BUBINGA-To cut or to not- solid body or lam?

[smudgel]

I just bought this awsomw piece of Bubinga. And I don't know weather to use it as a one piece body or cut it up. I could easily get two bookmatched top set and two back sets. Also I'm not sure what core wood to use if I cut it up? I was thinkinh Maple or Mahogany, or maybe Walnut? All with completely different sounds, but which would work best with the Bubinga. Bubinga has a ton of sustain, bright mids and highs, and a solid low end.

I bought the piece on the right.

 

[contakt321]

I think it makes more sense to cut it - you make many basses w/ that wood, as opposed to just one.

 

[smudgel]

What would you use for the core wood?

 

[SDB Guitars]

Something light, if you are going to hse that as a top and back both... I'd probably go with something like Spanish Cedar (super light weight) or swamp ash (lighter than most) to counteract the weight of the bubinga.

 

[tjclem]

If the back is as pretty as the front cut it up for sure..Very nice piece it must have cost a pretty penny...t

 

[Musiclogic]

I'll provide a slightly opposing opinion.....cut 1 and do one as a 1 piece body. How many 1 piece, Waterfall Bubinga bodies have you ever seen??? Would be a very uncommon piece.

 

[tjclem]

I'll provide a slightly opposing opinion.....cut 1 and do one as a 1 piece body. How many 1 piece, Waterfall Bubinga bodies have you ever seen??? Would be a very uncommon piece.

I think he only has the one on the right. Not sure how thick it is though....t

 

[FBB Custom]

Cut it and get as many tops as you can (within reason). Put it on a lightweight core/back. Why not start with mahogany and do walnut on the second one?

 

[JSPguitars]

1-piece! You only live once! and it could be a good excuse to make YOURSELF a bass. (I saw that beauty on the Gilmer site).

 

[eleonn]

Cut it and use some mahogany (you would have to check the weight of the mix) or walnut and use some maple or whitish veneer to add some contrast.

 

[tjclem]

1-piece! You only live once! and it could be a good excuse to make YOURSELF a bass. (I saw that beauty on the Gilmer site).

That site drives me nuts. 80% of the wood on the site is sold. The neck blanks don't mention if they are 1/4 sawn or flat sawn. If you are going to have a web site keep it up to date.

Sorry about the rant but I see that way too much.....t

 

[spade2you]

Cut it into several nice tops!!!!!!! Using it for one bass is a waste of beautiful lumber. Besides, bubinga is often really heavy when used as a core wood. Unfigured bubinga could be used as a core if really desired.

I haven't seen a chunk of bubinga that gorgeous before.

 

[Basschair]

That site drives me nuts. 80% of the wood on the site is sold. The neck blanks don't mention if they are 1/4 sawn or flat sawn. If you are going to have a web site keep it up to date.

Sorry about the rant but I see that way too much.....t

+1

They have various rare woods on their site that I've inquired about, only to find them long since sold.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Wow that's the most beautiful piece of bubinga I ever saw!

I'd cut it for tops. For body woods... anything is good. Mahogany, alder, cherry, swamp ash, walnut... even poplar if you are putting a back plate on (poplar is a but drab to look at but sounds great for bass.

 

[Musiclogic]

Gilmer is annoying, I don't even go to their site anymore, it's always a tease...LMAO

 

[Son of Magni]

Yeah, I would probably re-saw it for tops. But it depends a bit on the exact size of the block.

 

[waseok]

Damn beautyfull bubinga
i would use it as top, and mahogany or bubinga as core

 

[erikbojerik]

I personally don't mind a heavy instrument, but a lot of folks do....a 1-piece body from that stuff will weigh a ton.

Go with something that has a reddish tint; mahogany or even padauk (but I'd chamber the padauk, its also heavy).

 

[Musiclogic]

I would have to disagree, it would be heavier than the 8 lb bass everyone plays these days, but I have a solid Bubinga bodied neck through in the works, and it is going to come in about 10.5 - 11 lbs......not too awful bad, to me.

 

[Mon Rominee]

Halve it on the thickness, and use it as core body wood with clear acrylic top and back.