What's heavier, alder or ash?

[Gaolee]

So what weighs more - a pound of metal, or a pound of carrots?

A pound of feathers. Sheesh. Everyone knows that.

 

[mark beem]

It really depends..

This bass, ash body - 13lbs plus

My Valenti 5 string is ash.. Weight? Less than 8 pounds

 

[sheltjo6]

The listed density for "swamp" ash is 30-33.6 lbs/ft3, for Alder it is 26 – 42 lbs/ft3. So the answer is, "It depends".

I was going to say the same thing, "It depends".

 

[blubass]

I just went to Warmoth hunting down a generalized answer on woods for my next project. What I've uncovered was, (generally) swamp ash is lighter compared to alder amongst the same shaped bodies, comparing their premade stuff.

 

[s0707]

I have a mike lull JT4 (jazz bass size & shaped) which has a swamp ash body & maple/rosewood neck which is significantly a lot lighter than my Fender Jazz. Which has an Alder Body & maple/rosewood neck.

Therefore ...

Keep in mind that Mike Lull, Sadowsky and likely other builders chamber/rout their bodies to make them lighter. I have a Mike Lull M5V with ash body that feels light (certificate says 9 lbs), but I'm sure the body is chambered.

 

[bdplaid]

I just bought an ash Dinky P from Warmoth that weighs 3 lbs 3 ozs, resulting in a bass that weighs around 6.5 lbs. On the other hand, my mostly Mighty Mit ash-bodied P-bass tipped the scales at just over 9 lbs total, the body was over 5 lbs.

 

[deepestend]

Agreed all around that it varies in weight. If weight is your concern, request a certain weight, don't roll the dice. Or, go with a weight conscious builder like sadowsky.

 

[deepestend]

Keep in mind that Mike Lull, Sadowsky and likely other builders chamber/rout their bodies to make them lighter. I have a Mike Lull M5V with ash body that feels light (certificate says 9 lbs), but I'm sure the body is chambered.

Current NYC sadowsky basses are chambered.

 

[JIO]

This bass, ash body - 13lbs plus

yowza! Fortunately it's really beautiful - how does it sound? The heavy basses I've played in the past do have a very solid sound...

 

[RickyWoo]

Here.

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[lowplaces]

Northern Ash is heavy. Think 70's fender.

Alder is a lighter hardwood.

Most quality guitars made with ash use Swamp ash, which is usually slightly lighter than alder. Swamp ash is the bottom part of an ash tree that has its roots underwater.

I think the nat Peavey T-40's are Northern Ash. Thus the weight.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Alder is a light wood in general. However, I've had two usa std j basses and the swamp ash one was lighter than the alder one. Go figure..

 

[covermego]

Ash

Thank You. That's all he wanted to know. Run with it, Joe....................

 

[madjazzbass]

Northern Ash is heavy. Think 70's fender.

Alder is a lighter hardwood.

Most quality guitars made with ash use Swamp ash, which is usually slightly lighter than alder. Swamp ash is the bottom part of an ash tree that has its roots underwater.

What's an Ash tree look like? What kind of leaves are on it? Seriously, not a joke question. ... never mind, I'll Google it

 

[gidbass]

Just found out that on the bass I'm considering ash is $100 more. That kinda made my decision for me, especially if the differences in tone and weight are negligible.

so, if it were me, alder is the winner... Keep in mind, i don't believe that ash sounds $100 different than...well, anything... Alder gets my vote! As far as weight comparisons, they can be all over the board....

I have a warmoth P body in alder on my parts P bass, and it was the same weight wise as the ash bodies....maybe even lighter...

Good Luck!

 

[inthebassclef]

have nothing to say. Just wanted to feel like i'm part of the conversation

 

[DigitalMan]

The varieties used in instrument making are Red Alder and Swamp Ash. Their weight is comparable on average with the accepted average weight per cubic foot of Alder being 28 pounds, while Swamp Ash average weight is 30 to 33 pounds per cubic foot.

Swamp Ash is not actually a species of ash but is just a descriptive name. So it's a bit difficult to put a weight to it on average. Really Swamp Ash is only the wood from ash trees grown in a swamp area. By comparison, White Ash comes in at 42 pounds per cu.ft.

Somebody read The Wood Database

 

[Andyman001]

FYI my Sire V7 5-str Ash/Maple is 10.7lbs on a small digital scale i got on Amazon.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Somebody read The Wood Database

I did and reading The Wood Database page made this thread seem kinda like the Unladen Swallow scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.....

European Alder 31 lbs/ft3
Nepalese Alder 25 lbs/ft3
Red Alder 28 lbs/ft3

Black Ash 34 lbs/ft3
Blue Ash 40 lbs/ft3
European Ash 42 lbs/ft3
Green Ash 40 lbs/ft3
Mountain Ash 42 lbs/ft3
Oregon Ash 38 lbs/ft3
Pumpkin Ash 36 lbs/ft3
Swamp Ash 30-33.6 lbs/ft3
Tamo Ash 35 lbs/ft3
White Ash 42 lbs/ft3

 

[Spidey2112]

I know the alder I get, the more my ash weighs...