Favorite figured top wood?

[Means2nEnd]

I admit some are just for bling like my plywood Warrior but it’s sitting on top of 40 year old ash. I have other basses like my Warwick limited 2010 Corvette that has a 1” thick piece of California redwood that definitely affects tone (yes I am in the wood affects tone camp and can’t be swayed not to be confused with the cheap basses with cheap electronics then wood wouldn’t and doesn’t matter camp) I have had long extensive conversations with a real luthier who built my daughter’s violin about the effects of tone from wood and sure there are many variables and in an electric instrument with a super thin veneer I agree anyone would be hard pressed to hear a difference but you get into ¼” and thicker with pickups and electronics that are a more pure tone it will. My ZON has a Purpleheart tone plate that I don’t think does much of anything but costs a bunch..

[Hobobob]

I like a vividly red, highly figured piece of cocobolo. Bubinga and figured Koa draw for second.

[Mr. Majestic]

I sell swamp ash to many of the high end bass makers around the world and can honestly say that every single one has their on theory about how and if wood effects tone/sustain, and if it does, what part does the most or least.......neck, fretboard, body, 1pc, 2pc, 3pc.......fill in the blank.
The main thing is this thread is supposed to be about "Favorite figured top wood", not a tone question. Back on track...........I still like the character of wood......I'm a nerd.....I also collect their leaves.........and different types, cut different ways......and know the botanical names for many, many, many species........I'm a nerd.

[Moe Monsarrat]

Maple burl.

[3234718]

Is my koa figured?

[Wilbyman]

burst over flamey spalt!

[CTC564]

Years ago, I was absolutely smitten with lacewood and zebrawood but you don't see many of those tops around anymore...

By far, IMHO, it seems that Mr. Tobias and Mr. Skjold have been selecting the most consistent highly figured jewelry store tops...I've recently been smitten by Mac ebony, Claro walnut and figured redwood....

[Jerry Ziarko]

Originally Posted by Mr. Majestic

+1......but lean toward the quilted ash a bit more.

First off, the sickest quilt I have ever seen. Stunning!

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

So far my fav is myrtlewood (but I'm biased).

Myrtle rocks!

And lastly my favorite type of post, my favorite, I hate it!

[WoodyG3]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

You would be bummed out if you stayed at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Koa patio furniture, koa paneling, koa everything. Even a store where everything is koa.

Yeah, I was just on the big island and saw a $15,000 koa rocking chair and a $7,000 flamed koa top coffee table.

Hey, Bongolation, here's one of my trashy, geeky, pimp trim basses. I suppose since the flamed koa is glued to two pieces of alder, it's a plywood bass, too. I bet this bass makes your flesh crawl.

[marquezbass]

koa , and second place goes to claro walnut.

[malthumb]

Amboyna Burl



And Coco Bolo (the 5-string in the middle)

[mindwell]

Originally Posted by CTC564

Years ago, I was absolutely smitten with lacewood and zebrawood but you don't see many of those tops around anymore...

As a general observation, I think that's right. Tracks with the dating of this bass, which is my '95 Ken Smith CR-5. Love how zebrawood looks. First time I saw it was on a Jerzy Drozd; took my breath away. Ken says it isn't a "figured" wood per se. This is on top of mahogany, btw.



I gravitate to the look of straighter, tight grains: swamp ash, shedua, ebony. I find it to be more elegant.

[ceerod]

[quote=CTC564;13659952]Years ago, I was absolutely smitten with lacewood and zebrawood but you don't see many of those tops around anymore...

Big zebrawood fan here...used to have a Spector Zebop and picked up a Warmoth about 2 months ago with a zebrawood top over a swamp ash body.

[mjcoderre]

Anything Burled, Spalted or Flamed...high density character kills meh!

[lowphatbass]

Maple is my favorite.

[mongo2]

Tightly flamed KOA.

[Jean Baudin]

Any of the real dark woods that sometimes have sapwood or light streaks in it - Brazilian Rosewood, Pale Moon Ebony, Ziricote and Katalox.

Also Myrtle and Holly look great on certain basses.

[steve f]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I like spalted maple, but my favorite is probably flamed koa.

+1 on Koa with spalted maple runner up.
Wish this one was mine!

[CTC564]

Good lord, that acoustic is jaw dropping...any idea what make/model?

[steve f]

Originally Posted by CTC564

Good lord, that acoustic is jaw dropping...any idea what make/model?

That's a Rob Allen Deep 5.
Not designed to be acoustic, it's meant to be amplified although you can get enough sound out of it without amplification for practice. Koa is standard wood for the top on that model, over alder, but this is exceptional.

http://www.roballenguitars.com/deep4_5.html