• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Poplar as a tone wood

#43
I love zombie threads- I just read the whole thing!

What I
Learned today is that many people like poplar, and many do not.
Also I learned that in 2001, many people bolded certain words to emphasize certain points. There were no smartphones in 2001, so this was still possible.
Time travel is fun! We learn so much.
 
#46
My MTD535 is poplar and I love it.

2001.... Wow! Just after 9/11, I just got whacked from Dell Computer and was unemployed, barely could pay the bills, kids weren't teenagers, I didn't have a single grey hair, the only bass I owned was a crappy Aria Pro i bought at a garage sale for $50 as I sold everything when I got married.... Not my favorite year to say the least!
 
#48
There's really only 1 beef I have with Poplar/Basswood bodies...SCREW HOLE WEAR. Then again, this goes for any wood, just faster on soft woods.

The stupid strap button screws constantly wear out the holes during use.
I must have glued in about 100 toothpicks by now on my MIM, and it has an alder body.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swerve
#49
I once had an Ernie Ball StingRay that had a poplar body. I always associated poplar with budget instruments so I was surprised to find out my StingRay had a body made out of it. I never had a chance to A/B it with other similar era 6 bolt neck models made out of ash or alder, but it sounded plenty good'nuff to me.
 
#53
There undoubtedly was a reason that Fender went from poplar to alder in its MIM line. I had a poplar P years ago and hated the tone. It made me an MIA fan for life. I'm sure the pickups were a factor, too.
 
#54
It may or may not be the best overall body wood for a bass but I have a poplar bodied MIM Tele modified into a Nashville that has an interesting tonality to it that I kind of like. Pickles description would fit it well.

It's mellows it out a bit and the Strat pickup sound great in that body played clean.
 
#55
When you're able to discern a poplar body's influence on tone, you'll find that it sounds like, well, a poplar body. It'll have rounder, less articulated definition than, say, ash. Does that mean it has crappy tone? Nope. Not if you're looking for that tone. It's like folks who want to know whether a slapped P-Bass will sound OK. The answer is: sure, but it'll sound like a slapped P-Bass and not a slapped J-Bass - and if you're looking for a slapped P-Bass sound, you're golden!

And, BTW, the MIA Musicman S.U.B.s from several years ago have poplar bodies. I'd be hard pressed to think of those bad boys as lacking in any way.
 
#56
Or, as Parker Guitar's website says about Poplar:This strong, dense, yet lightweight hardwood is unusually resonant, creating a tone that starts easily and sings out. We select only those grades of poplar with excellent silk to ensure an exceptionally crisp sound, often described as "spirited" and "bouncy" - even "funky." Our poplar guitars are ideal choices for players who favor single-coil snap and clean work.

So....maybe you should ignore my attempt at defining what Poplar tone is like!!!!
 
#60
TN WOODMAN said:
When did MIM Fender switch from poplar to alder?
Click to expand...
I am not sure but I have a '99 MIM Stratocaster that I bought because I liked the '57 V-neck and it is Surf Green. When I asked on the Fender website, another person there posted that it was alder.

Since it's an MIM, it may be. If it is, it could several pieces rather than the USA models that are typically 2-3 piece bodies.

I love the countures in this particular Strat. Very deep and comfy. Probably why I still have it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back