Bamboo basses and related. 2nd Attempt

pierce · #1 07-31-2006, 12:44 PM

i posted this over on the bg side, and didnt get much response. i was hoping that there would be some more opinions/discussion on this side.

bamboo basses and related.

Quote:

bamboo basses and related.
i have been looking at skateboards lately, and the new thing this year is bamboo. apparently its extremely strong, and less ecologically damaging to harvest (with exception). i know that skateboards and basses are in no way similiar in nature or output, but it made me start to wonder about the possibility this wood might have in instruments.

i found this thread from last year, but no futher input on the forum

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...ghlight=bamboo

some of the possible uses could be (i am considering it whole, in laminate, and as a composite with other material)
* ebg and abg bodies, fingerboards, nuts, bridges, frets, and pickup covers
* upright bodys, fingerboards, bridges, end pieces, and possibly even bows
* speaker enclosures.
* rigid softcases and hardcases
* other

please discuss.

gomez hacienda · #2 07-31-2006, 01:36 PM

You could easily make a BG body from laminated bamboo, I have a bamboo cutting board in my kitchen, but bamboo is not solid like a tree. It's a hollow tube consisting of chambers. It is obviously very hard and yet pliable...makes great fishing rods, and it varies considerably in diameter depending on age, but I just don't see any use for it in music other than for percussion. For a bass, I'd rather have a washtub.

gomez

pierce · #3 07-31-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomez hacienda

You could easily make a BG body from laminated bamboo, I have a bamboo cutting board in my kitchen, but bamboo is not solid like a tree. It's a hollow tube consisting of chambers. It is obviously very hard and yet pliable...makes great fishing rods, and it varies considerably in diameter depending on age, but I just don't see any use for it in music other than for percussion. For a bass, I'd rather have a washtub.

gomez

i agree with you, but come to a different conclusion. i was thinking that its strength an flexibility would lend itself to better vibrations. i realize it would take some manipulation, but could it work as a laminate urb?

i guess i am curious as to its acoustic qualities. has this ever been investigated?

mcnaire2004 · #4 07-31-2006, 01:56 PM

How would you make a upright body out of hollow tubes?

Trevorus · #5 07-31-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

How would you make a upright body out of hollow tubes?

It can be processed into sheets

bejoyous · #6 08-01-2006, 07:00 AM

I've seen a bamboo guitar in a music store. It sounded like a regular acoustic guitar.

Like other cheaper acoustics it had a thick layer of plastic coating on it. I don't know how it would stand up to being a double bass.

mje · #7 08-01-2006, 10:19 AM

Flattop guitars have been made out of a lot of different materials- Taylor made a guitar, and then a series of guitars, out of construction-grade dimensional lumber and salvaged pallets to prove a point. I expect you could make a fine bass out of bamboo that would equal any laminated instrument, with enough experimentation.

Bamboo might be a good fingerboard material. It's very hard- harder than maple- and maybe even more resistant to wear than ebony, thanks to the silica deposits in it.

coyoteboy · #8 08-01-2006, 10:23 AM

Stick Enterprises now offers a bamboo laimate Stick instrument.

edit: they have previously used pressed bamboo for the Stick...

tbassist4 · #9 08-01-2006, 02:06 PM

Well personally, I like new ideas such as this. If it can be processed into sheets, then why not? There are a few posible setbacks that I could see in my limited experience, one of which would be the price vs. the sound. I do not personally work with wood very often or know anything beyond basic woodworking skills, and that includes not knowing the cost of wood. If it is rediculously expensive, then it would obviously have to be superior in sound to even be worth selling to someone to make a bass out of, or to a consumer of the actual instrument. Also, if processed into sheets, wouldn't that damage a lot of the acoustic potential of the wood? If they are relativelty thin hollow tubes, wouldn't the process be pretty rigorous and require a lot of work to get a bunch of these tubes to resemble a plywood sheet? With other woods no processing is really needed, they just need to be cut to dimension and dried for use in instruments (I know there's a bit more to it then that, but not nearly as much as bamboo). But a bamboo instrument would be a very nice addition to anyone's collection, it would have a very unique look, and I'm sure a very unique sound, which is much more important. Maybe one part could be made out of it, just for an experiment. I agree with previous posts, that fingerboards would be a good start, maybe a tailpiece, but I really think, although I know it would be difficult, that a top would be a really cool thing to try. Any luthiers here up to the challenge? hahahahah

standupright · #10 08-03-2006, 02:00 PM

Bamboo is an excellent hardwood that is extremely renewable. There are numerous companies that are manufacting it into laminates for flooring and various other uses like the cutting board mentioned a few posts ago. As for instruments other than Flutes, Didjeridoos(sp?), Rainsticks, etc., I haven't seen many stringed instruments made from it. I did find a couple of links for companies that have produced a couple of guitars using bamboo for the tops -

http://www.jazzguitarresources.com/wood_ref.shtml

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=250

I'm no luthier, but I do a lot of wood work, and have considered using bamboo for neck stock and or a fingerboard due to it's density. Plus it looks kinda a cool, and 100 year old tree didn't have to be chopped down for it. Not that I'm against exotic woods for instruments. IMO, if exotic wood belongs anywhere other than the forest, it belongs as part of a beautiful instrument.

Jeff Guevin · #11 08-03-2006, 02:22 PM

Perhaps it's irrational, but for me a bamboo fingerboard = cringing at the thought of bamboo slivers under the fingernails. I have a feeling I won't play as well if I'm constantly cringing.

gomez hacienda · #12 08-04-2006, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

Bamboo is an excellent hardwood that is extremely renewable. There are numerous companies that are manufacting it into laminates for flooring and various other uses like the cutting board mentioned a few posts ago. As for instruments other than Flutes, Didjeridoos(sp?), Rainsticks, etc., I haven't seen many stringed instruments made from it. I did find a couple of links for companies that have produced a couple of guitars using bamboo for the tops -

http://www.jazzguitarresources.com/wood_ref.shtml

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/options.php?id=250

I'm no luthier, but I do a lot of wood work, and have considered using bamboo for neck stock and or a fingerboard due to it's density. Plus it looks kinda a cool, and 100 year old tree didn't have to be chopped down for it. Not that I'm against exotic woods for instruments. IMO, if exotic wood belongs anywhere other than the forest, it belongs as part of a beautiful instrument.

I got a kick out of the description of bamboo they used for the guitar top..."you don't have to cut down 100 yr old trees....& it grows like grass"...gee maybe because THAT'S WHAT IT IS

pierce · #13 08-04-2006, 01:41 PM

yeah, i see that yamaha made a guitar almost completely out of bamboo. i have been talking to a guy "in the biz" about usinsg it in a bass. (as well as pecan in a guitar).

i am really wondering how good of a bow it would make (carved laminate, not whole.)

although a bow that looks like a cane pole would be pretty funny

pierce · #14 08-04-2006, 01:44 PM

i just relized that this is prolly in the wrong forum, but i dont see a luthier forum on the db side.

weird, you think there would be. im guessing maybe misc.?

standupright · #15 08-04-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomez hacienda

I got a kick out of the description of bamboo they used for the guitar top..."you don't have to cut down 100 yr old trees....& it grows like grass"...gee maybe because THAT'S WHAT IT IS

Funny....I thought the same thing. "Bamboo literally grows like grass"......Wonder if they read that before they updated their site.

**Damon Rondeau** · #16 08-04-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

Bamboo is an excellent hardwood that is extremely renewable.

Actually, bamboo is a kind of grass. Wood-like, perhaps, but not wood.

standupright · #17 08-18-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

Actually, bamboo is a kind of grass. Wood-like, perhaps, but not wood.

Yes....Technically Bamboo is not "wood" as it is in the grass family. However in it's area of use it is sometimes referred to as wood, or hardwood due to it's density especially when fabricated in to laminate. With out quibbling over semantics, I think the overall understanding is that the stuff is hard, whether you call it grass or wood.