6 string build

[RichterScale]

I've been talking and thinking about attempting a 6 string build for what seems like at least a year now. I'm probably nowhere near starting it and it will probably take me forever to finish once I do start, but I figure why not start a thread anyway?
So, materials are Kiaat, Padauk, Peruvian walnut and black dyed Poplar veneer. I also have a nice hard maple board on hand (no fancy figure).

The neck will be Kiaat with Padauk stringers. I like the strength to weight ratio on the Kiaat, so I wanted to make as much of the bass out of it as possible, to keep the weight down.
Originally, I wanted to model it after the Cort Curbow, but after looking long and hard, I came to the conclusion that the lower bout and horn area was just too small and might balance funny on the knee. I printed pics of it and tried adjusting/drawing the body lines differently, extending the lower horn, etc, but it just looked funny. So, I ended up with a completely different body. I tried different looks, but it always ended up where it is. It's not exactly what I was picturing (not sure I ever had a clear picture in my head), but I'm leaving it and moving on to agonizing over wood combos. I still have to mockup a ToneFoam® prototype and make sure the shape and contours are comfy, so it may change a bit still. Pics are printouts of a Curbow neck/tuners, drawn body and HS shape and an attempt to mimic the wood colors with colored pencils, to try and get at least an idea. I'm having trouble visualizing this one in my head.
This is the bass I was thinking about doing a black poplar veneer on a maple fingerboard. Still on the fence with that idea. Padauk is on the table and probably the best choice. Plain maple would work, but I'm not a fan of light colored boards (but considering it). I would like to use the Peruvian walnut for the board, but it's not as tough as Black walnut, which I know has been used as boards with success. I just don't know how well the P. walnut will hold frets. Anyone work with it before?
Here's the specs on the woods I'm using and a few more for comparison.
-Muninga (Kiaat)-
Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft3 (605 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,360 lbf (6,050 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 14,250 lbf/in2 (98.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,267,000 lbf/in2 (8.73 GPa)

-Peruvian walnut-
Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 960 lbf (4,250 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 11,160 lbf/in2 (77.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,132,000 lbf/in2 (7.81 GPa)

-Black walnut-
Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft3 (610 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,010 lbf (4,490 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 14,600 lbf/in2 (100.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,680,000 lbf/in2 (11.59 GPa)

-African Padauk-
Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (745 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,970 lbf (8,760 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 16,830 lbf/in2 (116.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,700,000 lbf/in2 (11.72 GPa)

-Hard Maple-
Average Dried Weight: 44.0 lbs/ft3 (705 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,450 lbf (6,450 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 15,800 lbf/in2(109.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,830,000 lbf/in2(12.62 GPa)

-Yellow Poplar-
Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft3 (455 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 540 lbf (2,400 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 10,100 lbf/in2 (69.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,580,000 lbf/in2 (10.90 GPa)

Body core can be Kiaat, P. walnut or lightly chambered Padauk. Board can be Maple, veneered Maple, P. walnut or Padauk. And then whatever combo of the 3 with black veneer for core, board, top and back.
I'll print a few more B&W pics later and try to color a few more combos.
As per usual, feel free to post suggestions and derailments.

 

[Barticus]

I've been talking and thinking about attempting a 6 string build for what seems like at least a year now. I'm probably nowhere near starting it and it will probably take me forever to finish once I do start, but I figure why not start a thread anyway?
So, materials are Kiaat, Padauk, Peruvian walnut and black dyed Poplar veneer. I also have a nice hard maple board on hand (no fancy figure).
View attachment 4968047 View attachment 4968048 View attachment 4968049

The neck will be Kiaat with Padauk stringers. I like the strength to weight ratio on the Kiaat, so I wanted to make as much of the bass out of it as possible, to keep the weight down.
Originally, I wanted to model it after the Cort Curbow, but after looking long and hard, I came to the conclusion that the lower bout and horn area was just too small and might balance funny on the knee. I printed pics of it and tried adjusting/drawing the body lines differently, extending the lower horn, etc, but it just looked funny. So, I ended up with a completely different body. I tried different looks, but it always ended up where it is. It's not exactly what I was picturing (not sure I ever had a clear picture in my head), but I'm leaving it and moving on to agonizing over wood combos. I still have to mockup a ToneFoam® prototype and make sure the shape and contours are comfy, so it may change a bit still. Pics are printouts of a Curbow neck/tuners, drawn body and HS shape and an attempt to mimic the wood colors with colored pencils, to try and get at least an idea. I'm having trouble visualizing this one in my head.
This is the bass I was thinking about doing a black poplar veneer on a maple fingerboard. Still on the fence with that idea. Padauk is on the table and probably the best choice. Plain maple would work, but I'm not a fan of light colored boards (but considering it). I would like to use the Peruvian walnut for the board, but it's not as tough as Black walnut, which I know has been used as boards with success. I just don't know how well the P. walnut will hold frets. Anyone work with it before?
Here's the specs on the woods I'm using and a few more for comparison.
-Muninga (Kiaat)-
Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft3 (605 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,360 lbf (6,050 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 14,250 lbf/in2 (98.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,267,000 lbf/in2 (8.73 GPa)

-Peruvian walnut-
Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 960 lbf (4,250 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 11,160 lbf/in2 (77.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,132,000 lbf/in2 (7.81 GPa)

-Black walnut-
Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft3 (610 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,010 lbf (4,490 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 14,600 lbf/in2 (100.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,680,000 lbf/in2 (11.59 GPa)

-African Padauk-
Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (745 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,970 lbf (8,760 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 16,830 lbf/in2 (116.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,700,000 lbf/in2 (11.72 GPa)

-Hard Maple-
Average Dried Weight: 44.0 lbs/ft3 (705 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 1,450 lbf (6,450 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 15,800 lbf/in2(109.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,830,000 lbf/in2(12.62 GPa)

-Yellow Poplar-
Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft3 (455 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness: 540 lbf (2,400 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 10,100 lbf/in2 (69.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,580,000 lbf/in2 (10.90 GPa)

Body core can be Kiaat, P. walnut or lightly chambered Padauk. Board can be Maple, veneered Maple, P. walnut or Padauk. And then whatever combo of the 3 with black veneer for core, board, top and back.
I'll print a few more B&W pics later and try to color a few more combos.
As per usual, feel free to post suggestions and derailments.

I like the body design, I'd vote for the first color combo with light top and reddish neck.

 

[Flying B]

Tasty looking woods man. Second last colour combo for me.

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Nice wood pile, that should look great!

I have never seen muninga/kiaat/mukwa IRL but it looks like a good complement to your other choices.

I doubt you will have any issues making a fretboard out of Peruvian walnut. It's properties are pretty similar to black walnut.

Second to last is my favorite also.

 

[RichterScale]

I have never seen muninga/kiaat/mukwa IRL but it looks like a good complement to your other choices

I noticed it had small streaks of red in it when I got it home and thought, how cool, that will look really good next to the Padauk.
I looked it up and it turns out they're related!

 

[RichterScale]

Things I do know: (forgot to add)
34" scale
Zero fret
SS frets
Gotoh resolite GB350
My cheapy Amazon saddles and homemade string anchors concoction.
Slightly narrow string spacing
Single EMG 40DC located 30.5" OC from the nut with EMG volume, stacked B/T and stacked mid sweep/cut/boost
18v.

 

[RichterScale]

I don't know about youz guys, but I'm struggling with getting a good feel for how this will look, from these crappy colored pencil pics.
I did another with the body core and top reversed (left). I think if the body core and neck are both Kiaat, the body wing core will look better as it flows into the neck.
But, I really like the dark brown FB.
I dunno, Maybe it will balance a little better if I use the heavier Padauk for the wing cores.
I told you I would agonize over this.

 

[Beej]

I don't know about youz guys, but I'm struggling with getting a good feel for how this will look, from these crappy colored pencil pics.
I did another with the body core and top reversed (left). I think if the body core and neck are both Kiaat, the body wing core will look better as it flows into the neck.
But, I really like the dark brown FB.
I dunno, Maybe it will balance a little better if I use the heavier Padauk for the wing cores.
I told you I would agonize over this.

How do you usually dress? Which version will coordinate best?

On another note, which design will best coordinate with the room it in which it will reside?

I love to help.

 

[RichterScale]

On another note, which design will best coordinate with the room it in which it will reside?

It will hang from a rafter in the messy, dusty basement shop for 2 yrs, unfinished.
Obviously.

 

[Max Bogosity]

Just to be difficult, I prefer the black and white version with the dark fingerboard from post #1.

 

[RichterScale]

Just to be difficult, I prefer the black and white version with the dark fingerboard from post #1.

I'll do one of my high tech graphic design illustrations with the black board.

 

[lbridenstine]

I like all the options. I see why it's hard to decide.

 

[Flamingo21]

I told you I would agonize over this.

We wouldn't even recognise you if you didn't.

 

[RichterScale]

Just to be difficult, I prefer the black and white version with the dark fingerboard from post #1.

I'll do one of my high tech graphic design illustrations with the black board.

No white in the cards. Here's a few options with the black veneered board. You have to squint and pretend there's wood grain.

 

[Reedt2000]

No white in the cards. Here's a few options with the black veneered board. You have to squint and pretend there's wood grain.

#2 is pretty cool

 

[Videojunkie]

I don't know about youz guys, but I'm struggling with getting a good feel for how this will look, from these crappy colored pencil pics.
I did another with the body core and top reversed (left). I think if the body core and neck are both Kiaat, the body wing core will look better as it flows into the neck.
But, I really like the dark brown FB.
I dunno, Maybe it will balance a little better if I use the heavier Padauk for the wing cores.
I told you I would agonize over this.

I'm a fan of the center version with the Paduak peeking out on the edge.