Ash or Alder does it matter to tone?

[bassplayerwanab]

Im in the market for a p-bass. Does it matter whether it’s ash or alder as far as tone? Thanks!

 

[bdgotoh]

For me, alder sounds better than ash. More mids and warmer/mellower.

Some people don't think body wood affects tone, though.

 

[bluesblaster]

There are many schools of thought on the subject. I wouldnt get to wrapped up in any of it, if it sounds good to your ears just go with it. You could spend lots of time and money testing the variables, and many do.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Yes it does.

 

[Actuary X]

Short answer: no.

Long answer: no, not really.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

It indeed does make a difference, but I’ll agree with what was said above....to avoid going down the whole “rabbit hole” of ash vs alder, just use your ears as to which one sounds better to you..they’re both great body woods for a P bass...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

It matters, only as part of the recipe .

 

[jd56hawk]

My number one bass is swamp ash...still haven't found another solid-body bass lighter in weight, but heavier in tone.

 

[Funk With Me]

Yes. I can say I’ve had a true everything else being equal comparison. Back in the early 80s I was somewhat connected. So my guy brings over one of the original Precision Specials and says here, try this let me know what you think. I liked it. It was like a p bass with boosted lows and highs. I said get me one ! When it came I picked it up and noticed right away how light it was. I asked why, he said it was alder where the first one was ash. I plugged it in and it just didn’t have the punch or the authority or the highs that the ash body instrument had. The solution was they picked out a red ash body and Charlie there in Fullerton took it apart and switched everything for me. I still have it. It has since been changed from active to passive and a tortie pick guard added. Sometimes you can see a slight difference in color between the body and headstock. But yeah, I’ve been an ash fan ever since.

 

[stuntbass77]

The neck plays a bigger part of the tone. I have put the same neck on ash, alder, and walnut and found that tone tends to follow the neck. I did the same with a wenge/ebony neck with the same results. I know lots will say it doesn’t matter at all but have they ever truly built bass and tried swapping parts as a test. I have and my ears have heard the truth.....LOL. In your case go with which ever is lightest and looks good if you go with a transparent finish.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

For me, alder sounds better than ash. More mids and warmer/mellower.

Some people don't think body wood affects tone, though.

I agree with you on all counts, especially regarding stronger midrange.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I agree with you on all counts, especially regarding stronger midrange.

Interesting. I have two Precisions; A '62 reissue made of alder, and a CS '59 made of swamp ash. The pickups are very similar. The CS '59 has stronger mids and sounds much darker overall. The '62 is more even sounding across the tonal spectrum. Both are very warm sounding, with the ash bodied '59 perhaps a tad warmer than '62, which is slightly more 'open' sounding.

 

[Killing Floor]

 

[Coke Kane]

In general, ash has more scooped mids compared to alder.

 

[roller]

Geez, the type of body wood matters a whole heckuva lot less than most folks make it out to be.

Pickups, bridge design/material, nut material and fret material have a bigger impact on tone.

 

[Low_NF]

I think ash sounds ashier and alder is more aldery

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Im in the market for a p-bass. Does it matter whether it’s ash or alder as far as tone? Thanks!

Ash...always.

Ash is heavy though. But worth every once in tone and looks.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

In general, ash has more scooped mids compared to alder.

You mean more pronounced mids in ash.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

The neck plays a bigger part of the tone. I have put the same neck on ash, alder, and walnut and found that tone tends to follow the neck. I did the same with a wenge/ebony neck with the same results. I know lots will say it doesn’t matter at all but have they ever truly built bass and tried swapping parts as a test. I have and my ears have heard the truth.....LOL. In your case go with which ever is lightest and looks good if you go with a transparent finish.

That is funny, cause I was rocking my P neck on my tele waiting for my neck from warmoth to come in. It showed up yesterday. It's a lot thicker and heavier than my fender neck. But, so is the tone now. Its huge and meaty. I knew it had to be the neck. I mean, not even just the sound. You can actually feel the difference even unplugged.