How much difference does the wood make?

[coburd]

Ok, I'm new to the forums but not a new bass player. I had some peice of **** copy bass, got a new five string (which is a lot better, thanks for asking), and now I'm looking at possibly buying a copy Jazz bass and putting new pick-ups on it and just basically fixing it up a bit.

I know most copy basses are badly made, or made of poor quality wood or something, I'm not really sure, not being a carpenter. Can anybody briefly explain the different qualities of wood, and how much work it would take to get a cheap bass/project guitar sounding decent.

Thanks a lot, sorry it took so much typing to ask my question.

PS: Oh by the way, could people please refrain from saying better wood = better tone, all I want to know is how do-able is it? (Maybe I should have asked that in the first place).

[Az_Holl]

As long as you've got decent pickups, then it will sound good. Some woods will give you better tones, but i believe for the most part you'll always get the majority of your tone from- pickups/pickup position/amp.

Welcome to the forums.

[wicked_child]

i have a crappy, pbass copy but it sounds good bec. of the pups. its much lighter too. :)

[coburd]

Coowal, thanks guys. Wood problem solved, any recommendations for pickups and preamps?

[Az_Holl]

Coowal, thanks guys. Wood problem solved, any recommendations for pickups and preamps?
Look into Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio for pickups.

I dont know alot about preamps though (dont use them), but you can get some from Seymour Duncan i think...

[Thonk]

J Retro, maybe?

http://www.bestbassgear.com/j-retro-preamp.htm