ash vs mahogany

[Brad Johnson]

Properly transfering as much vibrational energy as possible is the entire basis of any string instrument. Be it acoustic or electric.

I shouldn't even have to explain this.

Neither should I . This simply is not universally true. Where did you get this idea?

The entire basis of any stringed instrument varies. The fundamental basis for most instruments is typically achieving the desired sound. If the desired sound is notes of a shorter duration... ?

 

[AndreasR]

Then it's a banjo, which is probably the only exception.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

And even a banjo relies on vibrations...

 

[ChefKen]

I have not formed a solid opinion on tone woods or fretboard wood....I have a mahogany bodied Alembic Essence with an ebony fretboard and an Andreas bass with Ash body and an aluminum fretboard. Both basses run different Alembic pickup/electronic configs.......On paper the Filter driven Essence with Mahogany and ebony should be warmer. The Alembic is a fabulous bass but the Andreas just sounds better. It has greater presence and great versatility. I have yet to play a better sounding bass. Most folks assume the metal fretboard makes for a " metallic" tone. It does not.

I do believe that tonewoods have great impact on how instruments sound acoustically. Once you are sourcing your sound through the pickups via bridge and nut/fingers other factors completely overwhelm any audible impact of the tone wood. There is too much else influencing the tone. The biggest influence of all being technique!

 

[AndreasR]

And even a banjo relies on vibrations...

Yeah, but it's the only one that sounds like it actively wants to choke them by basic design.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Then it's a banjo, which is probably the only exception.

Exceptions are why I disagreed with this:

"Properly transfering as much vibrational energy as possible is the entire basis of any string instrument".

And banjos aren't the only instruments that aren't designed for maximum transfer of vibrational energy. There are electric basses that aren't geared towards that either.

 

[AndreasR]

Which ones? I've never seen one.