Alder or Ash Body

[hbhunt]

Can someone please explain to me the basic differences in tone and feel for a bass with an Alder body and one that is made with an Ash body? Thank you.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Ash is heavier, alder is softer and very prone to get dings unless it is fully finished.

 

[RobJ]

Ash is arguably prettier as well, but that might depend on if it's swamp ash, northern, etc. Definitely heavier than alder.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Dan... DAN... Where are you!?!?

 

[Anomalous Bass]

Tone, nothing you will notice. Feel, their can be a significant weight difference among pieces of wood.

 

[hbhunt]

Thanks for the input guys. I am just looking at the new jazz deluxe basses. Some of them are alder some are ash. The transparent wine finish is beautiful and ash.

 

[colcifer]

Tone, nothing you will notice.

You should probably see an otorhinolaryngologist about that.

 

[Batmensch]

Tonal differences will be difficult, if not impossible to accurately predict based on wood species. two basses made from two pieces of wood cut from diffrent parts of even the same tree can sound different.

 

[Batmensch]

Thanks for the input guys. I am just looking at the new jazz deluxe basses. Some of them are alder some are ash. The transparent wine finish is beautiful and ash.

I wouldn't stress about what wood the bass is made from as far as tone goes. Everything else being equal (i.e., the choice is between two new Jazz deluxes) If you really like the transparent wine finish, get that.

 

[johnk_10]

IME:
alder: a little duller than ash, but 90% of the vintage fender basses were made out of it so you can't go wrong with it.

heavy ash: brighter, a little more sustain, and weighs a ton.

swamp ash: more midrange 'pop', and more resonant than alder, and nowhere near as bright as heavy ash and the lightest weight of the three.

2 cents............
YMMV.

 

[maxbass]

usually

Alder = fuller, more focused low midrange; mellower highs; less deep lows
Ash = brighter high end, less low midrange, fuller lows

 

[Anomalous Bass]

You should probably see an otorhinolaryngologist about that.

You should probably be more realistic about what you can hear.

 

[Antny]

Can someone please explain to me the basic differences in tone and feel for a bass with an Alder body and one that is made with an Ash body? Thank you.

The most obvious difference will be the weight.

 

[bassbenj]

IME:
alder: a little duller than ash, but 90% of the vintage fender basses were made out of it so you can't go wrong with it.

heavy ash: brighter, a little more sustain, and weighs a ton.

swamp ash: more midrange 'pop', and more resonant than alder, and nowhere near as bright as heavy ash and the lightest weight of the three.

2 cents............
YMMV.

I am in complete agreement with the above. But tonewood variations are VERY minor and usually can only be noticed after you have "lived" with a bass for some time. Given a choice I usually pick ash because it's brighter and I like the nice look of the wood grain, but I have Alder basses too and I love their tone as well.

It's best to pick the wood used in the bass on other characteristics like weight and finish which are far more noticeable than tone.