going to be parodied because of the title, but I was just wondering which kind of wood is best for the body of a bass?specifically, which is better, ash or alder? but then i'd also like to know generally what is the heirarchy of body woods "better" is the wrong term. You want to concentrate on what tonal qualities you are looking for. Bright - Ash or Maple. Medium - Alder or Poplar, Warm Mahogany or walnut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted August 5, 2005 Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 Personally, I like Swamp Ash. A bit lighter and it has a really resonant tone. Here's the Warmoth chart though for your viewing pleasure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassguy Posted August 5, 2005 Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 so if you take spruce, mahogany, and birdseye maple and turn it into a body, you wil have the best of everything?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members c0kenp0pr0ckz Posted August 5, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 this actually clears things up very well, thanks for both replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mudbass Posted August 5, 2005 Members Share Posted August 5, 2005 Driftwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members c0kenp0pr0ckz Posted August 6, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Originally posted by Mudbass Driftwood. rofl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Depends specifically on the type of sound wanted. If you want real bright with very little bass, maples good. If you want real dark, easilly muddy and just a little treble, mahogany is good. If you want a balanced sound, woods like alder & poplar. If you want real resonant, basswoods a pref choice of many pros. If you want growly, then same woods warwick uses(bubinga, ovankal & wenge). Combining dif woods together does not give the best of both worlds imo. It gives a comprimise sound between the woods used. Sometimes thats very nice, sometimes it isnt. If you want dark but articulate then agatis is better choice then mahogany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Luthite? Graphite? Why make it wood at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 You can pick a good tonal wood as well (say ash or alder) and have a fancier facing wood on top (like a figured maple). The basic tonal characteristics would be the body wood, with a little bit of the facing wood giving some added sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members canadianriot55 Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 that picture should be in the faqs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illidian Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Originally posted by james on bass You can pick a good tonal wood as well (say ash or alder) and have a fancier facing wood on top (like a figured maple). The basic tonal characteristics would be the body wood, with a little bit of the facing wood giving some added sound. Not true. Roger Sadowsky said that a top less than a quater inch (?not sure on the exact size?) thick does not affect tone at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Originally posted by illidian Not true.Roger Sadowsky said that a top less than a quater inch (?not sure on the exact size?) thick does not affect tone at all. No doubt Roger has tonnes of knowledge in that area, but many other reputed builders would disagree. I tend to believe the facing wood would have a small effect on sound as the bridge, pups etc... are mounted to the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 Go with the wood that looks best to you. In the hierarchy of bass tone, the body wood isn't all that significant. Player input has the greatest effect.The rest are in order according to my opinion. StringsPickups/electronicsBridgeNutBody woodFingerboard woodNeck woodBody top woodTunersBody finishNeck finishHumidityTemperatureColor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sludgebass69 Posted August 6, 2005 Members Share Posted August 6, 2005 for solid finishes, I'm digging the Basswood my passive Kingston is made of. The bass is noticably lighter and more comfortable to wear for an hour or two compared to my active Kingston with the swamp ash body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fintucfin Posted August 7, 2005 Members Share Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by Darkstorm Depends specifically on the type of sound wanted. If you want real bright with very little bass, maples good. If you want real dark, easilly muddy and just a little treble, mahogany is good. If you want a balanced sound, woods like alder & poplar. If you want real resonant, basswoods a pref choice of many pros. If you want growly, then same woods warwick uses(bubinga, ovankal & wenge). Combining dif woods together does not give the best of both worlds imo. It gives a comprimise sound between the woods used. Sometimes thats very nice, sometimes it isnt. If you want dark but articulate then agatis is better choice then mahogany. And agathis is very light on your shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted August 7, 2005 Members Share Posted August 7, 2005 Originally posted by fintucfin And agathis is very light on your shoulder. Very. I've got two agathis instruments. Tonally, it is actually VERY close to Alder, even though its a cousin of mahogany. An agathis strat and an alder one sound 95% identical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassmanatlarge Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 From my experience in building, I find purpleheart to be about the best material to use anywhere in a bass. The resonance is way tighter than any other wood I've used...even to the point of adding a thin layer inside the neck pocket. Don't ask me why...it just works...clearer than maple, warmer than walnut. It's heavy, so if you like a big bodied bass it's a back breaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 Roger S is wrong. All the basses & guitars I've played that had quilted or flamed maple tops have been 1/8 or 3/16 to just barely less then 1/4 inch thick. And the top does indeed influence the sound with easilly hearable brighter and sharper edge compared to the same model bass or guitar without a top. BC Rich for example has long sold exact same model NJ series guitars & basses that had option of black finish (no top) and colored see thru finishes (with top). There tops are on average 3/16 or little less thick. I would agree that a 1/8 or less thick top probably doesnt do more then very minor tone tweak. But any that are close to 3/16 difinately will as easilly proven by side by side comparrisons. Most of the under 1/8 thick 'tops" are probably photoflame which means its just a stick on decal pic. So yes those wont benefit sound an more then puttng a bunch of sticky back decals on you instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members januaryscar Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 coco bolo lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hawkhuff Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 Originally posted by canadianriot55 that picture should be in the faqs +1 Great image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Markee Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 Actually, the best "ideal" wood is seldom used and hardly known of. BUTTERWOOD. It's light as poplar, has a grain similar to Ash and tones closer to Mahogany. The dear fellow who made ButtaBass guitars died last winter but his pieces will live on and gain popularity I suspect......His basses were a blend of the Jazz bass and a Thunderbird. Does anybody know if they kept the shop going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Undertoad Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 I thought butterwood is what you get from butterfaces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beam Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 Alder with an ash top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Perfessor Posted August 8, 2005 Members Share Posted August 8, 2005 I have a neck through mahogany bass that has flatwounds. It sounds rich and smooth. I get upright - like sound from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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