Best wood for bass?

[Aidan Engel]

I have been looking into woods for bass a lot lately, and found some pretty cool stuff. I understand there is no "best" wood for bass, but there is most certainly personal preference. I would like to ask you all this question: if you had the power to customize your bass, what would the woods be, for the neck, fingerboard, and body. Also it would be nice if you said why you prefer these woods and what the tone is along with it.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

To give a very short answer, it really depends on what my sonic aspirations are with the bass...different applications require different specs....

 

[BioWeapon]

Basswood. /thread
On a serious note, don't look to woods to get your tone. They play a part, but not a very significant one in shaping your sound.

 

[Baird6869]

On a serious note, don't look to woods to get your tone. They play a part, but not a very significant one in shaping your sound.

I disagree. Wood definitely makes a significant difference.

Play a bass made with swamp ash/maple than play an identically configured one with mahogany/rosewood. No way you won't hear a difference.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I disagree. Wood definitely makes a significant difference.

Play a bass made with swamp ash/maple than play an identically configured one with mahogany/rosewood. No way you won't hear a difference.

This all day....don't underestimate the importance of wood selection...

 

[nostatic]

I always defer to my wife for wood preference. Thankfully it continues to be mine...

 

[mpdd]

i've had good luck with four body woods, but then again my basses have had really sweet pickups imo
grabber - maple body
flying v - mahogany body
vintage jazz - alder body
skyline precision - ash body
sb-2 - alder body
L2000 - alder body

 

[Son of Wobble]

I always defer to my wife for wood preference. Thankfully it continues to be mine...

That's strange, cause I'm certain I saw your wife on another forum asserting that wood selection makes absolutely no difference to her?

 

[pacojas]

imagine a balsa wood bass! epic tone for sure.

 

[Jeff Scott]

To paraphrase Ace Of Bass:

"Don't underestimate the power of the dark woods!"

Walnut makes for some really nice basses.

 

[Baird6869]

imagine a balsa wood bass! epic tone for sure.

If wood didn't matter, all basses would be made of pine or plywood.

 

[mark beem]

For me, swamp ash + maple neck and fretboard.. - Light weight, slightly scooped mids, great for rock, slapping, etc.

Alder + maple/rosewood neck a close second

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Maple for the neck, Macassar ebony for the fingerboard, poplar for the body. 20+ years of bass building and R & D has led me to that combination as my favorite. Almost all of my current models are made from those woods. I am working on one new model that will be mostly walnut. Walnut is a great wood too.

 

[bassbully]

There are basses made of cardboard, plywood, resin and plastic. Do they always need to be wood?

 

[BTL]

Maple/Maple, Maple/Rosewood, or Maple/Ebony neck.

Swamp Ash body.

In my experience these combinations yield the ideal power to weight ratio.

They look good, too.

YMMV.

 

[Rich Terry]

Lucite

 

[Funkmabassup]

what is the best wood for metal then?

 

[FrenchBassQC]

what is the best wood for metal then?

Oak

 

[nostatic]

That's strange, cause I'm certain I saw your wife on another forum asserting that wood selection makes absolutely no difference to her?

Why do you think she's still married to me? The key is to manage expectations...

 

[Ken J]

Lucite

Save the Lucite trees