First Build in Planning

[spencer10]

First post! Hello there, I'm currently ironing out my final designs for my first bass build.

She's a four string based primarily on Carl Thompson's rainbow bass. However, as acquiring various woods to laminate together to get the stripe effect would cost me a small fortune, I've decided to cut one piece of alder into strips, and stain them different colours before laminating them back together.

Would i run into any problems doing this? Is there anything I should be aware of with regards to staining and finishing?

I'll begin a detailed build post once i'm at least half way through, final designs and supplies bought this weekend

Thanks!

 

[JoeDeF]

....However, as acquiring various woods to laminate together to get the stripe effect would cost me a small fortune, I've decided to cut one piece of alder into strips, and stain them different colours before laminating them back together.

Would i run into any problems doing this? Is there anything I should be aware of with regards to staining and finishing?

Hi Spencer10,

When we stain wood, the stain typically does not penetrate very far into the wood (say, 1 mm or so). So, you can stain your laminations, but once you shape the neck, you will have removed most of the stained wood, leaving perhaps irregular bands of stained wood only at the joints between the individual layers. I doubt if that is the look you are going for. Of course, you can try it out with a few scraps if you want to be creative and invent your own look....

But, if you want a more traditionally striped look, you could buy at least one piece of wood of a species with greatly contrasting color, and do laminates out of strips of the two woods.

Good luck with your build.

P.S. - FYI, I believe it is possible using great pressure and heat to drive stain deeper into wood, but the equipment needed to do so would be out of reach for most of us. And, there is a (I believe patented) process for growing wood with the stain permeating the fibers while the tree is still alive, but that wood would be more expensive....

 

[spencer10]

Thank JoeDeF, that's definitely saved me a botched body attempt! I've found a nice american black walnut blank for the body and I'll source the wood for the stripes from padauk, ebony and maple fingerboard and neck blanks. That way i'll be able to keep my costs and excess wood relatively low as opposed to sourcing multiple body blanks