How would this sound?

[doctorjazz]

I'm GASing bad for a Century VI fretless. I don't have the cash for one for the time being, but I figured it's best to do my research before getting into the market.

So, I'm curious about the tonal characteristics of this combo:

Figured maple top
Mahogany body
Cocobolo fingerboard
Barts

Comments and/or suggestions welcome.

[Figjam]

I would guess it would be quite punchy with really focused low mids. Maple top probably wouldnt affect the tone too much.

[JPJ]

How would this sound?

Good.

[klorence]

Depends on who's playing it...

[J.Wolf]

I'd say it depends on what kind of fretless sound you're after....


Can you give an exmaple or explain what kind of tone you're trying to achieve. People have varied opinions on what mahogany as a body wood sounds like, I myself haven't had alot of luck with mahogany bodied basses, but I like a little more mid sharpness, and quick punch. Mahogany to my ears sounds pretty mellow and soft sounding. Great for a certain tone, but not what I usually go for.

My Century fretless should be done in a week (yippee doooo!!) and it has an ash body with a bubinga top. For fretless, I really like the sound of ash, it helps the sound project a little better to my ears and gives slightly more focus.

One things for sure...... yor specs won't sound bad by any stretch of the imagination!

[Peter Parker]

It's very interesting how different we all hear things. Ash would be my last choice for fretless. I hear ash as having a bit of a mid scoop. For fretless, I like a wood that is either pretty neutral or mid heavy. That's not to say I haven't heard an ash body fretless that I've liked, played a couple that sounded good. It's just that the best fretless tones (for me)I've heard have come from something other than ash and the worst tones were almost always ash.

[emjazz]

Originally Posted by Peter Parker

It's very interesting how different we all hear things. Ash would be my last choice for fretless. I hear ash as having a bit of a mid scoop. For fretless, I like a wood that is either pretty neutral or mid heavy. That's not to say I haven't heard an ash body fretless that I've liked, played a couple that sounded good. It's just that the best fretless tones (for me)I've heard have come from something other than ash and the worst tones were almost always ash.

I agree. The best fretless tones I've heard came from Alder and then Mahogany.

[doctorjazz]

Can you give an exmaple or explain what kind of tone you're trying to achieve.

I'm looking for a good full, warm tone, accentuating the upper mids.

[klorence]

Originally Posted by emjazz

I agree. The best fretless tones I've heard came from Alder and then Mahogany.

+1...

but don't discount maple, either. my pedulla hexabuzz is maple neck/ebony fingerboard/solid quilted maple body wings (it's a neck-through) and it simply kills.

wood choice has been discussed a lot on this and other forums; in the end, it's the total recipe that counts(body/neck/fingerboard woods + pickup placement + preamp/electronics + amp setup + fingers/technique).

maybe do a search, read mike tobias's comments (they're accessible somewhere on his site - a roundtable discussion w/a bunch of well-known luthiers), check out ken smith's site for wood info, etc. etc. to narrow down your wood preferences.

but don't lose site of the forest for the trees.

good luck!