Purple Heart sound

[Orlan]

Hi, guys!

A friend of mine is making an EU for me and has offered me a fingerboard made of purple heart, if I wish so...

What's to know about purple heart? What are his properties regarding feel and sound?

Any help/experience is more than welcome! Thanks a lot!

[mikeyswood]

I had the chicken with rice.

[Arpeggiator]

hmm cant give much in terms of tone, but its an extreamly hard wood, which is a pain to work with (blunts blades, quite brittle) its not that uncommon as a fingerboard wood on BG's not sure about EUBs.

[Alcyon]

You're going to have to track down a lot of wounded veterans to make a whole neck out of them...

[Stone Age]

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

I had the chicken with rice.

[SDB Guitars]

If I had a nickel... lol.

[scottyd]

Cmon, why all the sarcasm? Everyone knows the best description of how purpleheart sounds, it sounds purply

[Beej]

Orlan, if you're reading this thread and wondering what the heck is going on, you should know that many experienced builders have found little if any difference in the tone that is actually imparted by wood selection. Instead, most find that major differences are attributable to strings, pickups and electronics on solidbody instruments. Not to say that wood imparts NO tonal differences, just that the differences are usually so subtle as to be pretty much irrelevant. The term "tonewood", generally speaking, applies to the characteristics of a particular type of wood in acoustic instrument applications.

There, I said it. Step into the ring if you dare...

[HogieWan]

I'd say that the wood selection in more than subtle, but is in no way dramatic - also different boards of the same species can vary more than two different woods, but they can make an audible difference.

[jordan_frerichs]

Originally Posted by Beej

Orlan, if you're reading this thread and wondering what the heck is going on, you should know that many experienced builders have found little if any difference in the tone that is actually imparted by wood selection. Instead, most find that major differences are attributable to strings, pickups and electronics on solidbody instruments. Not to say that wood imparts NO tonal differences, just that the differences are usually so subtle as to be pretty much irrelevant. The term "tonewood", generally speaking, applies to the characteristics of a particular type of wood in acoustic instrument applications.

There, I said it. Step into the ring if you dare...

the construction type and construction quality also play a big role (ex. semi hollow and solid body). I would say go for the purpleheart. It is definately suiteable for an EU, unless there are any other sweet choices. Ebony is used way to much.

[Stone Age]

Originally Posted by scottyd

Cmon, why all the sarcasm? Everyone knows the best description of how purpleheart sounds, it sounds purply

Agree 100%

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Beej

Orlan, if you're reading this thread and wondering what the heck is going on, you should know that many experienced builders have found little if any difference in the tone that is actually imparted by wood selection. Instead, most find that major differences are attributable to strings, pickups and electronics on solidbody instruments. Not to say that wood imparts NO tonal differences, just that the differences are usually so subtle as to be pretty much irrelevant. The term "tonewood", generally speaking, applies to the characteristics of a particular type of wood in acoustic instrument applications.

There, I said it. Step into the ring if you dare...

Here we go again...

[Beej]

Lots of musicians and builders are scienticians, few are scientists.

Here are a couple of navel gazing exercises:

1. take two identically shaped and constructed basses, one made of all hard maple, the other made of all wenge. Use identical hardware and electronics on both. String one with flats and the other with roundwounds. Give them both to a blindfolded bassist who does not know which is which. Ask him to tell which wood is which. .

2. take two identically shaped and constructed basses, one made of all hard maple, the other made of all wenge. Use identical roundwound strings on both. Put nordy fat stacks on the maple and standard fender jazz pickups on the wenge. Give them both to a blindfolded bassist who does not know which is which. Ask him to tell them apart based on wood.

3. take two identically shaped and constructed basses, both made of hard maple from different suppliers. Use identical flats and pickups on both. Give them both to a blindfolded bassist and ask him to tell you which one is maple and which one is wenge. (get it? - they are the same construction and material - the power of suggestion is at work.)

Some folks need to think scientifically, and think about face versus construct validity. Read up on perception...

There, I said it...

[tjclem]

Alright somebody has to post the little popcorn eating guy.

[Rickett Customs]

I'll see your popcorn guy and throw in a drink.

[wilser]

I would describe the sound this way:

"strong punchy lows, sparkly but not overly harsh highs and a slightly pronounced mid-hump"



KAPUT!

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

I'll see your popcorn guy and throw in a drink.

Woo Hoo!!

[scottyd]

Originally Posted by wilser

I would describe the sound this way:

"strong punchy lows, sparkly but not overly harsh highs and a slightly pronounced mid-hump"



KAPUT!

Hey wait a minute, didn't you describe Zebrano in the same manner? I was led to believe that Zebrano sounded more zebrary... then purply

[Beej]

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

I'll see your popcorn guy and throw in a drink.

I actually laughed out loud at this post...

[mikeyswood]