'Tone is in the fingers', but you only have your fingers. Therefore, you need to use other methods to change your tone. For me, this would be: use different gauge picks; use different strings; change the pickups (the very things that change mechanical energy into electrical energy). The only time wood comes into it is when you're buying a new bass or ordering a custom build. My customs are both alder, as it's a nice weight, is reasonably priced and builders seem to like working with it.