I'm in the "discovery phase" of having a 6 string bass made for me. I want it to sound great, of course, lots of articulation, more of a wood-ish type tone, yet defined.

Here are the wood combinations that I like the asthetic appeal of. The question is, what would you expect these wood combinations to produce, tonally?

Swamp Ash body, Primavera top, Maple/bubinga 5 piece neck, Spalted Purpleheart fingerboard, Primavera veneer. Bartolini pups and preamp, . . . . possible option of Nordstrand and Aguilar 3 band.

How would these sound, tonally if set up as a neck through and a bolt on?

Thank you, greatly, for your input. :)

I'm in the "discovery phase" of having a 6 string bass made for me. I want it to sound great, of course, lots of articulation, more of a wood-ish type tone, yet defined.

Here are the wood combinations that I like the asthetic appeal of. The question is, what would you expect these wood combinations to produce, tonally?

Swamp Ash body, Primavera top, Maple/bubinga 5 piece neck, Spalted Purpleheart fingerboard, Primavera veneer. Bartolini pups and preamp, . . . . possible option of Nordstrand and Aguilar 3 band.

How would these sound, tonally if set up as a neck through and a bolt on?

Thank you, greatly, for your input. :)

Who knows?

Not trying to be an ass, but seriously, there's no way to tell.
Ash body and maple/bub neck should give it mostly an Ash/maple vibe from the wood, but there's SOOOO much that can vary that...

Well, thanks for your input anyway. I'm not looking for an exact reading, but a general idea of whether or not I could expect good results from these choices. I do intend to use the eq. on whatever preamp I choose.

more defined mids and highs in the neck through, similar to a jazz bass as a bolt on, with more defined mids. basically that is about the best I can tell you. I have used this combination of woods a few times.

Who knows?

Not trying to be an ass, but seriously, there's no way to tell.
Ash body and maple/bub neck should give it mostly an Ash/maple vibe from the wood, but there's SOOOO much that can vary that...


not to be an ass, but seriously.....builders who have been using such combinations can give a general idea(see above). When you have 10 or more years, and a couple of hundred instruments under your belt, you learn what combinations do. Myself, I have 22 years, and over 1200 instruments completed.

No one can give you an exact comparison, but there is input from experience.

Spalted Purpleheart?

I have found a website that give a general idea of the on the sound you get from the wood I will give it to you if I find it again

For me,bartolini pckps are to soft,unless you want that type of sound, rather take an Aquilar for preamp with them,but you should listen to yourself.About wood,all of the sorts you named up there will work great with that electronic,!

http://advantagelumber.com/hardwood.htm
http://www.jemsite.com/jem/wood.htm
two good site if you want to know all about hardwoods and there tones
the topsite is more about the would the bottom site is more tone and instrament use

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'm interested in hearing more input, if you have it. :)

Spalted Purpleheart?
+1

formula for "woody" sounding bass

1) Neckthrough (laminated is best)
2) Large body chambered (mahogany would be cool)
3) Cedar Top (I like cedar)
4) Piezo pickup (don't forget a clean sounding preamp, a Aguilar OBP-1 would work)
5) Fretless fingerboard (I like purpleheart or ebony)
6) Nylon tapewound strings (I like LaBella)
7) Pray...(you don't know what you have until it's all built)

formula for "woody" sounding bass

1) Neckthrough (laminated is best)
2) Large body chambered (mahogany would be cool)
3) Cedar Top (I like cedar)
4) Piezo pickup (don't forget a clean sounding preamp, a Aguilar OBP-1 would work)
5) Fretless fingerboard (I like purpleheart or ebony)
6) Nylon tapewound strings (I like LaBella)
7) Pray...(you don't know what you have until it's all built)

Hmmmm. . . .that's quite a formula. . . . perhaps TOO "woody" for me. I guess, in that aspect, I'd want more of an "essence of wooditity". :hmm:

http://www.jemsite.com/jem/wood.htm

Does anyone other than me feel uncomfortable with the terms and metaphors used to describe tone here?

I don't think it's all that uncommon, either.

http://www.jemsite.com/jem/wood.htm

Does anyone other than me feel uncomfortable with the terms and metaphors used to describe tone here?

I don't think it's all that uncommon, either.

freaky! this guy just made me change all my "tone-wood" belief system!

+1
+1

any pics of spalted purpleheart?

How about trading out the Ash body for a Black Limba?

Here's another wood combination that I'd consider for a NT.

Black Limba body wings, Wenge neck with maple (or even Black Limba stringers), . . . . still going with some sort of Burl top and head veneer, with the Spalted Purpleheart Sapwood fingerboard.

Looks wise, I would really like it! Tonally ??? Don't know.

Here's another wood combination that I'd consider for a NT.

Black Limba body wings, Wenge neck with maple (or even Black Limba stringers)
Oh my. That is almost an exact description of the fretless I'm planning.

Limba wings
Wenge/Limba/W/L/W neck-through
Wenge fingerboard/ramp/bridge
Purpleheart nut and saddles
Bubinga top (diagonal grain!)

Oh my. That is almost an exact description of the fretless I'm planning.

Limba wings
Wenge/Limba/W/L/W neck-through
Wenge fingerboard/ramp/bridge
Purpleheart nut and saddles
Bubinga top (diagonal grain!)

Oh my, . . . indeed! Looks like you'll have a nice bass then!!