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Birchwood?

Woodpecker

Woodpecker

Nov 11, 2007
140
4
"Newland", Finland
www.bassshed.net
#1
Hey ya'll!
I'm planning to build my first solidbody 5-string bass and is currently studying what type of woods to use for the construction.
Everybody everywhere on the net is talking about those exotic hardwoods etc., but I want to study the options for using domestic woods instead of wood from our precious rainforests, the "lungs of the planet".

So how about birch for the body? Why doesn't luthiers use this magnificent wood? It's domestic (grows all over the northern hemisphere) it's fairly cheap and available from... well, everywhere. Does birch have some sonic characteristics that makes it not suitable for instrument building material, or what's the reason?
And how about ash used for the neck, or a 5-7 piece maple/ash neck? What does that sound like?
And last but not least, is it true that elm is quite similar to mahogany as body wood?

Thanks for the input/opinions...

Woodpecker
 
#2
all the woods you mentioned are perfectly fine for all the purposes you propose and have been, in fact, used in the past with great success. The reason, I think, why you don't see these used as often is because they are domestic, readily available and relatively plain looking ...people want their instruments to be 'one of a kind' and if their bass is made from the same woods as their dining table, well, the psychological effect is not the same.
 
#3
Woodpecker said:
So how about birch for the body? Why doesn't luthiers use this magnificent wood? It's domestic (grows all over the northern hemisphere) it's fairly cheap and available from... well, everywhere. Does birch have some sonic characteristics that makes it not suitable for instrument building material, or what's the reason?
And how about ash used for the neck, or a 5-7 piece maple/ash neck? What does that sound like?
And last but not least, is it true that elm is quite similar to mahogany as body wood?

Thanks for the input/opinions...

Woodpecker
Click to expand...

I've used birch a few times, works and probably sounds similar to maple. I like ash necks. I have no experience with elm but any of these woods are fine for instrument use.
 
#5
I learned a new fact on Oceanography class this past summer.

The ocean accounts for 90% of our oxygen.

The trees and plants on land account for about 10%(but they still have very important "filtering" duties)

Thank the diatoms dinoflagellates, and green ocean algae for your air:)
 
#6
Birch is also relatively heavy, and in these days of "lightweight bass mania", it can be less desirable for a builder to use. I have used Birch in necks, and it works quite nicely. I have a few pieces of figured birch I plan to use for bodies some day.
 

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