Do ply's open up with age?

[peterpalmieri]

Originally Posted by BEEF

...so ply's DO open up with age then?
(sorry to interupt with the original topic)

Funny...

Short term as in warming up the instrument, it seems the concensus is yes.

Long term over years the extent that it opens over 0-5 years vs. 30 vs. 80 seems to be debatable but I don't think anyone has stated that the sound doesn't change at all.

[M Ramsey]

Originally Posted by BEEF

...so ply's DO open up with age then?


(sorry to interupt with the original topic)

Sorry for any unintentional derailing of the original topic of this thread. Plys DO open up with age, but MOST of that opening is due to actually playing the instrument over that period of time, NOT discussing the same instruments over an internet bulletin board.

End of my participation in this particular thread.

I have to make a trip to Ohio in a couple of weekends to pick up a King plywood bass. And no, it's not the rockabilly, built to withstand the rigors of standing on it side, slapaholic players. No slam on those players, that's just their style and what they are into. This bass is the smaller brother to the American Standards already residing at my house.

You may ask as to why we need 3 basses at our house? Actually there will be 6 when the King arrives, but 3 of them are slabs, 2 Fender P basses and one Hofner Beatle bass. There are 3 bass players living here, myself and my 2 children.

Oh, and I have another bassbag coming to the house that I must sign for.

My fingers are hurting from typing. I'd just as soon be having pain from playing guts strings with higher action. But, I'm 300 miles from home and on vacation with my family.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

...You may ask as to why we need 3 basses at our house?...

"Need?" What does "need" have to do with it? Is it possible to have too many basses? I don't think so!

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

.... Plys DO open up with age, but MOST of that opening is due to actually playing the instrument over that period of time, NOT discussing the same instruments over an internet bulletin board.

Now that's funny right there Mike! Yeah I think 3 or 4 people in this thread stated that their plys did open up so I guess BEEF wasn't reading very carefully .

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

I have to make a trip to Ohio in a couple of weekends to pick up a King plywood bass.

That's Great Mike .... I hope you and your family enjoy your new old bass. And ..... don't forget to attend the closest Plywood Anonymous meeting you can find as soon as possible ! You may even need to check yourself into a DB Attitude Correctional Facility to receive a flogging for not applying that $$ towards a carved bass .

[BEEF]

Oh, I read (and re-read) carefully.

A couple of people have actual experience noticing ply's opening up with age. And It makes perfect sense.

[ES1]

Seem someone had an Epiphany. Or as the plywood community might wax eliquently saying, "Hello Mr. Obvious".
I think I ought to start a Po'Boys Plywood country club. Any takers?

ES-1

Originally Posted by BEEF

Oh, I read (and re-read) carefully.

A couple of people have actual experience noticing ply's opening up with age. And It makes perfect sense.

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by ES1

I think I ought to start a Po'Boys Plywood country club. Any takers? ES-1

ES-1 Count Me In ! We can hang out together in our bowling shirts and plaid bermuda shorts drinking "red beers" (combine really cheap, 18-pack for $4.99, out-of-date canned warm beer with Snappy Tom Hot Tomato Juice) and smokin' real nasty little Backwoods cigars in between games of croquet, lawn darts, and horseshoes. After the serious competition is finished, we can sit around extolling the virtues of plywood basses and ruminate on new formulations for "better plywood." Heck maybe we can even get one them cheap plywoodies off E-Bay and really "open it up" to see what's inside .

[MingusAmongUs]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

ES-1 Count Me In ! We can hang out together in our bowling shirts and plaid bermuda shorts drinking "red beers" (combine really cheap, 18-pack for $4.99, out-of-date canned warm beer with Snappy Tom Hot Tomato Juice) and smokin' real nasty little Backwoods cigars in between games of croquet, lawn darts, and horseshoes. After the serious competition is finished, we can sit around extolling the virtures of plywood basses and ruminate on new formulations for "better plywood." Heck maybe we can even get one them cheap plywoodies off E-Bay and really "open it up" to see what's inside .

I'm in too if they'll have me. I assume when you say "horseshoes" you mean of course "redneck horseshoes", where you use big metal washers instead of actual horseshoes. And Let's set aside some time to come up with fancy words to describe and personify the lovely tones produced by laminates.

[ES1]

Its really kinda funny reading the post bout folks looking down their noses at people who haven't gone to a music university to get an education on how to play the instrument of choice. I have an appreciation for all forms of stringed instruments. You can't fake that stuff. Music comes in many genres. All important in the development of music. It would be kinda nice if the bassers who owned the 10k and above basses would accept the 5k or less bassers and their basses. Only time will tell.

ES1

[drurb]

Originally Posted by ES1

Its really kinda funny reading the post bout folks looking down their noses at people who haven't gone to a music university to get an education on how to play the instrument of choice. I have an appreciation for all forms of stringed instruments. You can't fake that stuff. Music comes in many genres. All important in the development of music. It would be kinda nice if the bassers who owned the 10k and above basses would accept the 5k or less bassers and their basses. Only time will tell.

ES1

Gee, I don't really see where the "10k and above" owners don't accept the "5k or less" owners. That hardly relates to the discussion here about ply basses. This never was about players with different music pedigrees or players who own basses of different pedigrees not accepting and/or respecting each other, Bob's fine sense of humor notwithstanding. I don't see any evidence of any such elitism here at all.

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by drurb

.... This never was about players with different music pedigrees or players who own basses of different pedigrees not accepting and/or respecting each other ..... I don't see any evidence of any such elitism here at all.

Amen Doctor ..... We are all just learning about different music styles, all types and ages of double basses of varying construction and costs for all kinds of indoor and outdoor uses. Myself, I respect everyone here at TB and I have learned so much from everyone here. Let's not get all polarized and get our underwear in a knot .... hey team, we are double bass players ... let's pick on the drummers instead !

[anon_6j591b0]

Originally Posted by ES1

It would be kinda nice if the bassers who owned the 10k and above basses would accept the 5k or less bassers and their basses. Only time will tell.

ES1

Thank you so much for posting this.
There just aren't enough like it being put up....you know, the kinda post that makes a guy like me seem sane and well adjusted by way of comparison. Dude, Ron Carter plays a Juzek fer chrissake.

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

Ron Carter plays a Juzek fer chrissake.

yeah but not a PLY Juzek

[brooklynbassed]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

yeah but not a PLY Juzek

Yeah, AND he's RON CARTER.

Like I was reminded a couple of weeks ago, when I picked up MY PLYWOOD from David Gage (after the last overhaul).
"Man, this is a good bass. Wilbur Ware had one like this. That's all he ever played. You know what they say, It's not the bass, it's the player."

BTW, It opened up AGAIN!!!, and so did I.
Let's keep the standards high, no matter what it is you're playing. And, let's enjoy the ride. That's why they call it "playing music"

[wineaux]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Amen Doctor ... hey team, we are double bass players ... let's pick on the drummers instead !

I'm with Bob. (Sorry Dad!)

Ply or carved, new or vintage, hundreds or thousands, we have a common bond -- we've all chosen to play a grand instrument.

At the end of the night, it's all about the music.

[Tejano Bass]

wineaux - Amen, Bass Bro . . . well said !

[BEEF]

... let's pick on the drummers instead

Ya hear about the bassist that locked his keys in the car?



Yeah, it took him TWO HOURS to get the drummer out.







Disclosures:
I own a plywood bass
I own a carved bass (new one)
I will report back in 20 yrs on the changes in each
I'm new to double bass
I've played drums for 30+ yrs (ducks)

[anon_6j591b0]

Originally Posted by drurb

Seriously, where do you see such "non-acceptance" of other players? Is it here on TB? Is it out in the real world? I never, ever, would judge a player based on the type of bass he/she plays. That would be foolish. I believe that one of my idols, Slam Stewart, often played a ply bass-- one of which I held while we had a nice chat and he gave me his autograph. I was about 16 at the time. It remains one of my most cherished moments in life. Ah, but now I've gone off-topic.

You replied to my post....you're not talking to me are you?

[MT Spaces]

Jeff, I'm confused by DrUrb's post too . Attention ... Code Orange Sarcasm Alert ...

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

[b] ...the kinda post that makes a guy like me seem sane and well adjusted by way of comparison ....

I dig your sarcasm and self-deprecation here .

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

You replied to my post....you're not talking to me are you?

Well, I blew it. I've just been too busy this week. I'm usually not one to miss the humor but I sure did this time! Mea culpa.