Pickups or woods?

[Luke73]

I've had three different sets of pups in my current bass.

Although each change has brought about subtle differences, the bass has still sounded like my bass each time.

I think it's mostly a combination of the bass/timber/strings/player/amp, and then the pups.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I think the Fingerboard wood shades the tone the most but the core body wood will produce the sustain of the instrument.Pick ups are importent as well in the whole equation.

 

[Moo]

You might also consider the LOCATION of the pickups with respect to the bridge and neck. Very important, IMO.

I'm with you, and I think the pickups and placement are way more important than any wood combo. The difference in tone between the neck and bridge pickup on any 2 pickup bass will show this.

If you don't allow pickup position into the equation I still think pickup type has more influence than wood. But that's all conjecture.

 

[JimmyM]

Consider this: There are many electric basses with no wood, but no electric basses with no pickups.

Unfortunately those that are made with no wood sound kind of...eh...I don't know...I don't dig that sound.