bass wood (again) for first build

six-one-6-six · #1 05-13-2009, 02:33 PM

ok , hello

now i'm planing to get a 6 string bass from warmoth and i want to share my wood selection with you

body : swamp ash + wenge laminated top
neck : 5pcs wenge + ebony fretboard

electronics: kent armstrong pickups i will get.

my question is :
i am sur alot of people here have way more experience in this than me , so , in your opinion folks does my wood combo and pickups choice make sense for a bright / warm jazzy tone?????

i have no idea about the circuit board...pls any comments on this would be appreciated

tnx

vbasscustom · #2 05-13-2009, 02:57 PM

hmmm. depends.... are you looking for like a warm jazzy tone mixed with a bit of low end growl along with some swampy mids and some really bright highs to compliemnt the wenge and ebony? or is it going to me like a peice of wood with magnets.

six-one-6-six · #3 05-13-2009, 04:00 PM

ummmmmmmmmm .......ok...like a FBASS

Then i should go swawp ash body and maple neck?...

or

Smith bass : mohagany body , figured maple and maple neck??

this is confiusing,,,,,,,,,,,

pilotjones · #4 05-13-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six-one-6-six

in your opinion folks does my wood combo and pickups choice make sense for a bright / warm jazzy tone?????

For me, bright and warm are pretty much opposites, so no possible comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by six-one-6-six

ummmmmmmmmm .......ok...like a FBASS

Then use the same woods, similar electronics, similar construction methods and hardware, and pickup placement, and same strings to whichever model of F-bass it is that you like. With some luck, you'll end up close in tone.

six-one-6-six · #5 05-13-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

For me, bright and warm are pretty much opposites, so no possible comment.Then use the same woods, similar electronics, similar construction methods and hardware, and pickup placement, and same strings to whichever model of F-bass it is that you like. With some luck, you'll end up close in tone.

it make sense

how would you define the tone of a f bass and smith bass?

pilotjones · #6 05-13-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six-one-6-six

how would you define the tone of a f bass and smith bass?

I wouldn't. First, because I haven't played enough of either to form a valid concept; second because talking about tone can be like dancing about architecture.

bronzehydra · #7 05-13-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

For me, bright and warm are pretty much opposites, so no possible comment.

I was going to say that

Stone Age · #8 05-13-2009, 09:50 PM

The exact answer you are looking for is here - Jumping in the minefield: why no tone questions?

Woodpecker · #9 05-14-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

...talking about tone can be like dancing about architecture.

Well said, very well said in deed...

odin70 · #10 05-14-2009, 11:16 AM

my guess is that maybe 2% of your sound will be dictated by your choice of wood.

six-one-6-six · #11 05-14-2009, 04:04 PM

.................so my best guess is :
use what others use (if you like their tone of course) use the same material , same specs same everything.!!!

case closed

thx

roberthabraken · #12 05-14-2009, 04:36 PM

If you like another's instrument best, maybe you should consider buying it. If you want to build your own custom instrument, use your imagination

.... I guess you'd be a hell of a good luthier if you could predict the tone of an instrument by the choices of wood and pups...

six-one-6-six · #13 05-14-2009, 05:31 PM

i think first i have to walk before i run , in the learning process , doing what others are doing seams like a logical step in learning

as to ''buy one''

dont get me wrong (this is my opinion) sure , FODERA , F BASS , ALEMBIC , SMITH etc are very very nice indead but the price is way over the commun man's budget

there is no magical spell in builing a solid body , no wizard incantation. only wood and pickups and...maths

wood is wood , these woods are not blessed by a voodoo priest they are simply ...wood , they all sound different , even if the are identical.

ex: you like SMITH BASSES what do you notice about the construction , what i see is (apart that the visual aspect is at is best) he basicly uses the same woods over and over ,and the same construction method... why? because it works , they all sound a little differently but still they are pretty close ...so what's left? : pickups , you go get a set of custom made armstrong pickups and 18v 5 knobs circuit board and the rest (designs) is up to you.

And you dont have involve black magic

and the fact that they mostly use CNC's and KATIA V5 to cut on labor and let's face it , alot less scrap wood and alot more money for the company

i would not be suprised that these basses cost less than $1500.00 to make (my opinion)

so ....is 5K+ is a fair price , no , dont get me wrong i love these basses , they are works of art and they sound amazing

but these are not impossible for any of you guys here to make.

roberthabraken · #14 05-14-2009, 05:39 PM

You're right: only thing I meant to say is shoot for what you like, it will not likely be as you predicted to be tonewise.. but copying a proven combination sounds logically and may be a very good idea.

About comparing a (first) hand built instrument to an F-Bass... well, it could be cheaper, but it's not the same I guess.. and I myself (as being a first time builder) am finding it hard to get every detail spot on right away.

And about the costs (including tools and such): you might end up spending somewhere around $2K indeed, but it is much more value for money to be able to play your own hand built instrument!!

I wish you all the luck!!