differences in basses built using the same wood?

[draginon]

What I don't understand is... why an alder body\maple neck\rosewood fretboard on a lakland or some other boutique brand would result in a different tone than it would on a fender. If all the electronics and woods used are the same, the bass should in fact sound similar? I understand that no two pieces of woods are identical thus I said "similar" instead of "same".

I understand contruction may be a little more flawed on an SX than it would a ZON, meaning the neck might not fit perfectly in the pocket that is on the body. SO what I have concluded (correct me if I am wrong) is that tone comes from construction or.... Some companies know how to distinguish the perfect piece of alder, maple, etc...


This leads me to the big question. Is alder truly alder? Is maple truly maple? If so then they should all give similar results if they are constructed the same?
OR
THere are good pieces and bad pieces of a particular type of wood?

 

[Hookus]

Quality of all the other components for one. There is a difference between a 150 dollar bridge and a 15 dollar bridge, for example...

 

[teej]

Wood density would have an effect.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

THere are good pieces and bad pieces of a particular type of wood?

Yes, and there are also different good pieces of that same wood species.

 

[basstruck]

Yes, and there are also different good pieces of that same wood species.

That's why wood is graded
Check this site:
www.lmii.com
click on "mostly wood" and "top" and go to "additionel information on grading"
This is for acoustic guitars but it is the same kind of grading for wood for electric guitars or basses.
This is the way to judge or find out the quality of the stringed instrument.