Do figured maple tops affect tone?

[Rod Torfulson]

Do maple tops affect tone or is the appeal purely aesthetic? For example, is there tonal difference between a swamp ash bodied Sadowsky with a figured maple top and one without?

 

[BIg O]

It depends a little on how thin the top is. I'm not sure about Roger's instruments, but George at F Bass says that using a 1/8" thick figured maple top on a swamp ash body has no net tone effect. I can say that my custom-top BN5 sounds identical to plain ash ones I've played.

 

[Fuzzbass]

It depends a little on how thin the top is. ...George at F Bass says that using a 1/8" thick figured maple top on a swamp ash body has no net tone effect.

I was going to say the same thing, but it means a heckuva lot more coming from George!

 

[Sadowsky]

Our maple tops are about 1/10" thick and I do not feel they affect the tone. We use them for cosmetic purposes only. I think once a top gets beyond the 1/4" range, you would probably hear it.

Roger Sadowsky

 

[Rod Torfulson]

Thanks to all for the quick responses, especially Roger for providing the definitive word regarding Sadowsky basses. What a great forum!