What Is "Bass Alder"?

[Vilas65]

I've been looking at some Custom Shop Jazz Basses, and I'm seeing "bass alder" referred to for the body wood. Since there is such a thing as "basswood," I'm wondering if this is some kind of combination of basswood and alder. Or are they suggesting that the body on these basses is made of a type of alder that is particularly suited for the bass instrument?

 

[4SG]

Neither. "Bass Alder" is a type of hardwood located near bodies of water by a species of perch specially trained to identify trees with resonant tone woods. If the fish swims to and rests by a given alder tree its wood will be suitable for electric bass manufacture. The idea originally came from the military who have had success training marine mammals for strategic purposes. Fish, however, are too stupid for such work, and the trained perch are only of use in locating hardwood of the requisite commercial standards. Note that the perch's abilities are limited; they are unable to detect wood suitable for six-stringed electric or acoustic guitars.

 

[cdef]

For all I know, basswood (Tilia) is linden by another name, and not related to alder (Alnus). "Bass alder" looks like some kind of wishful thinking.

 

[RichterScale]

Bass alder isn't a thing.
Do you have a link to the advertisement?

 

[Old Fart]

Such hogwash. Sure, Bass Perch are not very smart. In sharp contrast we have Math Perch teaching differential equations to engineering students and, in their spare time, identifying suitable mahogany and spruce trees and fashioning them into what are known as "Martin" guitars.

I'd guess "Bass Alder" is what is otherwise known as "Alder."

 

[Old Fart]

Yes. Basswood is linden.

 

[Vilas65]

Check this description. First item.
Is it me?
Loving the fish material. Laughed my bass off.
Fender Custom Shop 60 Jazz Bass Relic Vintage White Alder Body AAA Rosewood Fingerboard 2022 | Reverb

 

[kodiakblair]

Is it me?

No, seller needs lessons in punctuation.

 

[Bighouse]

Traditionally, after the trees are harvested and dried, each is suspended from a chain and a large brass hammer is used to hit the side of the properly cured and dried tree. Those that respond with the lowest frequency resonation are deemed "bass alder" and are used for basses. The rest are used for instruments with less bass requirement.

 

[Audiomicrowave]

That's not the only amusing part of this bass description:

• Sort: Yes Sort...ummm...what?
• Reverse headstock...not like any reverse headstock I recall seeing
• Fingerboard Wood: Bass Cite RW AAA 9mm...Bass Cite to go with the Bass Alder
• Dop Spacing: Wide...not sure what Dop spacing is, or if I'd like it wide

BW

 

[Vilas65]

LOL. I wasn't too sure about the Top Load Truss Rod or the 60 Head Scoop, either. Appears that English is not this writer's first language. Thanks for your comments, everyone. I believe I'll pass on a new bass, for now, unless I come across a rainbow trout Precison.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Reference for anyone seeing this in the future and not getting the humor - bass alder 2 pc is just on the build order to use the larger blanks for a bass body. Probably some inventory utility for them as well.

 

[2112]

Bass Alder... no relation to Box Elder, as far as I know.

 

[jamro217]

This is wood reclaimed from rivers formerly used for logging. The logs that were weighed down and sank were preserved by the water and have aged to a degree of tonal perfection second only to Stradivari. The absolute best wood in this category is "clarinet wood". It's been in the murky depths for so long that it turned black and shrank. Pieces large enough for basses are so rare that they only use it for clarinets. Not to be confused with the cheaper imitation "oboe wood" commonly used for beginner instruments.

 

[cataract]

Did some digging to see if I could figure this out, but haven’t had any luck finding any solid info for ya. Guess I’ve just been looking in alder wrong places.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I've been looking at some Custom Shop Jazz Basses, and I'm seeing "bass alder" referred to for the body wood. Since there is such a thing as "basswood," I'm wondering if this is some kind of combination of basswood and alder. Or are they suggesting that the body on these basses is made of a type of alder that is particularly suited for the bass instrument?

Violus Electricus

 

[TyBo]

Bass alder is like guitar alder, but formed into the shape of a bass guitar.

 

[themickster]

Check this description. First item.
Is it me?
Loving the fish material. Laughed my bass off.
Fender Custom Shop 60 Jazz Bass Relic Vintage White Alder Body AAA Rosewood Fingerboard 2022 | Reverb

It's a relic in mint condition

 

[Watchootognbout]

Neither. "Bass Alder" is a type of hardwood located near bodies of water by a species of perch specially trained to identify trees with resonant tone woods. If the fish swims to and rests by a given alder tree its wood will be suitable for electric bass manufacture. The idea originally came from the military who have had success training marine mammals for strategic purposes. Fish, however, are too stupid for such work, and the trained perch are only of use in locating hardwood of the requisite commercial standards. Note that the perch's abilities are limited; they are unable to detect wood suitable for six-stringed electric or acoustic guitars.

 

[5StringBlues]

First rule of bass alder is we don't talk about bass alder.