Tell me if i'm wrong about tonewood?

[bassman74]

Hi guys, there are so many threads and website about tonewood. They don't have the same technical terms and some times they're even contradictory...
Tell me if i'm wrong?
Heavier woods = tight bottom, sparkling to agressive highs
Lighter woods = soft to boomy bottom, sweet to soft highs
Thanks

[FBB Custom]

I think you were on the right track before you tried to characterize heavy vs light woods.

+ there is not an established language for describing tone
+ the language is often contradictory

I'm sure others will come to give you advice about the tone of different woods and I will leave that to them.

My general advice is to worry more about ergonomics and putting together a bass you will like the looks of. Those quantities are well understood for woods. Build a balanced, comfortable bass and select electronics whose EQ response are better understood.

[Suburban]

I can only agree 100% with FBB. Had there been a way to agree more, I would have.

[Bryan316]

Yeah, the fundamental tones of the heavy vs light woods is pretty accurate.

But picking the wrong electronics can ruin your efforts. That's the most difficult part to get right without appropriate selections, a bit of experience, and sometimes manufacturers' recommendations.

Definitely build the bass according to what you're hoping for, in a general way, and then do your research for the electronics to match.

[PilbaraBass]

I didn't think it had so much to do with the density as it did the hardness...

for instance, rock maple is hard..and mahogany is relatively soft...the difference in the two is pretty much as described...

[Musiclogic]

I'll agree with FBB and sidestep this also. The variables are just too vast to make a decided opinion beyond the known quantities. Light or Heavy, you can get great tone eithe way, and to try and pigeon hole it, is impossible.

[NoKnowUse]

Guess it's time to write to the MythBusters and get this thing sorted out for us.

[bassman74]

Good idea, let's go to mythbusters

[erikbojerik]

One man's midrange is another man's mud.