What is the difference between these 2 Sx basses?

[Flaked Beans]

Yay. This thread is totally awesome!

 

[kx-]

Yea i kept skimming thinking it would stop, but nope lol.

 

[blue4]

The alder one will hold up better thru mods and general playing. Tone wise you won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Gorn]

The basswood body is probably lighter too so that could maybe cause neck dive? Short scale jazzes were always kind of unwieldy for me.

 

[gln1955]

I'm well aware of the technique.

So one last question. How do you propose the idea of, say, 'maple Fretboards typically result in brighter tone than rosewood, all else being equal' would have come about? Disregarding the fact that the physical measurable properties of maple vs rosewood are known, and support this idea?

That's a great idea, except the physical properties (i.e., hardness and stiffness) of maple and rosewood would suggest that rosewood should be brighter. Funny how that works.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Anyways, the black one with the new Sadowskyesque headstock looks cooler.

Yeah, the black bass looks cooler indeed. Also that sadowsky-style headstock is much nicer than the old one.

 

[mngnt]

Well here's your study!

/creeps backwards slowly hoping no one notices the results...

Link Removed

There are several other studies I found that show frequency differences between woods, but all for guitar, and the conclusion is typically that people can't hear the difference.

An argument could be made that bass, due to the mass of the strings, might have a more significant (and thus perceptible difference), but alas, I cannot find evidence of that.

So for all those hoping for 'it to stop', here's a new ending for you: I was wrong!

 

[Dean N]

Tonewood discussion? Oooo, can I play?

 

[Flooflox]

PS. And I don't believe you can make working gunpowder from common minerals found on the ground either.

Ha ha ha! Love the Star Trek reference!

 

[awilkie84]

Only for those infidels who do not believe in tonewood. My personal experience with my SX collection is that Alder bodies are great. What you cannot dispute without lying is that basswood is softer and even if you cannot hear any tonal differences it is harder and will not dent as easily. Whether you believe in tonewood or if resistance to damage is worth the extra money are all up to you.

PS. And I don't believe you can make working gunpowder from common minerals found on the ground either.

Go Play a Music Man Bongo...Then tell me what type of wood you think it is...

 

[awilkie84]

Anyways, the black one with the new Sadowskyesque headstock looks cooler.

Unless you get the 6 string model...then it looks like the REALLY ugly old Fender 12 string headstock.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Well here's your study!

/creeps backwards slowly hoping no one notices the results...

Link Removed

There are several other studies I found that show frequency differences between woods, but all for guitar, and the conclusion is typically that people can't hear the difference.

An argument could be made that bass, due to the mass of the strings, might have a more significant (and thus perceptible difference), but alas, I cannot find evidence of that.

So for all those hoping for 'it to stop', here's a new ending for you: I was wrong!

I just love people who are capable of civilized discussion; you don't ever have to stop. Good on you mate!

 

[Munjibunga]

This is a totally unfounded assertion.

Unfounded, but true.

 

[pcake]

This is basically it. I'd recommend the alder (real tonewood) body because it will be brighter and sound better than the softer basswood. This will be more important on a short scale bass even though tonewood is a minor effect.

i don't care for bright, and i always prefer a basswood body with a rosewood fretboard. coincidence? who knows. most of my basses, btw, are short scale.

 

[nerkoids]

The tuners are of higher quality on the newer ones

 

[Gorn]

Unfounded, but true.

Prove it.

 

[shoulderpet]

The tuners are of higher quality on the newer ones

Ok that and the fact the newer ones are alder has changed my mind , much prefer alder to basswood

 

[Blackjac97]

 

[mngnt]

I believe the evidence that Gorn is looking for, is say, a test with 5 alder/rosewood jazzes and 5 ash/maple jazzes.

The player(s) is given a bass at random, and has a blindfold on.

The listeners, who also cannot see the basses, must more often than not, identify the wood type based on sound alone.

While in my head I believe there would indeed be results that show there is indeed a predictable difference, I cannot find a study of this type, yet.

I would encourage anyone with friends at a large enough music store to attempt it, to attempt it.

 

[Bassbubble11]

Tone wood.....hahahaha. There is so much poly on those SX basses they might as well be made out of plastic.