Forbidden Wood Combinations

[WoodyG3]

Haven't noticed any raves about alder/ebony...

Okay, I'll rave. I have a couple of Alder/ebony basses, and they are fantastic.

plenty of alder/ebony MTD's out there. It's actually listed as one of Mike Tobias' favorite and popular combinations.

That being said, I think an ash neck with ebony fretboard is too harsh to be practical.

If you think ash/ebony is too harsh, you must REALLY not like ash/maple.

Pretty sure a balsa wood body with a bamboo neck would be a no-no...

Bamboo is REALLY hard, and makes great floors, but I don't know if it would be workable for a bass neck.

As usual, I think people are WAY over thinking the whole tone wood thing.

 

[lomo]

I was under the impression that maple was not generally used in body woods due to the weight (not including tops).

True dat-just lift a classic Spector....tiny body with solid maple body wings......heavy as a boat anchor IME.

 

[groooooove]

theyre available woods that work and are easy to work with.

purpleheart makes a better neck than maple- but maple is so much easier and cheaper to get, and so easy to work with. (nothing wrong with maple, thought!)

 

[Steveman]

Haven't noticed any raves about alder/ebony...

Fodera's Yin Yang Standard is alder / ebony and those things are amazing.

While I don't think it's "forbidden" but I rarely see mahogany body / maple fretboard.

 

[Whit Townsend]

For a neck you need something stiff and rigid. For a fingerboard you need something hard and dense. For a body you need something heavy enough to avoid neck dive and light enough it doesn't break your back.
Other than that, its wide open.

 

[woodyng]

I think they should outlaw figured maple bass bodies but that's just because I have the modesty and good taste that most middle-aged bass players with a good salary seem to lack.

Staining them turquoise and putting gold hardware on them should probably be punishable by death. OK maybe I'm being too harsh. Quick and painless death. I am nothing if not a merciful despot.

Ok,this post made me LOL...
And as a post middle aged bass player used to making a decent living,i have to admit i am really taken with Rick 4004's that have at least some birdseye and flamey figuring in them. My 2 are very plain jane in that area. I have seen some extreme examples that i think are over the top.(but i like them too...)
Oh,and all my taste is NOT in my mouth,lol.....

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

While I don't think it's "forbidden" but I rarely see mahogany body / maple fretboard.

Plus it's rare to see a dark wood neck with a light wood fingerboard.

 

[bobpond]

A while ago I did a Warmoth 5 string jazz body type build and used an unfinished rosewood/rosewood neck with steel stiffening rods paired with a relatively light weight black limba body. It came out beautiful, plays fantastic, has no neck dive and is about the same overall weight as my Fender five string jazz basses.

.

Thanks. Good to know. Nice bass too!