Crazy quest, the worst resonant wood

[Dirk Diggler]

I would love to see what we might come up with, I want the worst wood possible. No sustain, no tone, might as well be made out of sponge.
I'm going to do a little experimental build.
Any thoughts or insights are greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Dirk

 

[levis76]

Petrified? Can't imagine that stuff would have much resonance. \m/

 

[adam.beauchene]

I would love to see what we might come up with, I want the worst wood possible. No sustain, no tone, might as well be made out of sponge.
I'm going to do a little experimental build.
Any thoughts or insights are greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Dirk

I imagine a tone monster of a bass with a balsa body, flatsawn exterior grade plywood neck, recycled plastic decking material for the fingerboard, topped off with a fine rubbed crayon finish. I have recurring nightmares of being on an arena stage with something like that. Playing through a 10 watt practice amp. And the whole band is looking at me because it's time for the solo... maybe I should get this checked out.

 

[Beej]

I have recurring nightmares of being on an arena stage with something like that. Playing through a 10 watt practice amp. And the whole band is looking at me because it's time for the solo... maybe I should get this checked out.

I've been watching you for a while now and I'm sorry to say that I keep coming back to the same thing...it's too late for you.

Back on topic, how about spalted balsa?

 

[ctmullins]

Back on topic, how about spalted balsa?

Dang, beat me to it, and only by four minutes!

 

[Beej]

^LOL! It was an easy one don'tcha think? Maybe he really wants to build a bass with it. In that case, spalted yellow cedar...

 

[jordak]

Telephone poles are thoroughly treated in creosode. Probably most readily available crap wood that is possible to work with.

 

[monti2889]

how bout knotty pine or maybe bamboo?

I hear they make good floors though.

 

[monti2889]

cork or wormwood... now that's just silly

 

[WinstonNilesRum]

cork or wormwood... now that's just silly

+1 for a cork bass!

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Buckeye burl?

 

[BWileyTally]

Why don't you just get some plywood and laminate pieces together for thickness....

 

[J Posega]

Plywood top and back with a cork core.

 

[mbelue]

Plywood top and back with a cork core.

Ooo, that's a thought! Wine cork sandwich. The wheels turn...

 

[WilliamSandoval]

Birch.

 

[pilotjones]

Corkscrew willow for the neck.

 

[gigslut]

I built a bass from Lauan. It was pretty, but had no sustain until I replaced the bridge with a high mass Schaller.

 

[jordak]

in before someone says basswood. Yes, it's cheap, but it's still reasonably decent.

 

[basey]

MDF board would be pretty dead.

 

[Mackluth]

+1 to MDF...or perhaps OSB is your acronym of choice