Tonewood: sonic characteristics contingent on placement?

Alex · #1 12-02-2007, 08:50 PM

I was pondering top woods for a custom build that I was considering and I came to wenge as a top wood. I know it's almost exclusively used for necks and everybody gushes about its tone, but why not for tops then? Does its effect on the tone differ from its placement as, say, a neck wood vs a top wood?

...and if you must know right now the woods for the bass (a 6er) I'm thinking of are a purpleheart fingerboard, maple neck, and black cherry back. How do you think a wenge top would do with that combination. I'm also considering padouk, mahogany, koa, and indian rosewood for the top.

Oh and I find the same to be true with rosewood; everyone raves about it for fingerboards, but it isn't even mentioned when considering other parts of the bass. Why?

I'm sure you guys have all the answers. Do tell!

**Rodent** · #2 12-02-2007, 09:38 PM

for the record - mark me down as one who does NOT gush about the tone of Wenge. outside of the occasional fretboard I refuse to use it on my bass builds

unless you plan to have that Wenge top thicker than 1/4" it will play an insignificant factor in the overall tone of your bass IMO/IME

a thin top laminate has about as much impact on the overall tone as the tone difference between red and black nitro IMO/IME. choose a top because you like the way it looks

all the best,

R

SDB Guitars · #3 12-02-2007, 09:51 PM

I can't speak for tone, but I like the *look* or wenge as a top wood...

Here's one I'm working on now (or was in the fall... it will sit in a hice reasonably warm and dry place until spring, I think...

ehque · #4 12-02-2007, 10:41 PM

That is some spectacular bass. I always imagined wenge to be a not-so-pretty wood, you prove me wrong!

SDB Guitars · #5 12-02-2007, 10:48 PM

I didn't buy the wenge with the intent of making it into a top, I was thinking more along the lines of necks... but once I used all I needed for necks, I had this cutoff just large enough to make a body from, and I have to admit, I really like the look (lots of splinters, though, rough wood to work with).

There is no finish on that, just polished with Micromesh up through 12,000...

Jonsbasses · #6 12-02-2007, 11:44 PM

I love the tone of Wenge! I'm about to start back up on an 8-string with a Wenge top. I'd love to make a body out of the stuff, but it'd be so costly and it would have to be chambered a great deal to reduce the weight down.

Alex · #7 12-03-2007, 05:29 PM

OK, but i mean just generally why not use for example rosewood as a body wood. Why always in the fretboard? Does it have a different affect on the tone?

radii · #8 12-03-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

OK, but i mean just generally why not use for example rosewood as a body wood. Why always in the fretboard? Does it have a different affect on the tone?

I think it has more to do with availabilty, size, price etc.

Jonsbasses · #9 12-03-2007, 05:44 PM

Because Wenge and Rosewood are expensive woods. Wenge is typically $12-16 a board foot while Eastern Indian Rosewood (EIR) is typically $20+ a board foot. They aren't used commonly because of their weight and price. All common body woods are good weight and good price - Ash, Mahogany, Alder, Limba, etc.

Phil Mailloux · #10 12-03-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

OK, but i mean just generally why not use for example rosewood as a body wood. Why always in the fretboard? Does it have a different affect on the tone?

Too dense, too heavy, too hard to machine.

cnltb · #11 12-03-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I was pondering top woods for a custom build that I was considering and I came to wenge as a top wood. I know it's almost exclusively used for necks and everybody gushes about its tone, but why not for tops then? Does its effect on the tone differ from its placement as, say, a neck wood vs a top wood?

...and if you must know right now the woods for the bass (a 6er) I'm thinking of are a purpleheart fingerboard, maple neck, and black cherry back. How do you think a wenge top would do with that combination. I'm also considering padouk, mahogany, koa, and indian rosewood for the top.

Oh and I find the same to be true with rosewood; everyone raves about it for fingerboards, but it isn't even mentioned when considering other parts of the bass. Why?

I'm sure you guys have all the answers. Do tell!

I've got two basses both with brazilian rosewood front and back, as well as in the neck and in one case used as board. Works well.
I really like that stuff ( am not a fan of wenge though)

As always, it depends on what you're after.