noob question on wood choice

Guitar Guy · #1 11-02-2010, 07:13 PM

I am a guitar player, and a heavy modder IMO, so I have a bit of knowledge on wood selection and such. The bass I have is a POS P-Bass knock off that is so knocked off i can't even begin to tell you where it is from. (I traded a cell phone that I got for free and was no longer using for it.) So here is my question...I was looking to replace the body and i found some NOT laminate Paulownia bodies for cheap. I know Paulownia is a good, though very cheap, wood for a guitar's tonal qualities. Is it a decent or good choice for a bass?

mikeyswood · #2 11-02-2010, 07:27 PM

Nope. Anything that is good for a soprano bass is not good for a bass guitar.

DerHoggz · #3 11-02-2010, 08:36 PM

That was sarcasm.

Guitar Guy · #4 11-02-2010, 10:44 PM

well i guess that answers my dumb question. I'll looke elsewhere then..maybe an ash body from mighty mite???

knucklehead G · #5 11-03-2010, 02:17 AM

Ash is usually always a winner for bass.

Nev375 · #6 11-03-2010, 02:22 AM

In a bass most of your tone comes from the rigidity of the neck rather than the body material. If it's a POS bass, replacing the body might be along the lines of trying to polish a turd.

knucklehead G · #7 11-03-2010, 02:26 AM

Replace the body, then later replace the neck. Then get another body for the cheap neck, then ultimately put a nicer neck on it, but then you'll have a spare neck again...

Welcome to the disease Warmoth fans have to live with every day of their lives.

psychotiger · #8 11-03-2010, 05:38 AM

I've never been a big believer that wood type significantly impacts tone. IMO, most of the "color" comes from the electronics, bridge, string type, neck construction, and nut. I therefore am more likely to pick wood based on looks and weight. I think most of your tone comes from your right hand (lefty's adjust accordingly) which is why even a moderately-skilled bass player using an instrument made by a moderately-skilled luthier has much better tone than myself playing a $3,000 bass of any type. Warmoth has this chart if it helps: http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Options/...criptions.aspx

Cheers

Clif

Guitar Guy · #9 11-03-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

In a bass most of your tone comes from the rigidity of the neck rather than the body material. If it's a POS bass, replacing the body might be along the lines of trying to polish a turd.

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklehead G

Replace the body, then later replace the neck. Then get another body for the cheap neck, then ultimately put a nicer neck on it, but then you'll have a spare neck again...

Welcome to the disease Warmoth fans have to live with every day of their lives.

So you're saying i should replace the neck rather than the body, which i was already planning on doing cause the neck has so many issues and is made from som any different pieces of wood that it is not worth its weight in fire wood. It is merely useable since i currently have nothing better. the reason i was planning on tackling the body first is the body is even more cheaply made, is a 1/4 of an in to thin, and the neck weighs at least twice what the body does. since i do actually like the tone of the body, I have given thought to slicing it in half and inserting a half inch slab of ash, since I'd have to refinish it anyway, and pluging pick up and control cavities with pieces of ash left over from the slab and starting from scratch. seems like it could be fun and i have a really unique idea for the pick up and control configs if i do that but i'd only consider doing that head ache if i find that the origional body is not a laminated body. other wise it doesn't seem even close to worth it. I'd still need a new neck, a custom cut pick guard, and new hardware... am i crazy, or is the idea crazy enough to work? and even if it is, is it worth the effort?

knucklehead G · #10 11-03-2010, 05:04 PM

Its worth it. There's a great bass hiding in that thing. Look up some of DarkHorse's builds if you want to see trash turned into awesome, for some motivation.

SilentParadoxx · #11 11-03-2010, 10:24 PM

wood choice is practically arbitrary in my opinion although good wood is nice you can make anything sound good with the pickup selection nowadays

aurian4parker · #12 11-03-2010, 10:29 PM

So you're planning on changing the body and the neck...

Just buy a new bass bro. What's left? Strings?

Guitar Guy · #13 11-04-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aurian4parker

So you're planning on changing the body and the neck...

Just buy a new bass bro. What's left? Strings?

I like the single coil pick up it has, I can't afford a Fender 51 RI, and i'm not paying 350 for a Squier.

audiophile21 · #14 11-04-2010, 10:44 AM

get an sx bass, there cheap (the best you can get for under 200 bucks) and have it set up by a decent tech and you wont be disapointed, but keep the crappy one around to practice on

edit:
heres a link
http://www.sxbasses.com/basses.html

good luck