We need one VOLUNTEER with an ash and alder P Bass.

GlennW · #1 02-21-2011, 11:19 AM

There's been much discussion/debate/arguement/bs and all the other good chit about the effect of different types of body woods on tone.

We need a volunteer who has both an ash and alder body P Bass to make some tests. I'd do it myself, but I don't have the necessary basses.

Note: I suggested P Basses because everything can remain soldered.

Test 1
Pick one of your basses to test first, either one; but before you do loosen the strings a lot and retune. This will eliminate the "hey dude, those strings were on that bass a long time and stretched and settled in" variable.
Play the bass and record it.

Test 2
MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PICKUP AND THE STRINGS ON BASS #1
Loosen the strings on the bass used in Test 1 enough to remove the neck, strings and bridge as an assembly, then remove all that stuff (neck and bridge with strings still around the tuners and through the bridge).
Remove pickguard with controls and pickup from the bass used in Test 1.
Remove all the stuff on bass #2 with the different body wood.
Install the pickup, pickguard/controls, ground wire, etc from bass #1 on bass #2.
Install the neck/strings/bridge from bass #1 on bass body #2.
Tune it. Major set up isn't necessary (in fact changing the break angle at the saddles could skew the results).
SET PICKUP HEIGHT EXACTLY HOW IT WAS IN TEST #1.
Play the bass (same stuff played the same way) and record it.

That should make the body wood the only variable (other than the strap buttons).

Post your results which WILL show the difference that the body wood made.

Any takers?

StuartV · #2 02-21-2011, 11:29 AM

Better ask for bodies that are either both poly or both nitro....

steamthief · #3 02-21-2011, 11:29 AM

Dan Atkinson posted soundclips comparing ash and alder in the pickups forum, I believe.

-=DanAtkinson=- · #4 02-21-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steamthief

Dan Atkinson posted soundclips comparing ash and alder in the pickups forum, I believe.

Yep, here's the link: http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/library/

M.R. Ogle · #5 02-21-2011, 11:50 AM

Yep. I can hear the difference.

Cased closed, thanks!

JimiLL · #6 02-21-2011, 11:51 AM

haha here we go again!

MNAirHead · #7 02-21-2011, 11:53 AM

my wife couldnt...case back opened

EagleMoon · #8 02-21-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

my wife couldnt...case back opened

Does you wife play bass? I would think that would make a difference.

GlennW · #9 02-21-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

Yep, here's the link: http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/library/

I could hear a little difference, nothing a cap and/or tone knob couldn't do.

Was the window opened or closed durring both recordings, where was the dog, etc...

seungkoo · #10 02-21-2011, 12:41 PM

just be happy with the tone you have who cares what the bass is made of

C.Linton · #11 02-21-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seungkoo

just be happy with the tone you have who cares what the bass is made of

YES! This^^^^ The man speaks wisdom.

Antny · #12 02-21-2011, 01:48 PM

I think you'd be wasting your time. No 2 ash bodies are the same, no 2 alder bodies are the same. Mother Nature is a female. Don't even TRY to figure it out!

Dark Horse · #13 02-21-2011, 01:53 PM

I can hear a HUGE difference in the clips on Dan's site that were linked earlier.... but I listen using studio monitors that are made to reveal minute details of sound.

Of course that doesn't mean that one clip is better.... and doesn't take into account all the other variables that can be involved.

Only says that, yes....I can hear a substantial difference in the given clips.

Nev375 · #14 02-21-2011, 01:55 PM

Everyone knows the best sounding body is the one with the nicest woodgrain and/or paintjob.

west*coast*bass · #15 02-21-2011, 02:55 PM

This horse has been beaten over and over again. In my humble opinion, threads like these are a waste of time and band-width.

Carry on.

mongo2 · #16 02-21-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.R. Ogle

Yep. I can hear the difference.

Cased closed, thanks!

Done and done...again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

my wife couldnt...case back opened

Which just goes to show the ability to perceive the difference is a factor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antny

I think you'd be wasting your time. No 2 ash bodies are the same, no 2 alder bodies are the same. Mother Nature is a female. Don't even TRY to figure it out!

Yup, just take it as it comes. Use what works for you and full speed ahead.

EagleMoon · #17 02-21-2011, 04:06 PM

What you really need to do is have two bass bodies, an ash and an alder, and switch them out using the same neck, strings, pickups and hardware.

Showdown · #18 02-21-2011, 04:58 PM

I have a better idea. Find a bass that plays well, looks good and most of all sounds great. Buy it. Play it. Then don't worry about what wood the body is made from.

Rockmusician · #19 02-21-2011, 05:02 PM

During the last 30 + years of playing, I have played basses made of many different types of woods. I can honestly say that I can usually hear a difference.

livinglow · #20 02-21-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

I can hear a HUGE difference in the clips on Dan's site that were linked earlier.... but I listen using studio monitors that are made to reveal minute details of sound.

Of course that doesn't mean that one clip is better.... and doesn't take into account all the other variables that can be involved.

Only says that, yes....I can hear a substantial difference in the given clips.

Same here, the Ash has a brighter sound as the Alder has a little more low end is what it sounds like to me.