Basswood or Ash?

[HogieWan]

ash looks much better as well - go with a natural or translucent finish

 

[Ralphoid]

Thanks for the help, cost isn't an issue, the most important thing to me is getting the best sound that I can so I want to start with a good body and neck. I will worry about pickups later. I would quite like to build something like Steve Harris' bass. I have found this place...http://www.auroraproject.co.uk/ that will make the metal mirror pick guard.

 

[Akshat]

is it swamp ash? or some other ash.

Id prefer swamp ash with ebony fretboard with the natural look

 

[Meatrus]

is it swamp ash? or some other ash.

Id prefer swamp ash with ebony fretboard with the natural look

I read on here that all ash used for basses is classed as swamp ash, as normal ash is too heavy, could be wrong but i read it here!

 

[GODSBASSMAN]

P sound? Basswood.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Ash is a significantly better tone wood IMHO and IME. Basswood is virtually never used in premium instruments...good luck with your build!

Ash is just a general better wood lol I.M.O

 

[HogieWan]

Ash is a significantly better tone wood IMHO and IME. Basswood is virtually never used in premium instruments...good luck with your build!

some people hate ash and would prefer alder (which would be the way to go for a P) Basswood is used on higher end Ibanez and I think Yamaha basses

 

[Barkley]

P Bass sound? Alder... Only alder.

 

[mokkat]

Musicman Bongos have basswood bodies. As long as you give it a tough durable finish so you cant dent the wood, it should be pretty similar to alder. and cheap

 

[jmain]

Thanks for the help, cost isn't an issue, the most important thing to me is getting the best sound that I can so I want to start with a good body and neck. I will worry about pickups later. I would quite like to build something like Steve Harris' bass. I have found this place...http://www.auroraproject.co.uk/ that will make the metal mirror pick guard.

Believe his bass is alder, so basswood may get you closer tonally. IMO

 

[Rodent]

a string vibrating at a low frequency and 'caught' by a properly placed pickup will induce a low frequency response from an appropriately amplified speaker

wood in and of itself does not produce a frequency. wood cut to a specific dimension will produce a specific frequency when struck ... but I don't believe this is a thread about percussive type instruments


the original P-bass units were Ash, and to keep costs down the later ones were made of Alder


Swamp Ash is NOT a wood species, but instead a laymans term for multiple Ash species that have been harvested and graded upon a weight per board foot average


a solidly constructed neck of carefully selected woods securely attached to a solidly constructed body constructed of carefully selected woods has the potential to produce a killer tone if you accompany it by also choosing good pickups, hardware, and strings AND play it in a skilled manner

all the best,

R

 

[Ralphoid]

Judging by the responses it looks like I can't go that wrong with the Ash. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Surly]

Basswood for BASS, easy choice

 

[mulletpbass]

if you're going to use active eletronics basswood or ash otherwise.