Bamboo or eucalyptus basses or fingerboards

[Snert]

Someone should tell Gene Simmons ..

If you did do it, I bet his lawyers would be on the phone demanding royalties.

 

[fhm555]

…Not sure I buy the hardness claims though. I installed bamboo floors in a few rooms of my house about ten years ago - looks great but it immediately began taking dents from normal wear that I don’t see on, for example, oak…

My sister installed bamboo flooring in her house and it lasted just over 2 years before she replaced it. She said it would dent if you looked at it hard.

 

[moon-bass]

My sister installed bamboo flooring in her house and it lasted just over 2 years before she replaced it. She said it would dent if you looked at it hard.

yeah I had heard that from a friend as well - said that even walking on it would dent it. But, that was years ago. I can't imagine this stuff denting under normal circumstances, or even most abnormal circumstances ..

 

[Max Bogosity]

Someone may have noted it earlier, but it bears repeating that the word bamboo refers to hundreds of different species with wildly varying properties. It’s about as specific as saying your floor is made of wood.

 

[g-dude]

What you're referring to in the generic sense as *Eucalyptus* is actually a single species - E globulus.

It is endemic to the forests of Victoria and Tasmania, one of the fastest growing and most flammable of all the eucalypts, and in California's case, a prime example of why a fast growing tree should never be transplanted from its native habitat into a foreign environment where it can thrive.

I concur.

 

[g-dude]

Sooo,....should we be worried about the bass exploding in a fire?

That would make it the best bass for metal.

 

[fhm555]

…But, that was years ago. I can't imagine this stuff denting under normal circumstances, or even most abnormal circumstances...

no doubt, but it serves as a strong indicator that the strength of current bamboo flooring is all about the binder, so any properly prepared wood fiber filler could potentially get the job done.

 

[g-dude]

Someone may have noted it earlier, but it bears repeating that the word bamboo refers to hundreds of different species with wildly varying properties. It’s about as specific as saying your floor is made of wood.

Some of us have floors made out of “wood” instead of wood.

 

[CryingBass]

I bought a JamRacks equipment rack recently made out of what I believe is the compressed bamboo.

Very sturdy. The rack is NOT light. But a bass slab made out of the same stuff would not need to be as thick as a traditional, maybe 1/2 as thick, and it would have the density and stability ( and sustainability ) to work, I think.
( of course fitting Pups and a control cavity might be a trick ).

Interesting... Non-luthier idiot here...

PS - I have a 7-foot wide standing desk that is very sturdy. Bamboo top that I think is 3/4" max. Zero signs of warp yet. More laminations than my Kabicki

 

[moon-bass]

no doubt, but it serves as a strong indicator that the strength of current bamboo flooring is all about the binder, so any properly prepared wood fiber filler could potentially get the job done.

From what I understand it's not the binder that's improved it's the process of compacting it. I would think that bamboo et al would be attractive to use because it's sustainable and fast growing and cheap. Also, the properties of the fibers has something to do with the ability to compact it so tightly.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

You got links to this stuff? I need to redo my kitchen floors too.

 

[moon-bass]

You got links to this stuff? I need to redo my kitchen floors too.

Eucalyptus Flooring | Solid & Engineered Hardwood Floor | CALI

This is the manufacturer. You can order samples from them as well (that's what we did, and now we also have wooden coasters).

 

[moon-bass]

For the no pics or it didn't happen crowd

Two of the samples that we put thru the ringer.

 

[moon-bass]

Bamboo on my NS/Stick neck.
Was good enough for Emmett Chapman and Co.
View attachment 4687058

Btw I love that NS Stick. It's next on my GAS list. If you ever want to sell ...

 

[red_rhino]

Yeah, unfortunately, there was no fire service in the world that could have brought the Oakland firestorm under control before it totally decimated everything. Closely packed homes on hillsides covered in eucalyptus trees and twisty two lane roads, was a disaster waiting to happen.

Watching those trees explode is a stunning site.

There might be stuff being made now, and perhaps some varieties are different, but all the ones near San Francisco are useless and an invasive species.

They smell nice and look good though.

I know that some of the communities around Half Moon Bay are actively working to remove eucalyptus trees in and near the residential areas. Folks are sad to see them go, but it’s necessary under the current drought/fire conditions.

A few years ago I had some wine produced from a vineyard that was formerly a stand of eucalyptus. Gonna be a long time before I forget what that tasted like. (Kinda like it to smoking an entire pack of clove cigarettes all at once.)

 

[Beej]

For the no pics or it didn't happen crowd

Two of the samples that we put thru the ringer.

Those look great! How stiff would you say they are compared to like maple? When it comes to fretboards, I want it to be at least as stiff as walnut and be able to hold frets well. Plus, I want it to be attractive, and those boards fit the bill.

 

[moon-bass]

Those look great! How stiff would you say they are compared to like maple? When it comes to fretboards, I want it to be at least as stiff as walnut and be able to hold frets well. Plus, I want it to be attractive, and those boards fit the bill.

I don't have any other boards on hand to do a direct comparison, but the boards are very stiff. The actual boards themselves (they delivered the boards but haven't installed them yet) can't be bent, and I tried - even stood on one. There's no give, no movement.

 

[Beej]

I don't have any other boards on hand to do a direct comparison, but the boards are very stiff. The actual boards themselves (they delivered the boards but haven't installed them yet) can't be bent, and I tried - even stood on one. There's no give, no movement.

Well then if they hold their beauty when radiused, they sound like potential winners.

 

[g-dude]

I know that some of the communities around Half Moon Bay are actively working to remove eucalyptus trees in and near the residential areas. Folks are sad to see them go, but it’s necessary under the current drought/fire conditions.

A few years ago I had some wine produced from a vineyard that was formerly a stand of eucalyptus. Gonna be a long time before I forget what that tasted like. (Kinda like it to smoking an entire pack of clove cigarettes all at once.)

Terroir can cut both ways!

 

[moon-bass]

Well then if they hold their beauty when radiused, they sound like potential winners.

The grain does not go thru the wood on bamboo sample that we got, but it does go all the way thru on the eucalyptus. So, I assume that it would radius well, but I'm no luthier or wood worker.