Air chambers. Which one?

[Mr M]

I'm planning to put together a Flying V style bass. It will have a maple neck through Carvin 5 string neck and Alder body wings with Figured Walnut top. I'm planning to put air chambers on the body. I had this idea from Warmoth chambered Jazz and MusicMan 25th Anniversary bass.
Here is two roughly prepared alternatives for chambering. Which one would you suggest to do, bigger and fewer ones or thinner ones?
What differences should I wait to get by hollowing (apart from neck dive comments )
Thanks

[Beej]

In my view, chambering is mostly for weight reduction. Neck dive is inevitable in a flying V, so its not really the issue here, but I'd only chamber the top wing, and for simplicity and maximum space, I'd personally chamber it out in one large chamber. Just my thoughts.

I need to find out more about this failed rockstar fat white collar club thing. That's got my name written all over it!

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by Beej

I need to find out more about this failed rockstar fat white collar club thing. That's got my name written all over it!

I think a lot of us could be or should have been members of said club.

[ehque]

You'll want a good number of chambers each one of different sizes so they don't resonate at the same frequency. Having a constant width but different lengths will do as well.

One large chamber will tune the top to a certain frequency and you may get certain notes dying out really quickly as the vibration of the top kills the sustain.

[Pvt.Parts]

Originally Posted by ehque

You'll want a good number of chambers each one of different sizes so they don't resonate at the same frequency. Having a constant width but different lengths will do as well.

One large chamber will tune the top to a certain frequency and you may get certain notes dying out really quickly as the vibration of the top kills the sustain.

Ugh I wish I read this before I chambered my body in one large chunk.
Whatever, it's not a very big chamber.

[Jim Breece]

I've built, I think, three basses and four guitars w/chambers, always good sized ones top and bottom. I haven't seen a characteristic in common other than lower weight- no dead spots different than their solid counterparts, no extra sustain or "air" in the tone. That doesn't qualify me as an expert, but my guess is that with a hardwood top of 1/4" or better, "top tuning" either doesn't happen or it's at a frequency outside of the range of the instrument. Anyone with more practical knowledge than me able to confirm or deny?

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Mr M

I'm planning to put together a Flying V style bass. ...

that's unfortunate.

[ehque]

Originally Posted by Jim Breece

I've built, I think, three basses and four guitars w/chambers, always good sized ones top and bottom. I haven't seen a characteristic in common other than lower weight- no dead spots different than their solid counterparts, no extra sustain or "air" in the tone. That doesn't qualify me as an expert, but my guess is that with a hardwood top of 1/4" or better, "top tuning" either doesn't happen or it's at a frequency outside of the range of the instrument. Anyone with more practical knowledge than me able to confirm or deny?

I think with a solid block of wood between the bridge and the neck joint, there's probably a lot smaller effect - the top has no where to vibrate. The effect would probably be much larger if either the pickups or the bridge were mounted "floating".

[Mr M]

Originally Posted by Beej

In my view, chambering is mostly for weight reduction. Neck dive is inevitable in a flying V, so its not really the issue here, but I'd only chamber the top wing, and for simplicity and maximum space, I'd personally chamber it out in one large chamber. Just my thoughts.

I need to find out more about this failed rockstar fat white collar club thing. That's got my name written all over it!

The club's door is open to every failed rockstar fat white collar
A while ago when there were almost 10 new club everyday, I started this one

[Mr M]

Originally Posted by ehque

You'll want a good number of chambers each one of different sizes so they don't resonate at the same frequency. Having a constant width but different lengths will do as well.

One large chamber will tune the top to a certain frequency and you may get certain notes dying out really quickly as the vibration of the top kills the sustain.

Thanks for this info. I was wondering why Musicman and Warmoth decided to chamber many holes instead of having one big as suggested here, this should be the reason.

[Mr M]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

that's unfortunate.

Why?

[Mr M]

Originally Posted by Jim Breece

I've built, I think, three basses and four guitars w/chambers, always good sized ones top and bottom. I haven't seen a characteristic in common other than lower weight- no dead spots different than their solid counterparts, no extra sustain or "air" in the tone. That doesn't qualify me as an expert, but my guess is that with a hardwood top of 1/4" or better, "top tuning" either doesn't happen or it's at a frequency outside of the range of the instrument. Anyone with more practical knowledge than me able to confirm or deny?

Interesting info too. Thanks for sharing!
Yes I'd like to hear other's people opinion and experience about this lack or presence of "air" in tone etc.
While deciding to have air chambers my main concerns were to 1. Experiment, 2. Weight reduction (I'll have a strap extension and this bass won't have any neck dive), 3. To have a different sounding bass (but Jim Breece's comments made me rethink about this).