Fender 60's P Bass - what type of wood is this please?

[dodgnofski]

Hi Chaps & Chapesses - does anyone know what type of wood this is please? Ash? Alder? etc?

My guess would be be Ash, but if it helps it's a 1968 Precision

Many thanks

Tim

Edited March 7, 2014 by dodgnofski

[HowieBass]

Looking at entries in the Wood Database website to my eye that end grain looks more like Red Alder http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/red-alder/ but others more knowledgeable than I will probably know better.

[dodgnofski]

Wow, thanks Howie, I didn't even know that data base existed - thanks.

looks very similar to me too!

cheers,

Tim

Edited March 7, 2014 by dodgnofski

[MoonBassAlpha]

Looks like ash to me

[HowieBass]

Just found this quote from Fender's own page http://www.fender.com/news/tech-talk-ash-and-alder/

"Like the majority of Fender instruments since 1956, this Standard series Precision Bass has an alder body."

[hamfist]

It looks like ash to be sure. However I've just googled "red alder grain" and it's clear that red alder has a much wider grain pattern than "normal" alder and looks very similar to ash. So if the Fender spec says "red alder" I'd tend to believe it. Both it and ash have lovely grain patterns though.

[dodgnofski]

Thanks Guys - very much appreciated, looks like all the evidence points towards Red Alder? but I still have a niggling doubt that it 'could' be ash, or even swamp ash??.........

[BigRedX]

Genuine question:

Why does the type of wood matter? Either you like the way the instrument looks and sounds or you don't. I can't see how knowing what the wood is making any difference.

[dodgnofski]

It would just be nice to know for sure - that's all, thanks.

[iiipopes]

How does it sound compared to other P-basses? If it is smooth and even-toned, probably the red alder. If it has more of a scooped tone or "pop" to the articulation, it may be ash.

[dodgnofski]

Thank you for your response - It sounds quite smooth and even toned throughout the fingerboard, but seems to have 'endless'sustain compared to all the other P's I've owned, or played over the many years??!!

[Manton Customs]

Difficult to tell from the picture, but I think its Ash as it looks too porous to be Alder. Swamp Ash is the same as Northern Ash, just a weight classification really (swamp=light).

[HowieBass]

If the pores are evenly spread throughout the end grain then it's alder (which is diffuse-porous). If the pores vary in size with larger pores visible in a ring then it's ash (which is ring-porous).

[dodgnofski]

Thanks again Guys - appreciated, she is quite light - 8lbs 7oz so I suppose it could be either??

[Ou7shined]

Another vote for Ash here.

(Although I do so with a degree of reticence in a thread where the tone of the wood is considered a deciding factor )

[dannybuoy]

Another ash vote. The grain of ash is rather distinctive.

Typical ash body:



And alder:

[dodgnofski]

Thanks for taking the trouble to post the pics dannybuoy - appreciated!

Comparing the two - and if I had to bet my house on it, I'd plump for Ash as the grain resembles the top pic way more than Alder pic??

Any more offers??

[Chiliwailer]

My two cents...

Fender mostly only used Ash for Blonde finishes back then, which were always Ash.

Is the bass refinished? The paint wear looks like it could be, if it is, then maybe it was Ash as it sure does look like it against other Fenders I've seen from that period.

[dodgnofski]

Hi, no - it's the original sunburst paint job - but the more I look at it, the more it looks like Ash to me?

[Chiliwailer]

Well, definitely a period when Fender were using up old stock any way they could, some of these late 60's ones even have old orange and green amplifier cloth wire so perhaps they were using up Ash bodies as blonde was less popular, or because the Tele basses that came out then were blonde? Anything goes back then!

[Chiliwailer]

I just came across where you got this from, lovely bass!!!

[dodgnofski]

Thanks Daniel,

I think I just got lucky! - it's all original, arrow straight neck, allowing for an incredibly low 'playable' action, massive output from the pick ups. lightweight and plays like the proverbial dream - phew!! - I haven't been able to put it down for the past two weeks, so it has the added advantage of keeping me away from the fridge !!

I was originally thinking of a pre - CBS jobbie, but I can't imagine 'any' Precision from any era would suit me better than this beauty, plus I just couldn't resist those Lollipop tuners !!

All the best

Tim

[Chiliwailer]

Hey Tim,

Yup, definitely a great bass from a great period. It looks like your 68 is the last of the old style necks too, before they went for the more common B shape with larger TV logo - which was around '68, so you got one of the last ones! You can just tell sometimes in pictures which ones the stunners are, that surely must be one of them. Tasty tuners, and the nitro cracking looks very sweet.

So glad you finally got sorted!

Take care matey

Edited March 14, 2014 by Chiliwailer