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bass buying guide : parts of the bass guitar : bass guitar tone woods
Most bass guitars are constructed out of wood. Tone wood refers to the woods used in a bass to enhance the sound, or tone, of the bass guitar.
One thing to consider when buying a bass guitar is the hardness or softness of the woods used.
Hard Woods
Harder woods have a brighter, snappier sound to them. They give a bass a nice percussive tone. Hard woods include Hard Maple (or Rock Maple), Ebony, Walnut, Paduak, Wenge, Koa and Rosewood.
Rosewood is a commonly used wood on the fingerboards of bass guitars. While it is bright and clear, it has a bit more warmth and darkness than the other common fingerboard wood - maple.
Soft Woods
Softer woods have a mellower, warmer tone. Soft woods include Alder, Swamp Ash and Basswood. These woods are commonly used for bass guitar bodies as they have very resonant qualities.
Mahogany is a medium-hard wood and is used in some bass guitar bodies.
Mixing Up the Woods
Usually basses are created out of a mix of woods to balance out the overall tonal qualities of the bass.
