Body wood considerations for jazz 5 build

[LAG]

Soon, I am going to put together another Carvin kit bass. This time the new B50, 5 string. It will be passive, VVT, not active.

What I prefer is an oil finish on the body and also on a maple fretted neck. So, an interesting wood type would be cool, but not altogether necessary.

I am kicking around the idea of using walnut for the body, but the bass will probably end up over 10 lbs, I would think. Alder is good, though generally not as pretty, clear coated. A denser wood such as walnut will probably make the B string ring clearer and tightened compared to alder, and give the upper highs a clearer slap tone.

So, I have aesthetic and tonal concerns, as well as overall weight to consider.

Suggestions are appreciated.

[allexcosta]

Search soft-maple, light and pretty...

[johnnybass01]

Make a chambered body..It will keep the weight down and add sustain

[type C basses]

1 vote for Sassafras.

[LAG]

Thanks.

I forgot to add Carvin's wood selections are:

Maple Neck/Alder Body

Maple Neck/Swamp Ash Body

Maple Neck/Koa Body

Maple Neck/Mahogany Body

Koa Neck & Body

Mahogany Neck & Body

Walnut Neck & Body

Maple Neck & Body

Maple Neck & Walnut Body

[allexcosta]

Maple Neck/Alder Body - Not pretty

Maple Neck/Swamp Ash Body - Good option if it's truly light

Maple Neck/Koa Body - Very pretty, can be heavy

Maple Neck/Mahogany Body - Heavy

Koa Neck & Body - Koa Neck? Never seen it...

Mahogany Neck & Body - Nah

Walnut Neck & Body - Heavy

Maple Neck & Body - If it's hard maple body they are crazy

Maple Neck & Walnut Body - Heavy

[LAG]

I once put together an B5 kit with a swamp ash body and active electronics from Carvin. The B string was very weak sounding. I am shy about using swamp ash again for this reason. Maybe it was a fluke, I don't know, but it was pretty.

One thing I don't want is a boat anchor beauty. Maybe good looks and good sound mean heavy?

[allexcosta]

I doubt the weak B string had anything to do with the body wood.

My Dingwall ABI has a soft-maple body and sounds great. That's why I first mentioned it.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by LAG

Soon, I am going to put together another Carvin kit bass. This time the new B50, 5 string. It will be passive, VVT, not active.

What I prefer is an oil finish on the body and also on a maple fretted neck. So, an interesting wood type would be cool, but not altogether necessary.

I am kicking around the idea of using walnut for the body, but the bass will probably end up over 10 lbs, I would think. Alder is good, though generally not as pretty, clear coated. A denser wood such as walnut will probably make the B string ring clearer and tightened compared to alder, and give the upper highs a clearer slap tone.

So, I have aesthetic and tonal concerns, as well as overall weight to consider.

Suggestions are appreciated.

Unless something has changed, Carvin only offers their bass kits with Alder bodies. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[LAG]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

I doubt the weak B string had anything to do with the body wood.

My Dingwall ABI has a soft-maple body and sounds great. That's why I first mentioned it.

That bass (B5) was very light, in fact I asked for a light piece of swamp ash and that is what they gave me.

Is your Dingwall a heavy weight bass?

[LAG]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Unless something has changed, Carvin only offers their bass kits with Alder bodies. Correct me if I'm wrong.

This wood I listed above is from the BK50 order page on the Carvin site.

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by LAG

Is your Dingwall a heavy weight bass?

Not at all. Very light at 8 pounds, but remember it has a 37" B string...

[pin_head_47]

Check out the Carvin B40/B50 thread over in the Basses section, there's a few reviews over there for these (albeit completed by Carvin) but I think all of them are either alder or swamp ash. I haven't seen any exotic ones yet. KayCee has a review of one in swamp ash, and even then it was about 9 and a half pounds, so I'd be leary of a heavy body wood.

Good news is that these are supposed to have a much better B string than the older model, though I'm not sure how they did it without changing the scale length.

[LAG]

I have read those threads here and at the Carvin BBs.

If a lighter weight 5 string bass is desired, it looks like one has to stay away from anything except alder and swamp ash, with the Carvin B50 or SB5000. Some get a bit heavy with the standard alder wood.

[pin_head_47]

Yeah, it seems like the SB5000 is even heavier than the B50. Although I would personally LOVE to see one of these in walnut or mahogany, or koa... koa personally makes me drool.

I've been considering one of these myself since the new body style came out, so I'd love to see a build thread/ finished pictures when you're done.

[LAG]

I have ordered a B50K with an alder body. Probably wont be the best looking wood, though tone wise it is all good for myself.

[LAG]

Originally Posted by pin_head_47

Yeah, it seems like the SB5000 is even heavier than the B50. Although I would personally LOVE to see one of these in walnut or mahogany, or koa... koa personally makes me drool.

I've been considering one of these myself since the new body style came out, so I'd love to see a build thread/ finished pictures when you're done.

I'll post pics during the build process. I ordered an alder body, maple neck with rosewood board w/no dots. SB headstock. The wait is on.

[type C basses]

Other than the weight, I think African mahogany would be a good fit.

[LAG]

Originally Posted by type C basses

Other than the weight, I think African mahogany would be a good fit.

Good point. I'll stick with alder.

[LAG]

Got a call today frpm Carvin, my B50 kit is ready to ship. Exactly 5 weeks to date from my order.