Double Bass Do the flames make it go faster?

[timshacklock]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at getting a christopher 403 "Prominence" model and I was wondering what the difference is between the 400 series and the 500 series. Is it just that the wood looks heaps better? Does the flame on flame-maple actually do anything for the sound or is it just chosen because of its beauty?

Thanks
Tim

 

[NicholasF]

Sometimes highly flamed wood means that its a better quality of wood, other times it means that its gonna be costly for something that matches up with something else. "Bass" your purchase on sound and feel before looks.

Edit: To make it go really fast add gasoline

 

[timshacklock]

lol thanks

anybody had experience with a 400 and a 500 who can tell me any noticeable differences?

 

[lowfreq33]

Flamed or figured wood has no effect on tone, it just looks nice. Whether that's worth an upcharge is up to you.

 

[ole Jason]

Given the choice I usually prefer "plain" wood over flamed or figured.

 

[Valis]

Sometimes highly flamed wood means that its a better quality of wood

Flames are a defect of the wood caused by the wind... You just pay a lot for that cause people think it looks nicer and it's more rare.
Personally I think flames look ugly and I'd rather have plain wood with nice grain on my bass. But that's me.

 

[NicholasF]

Flames are a defect of the wood caused by the wind... You just pay a lot for that cause people think it looks nicer and it's more rare.
Personally I think flames look ugly and I'd rather have plain wood with nice grain on my bass. But that's me.

Its only sometimes, just like burl is a defect, people pay thousands over what it should cost. And a high grade flame used on a bass can (not always) indicate a better selection of woods that make up your instrument, but will be more costly.