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Has Quilted Maple Top become un-cool ??

mb94952

mb94952

Endorsing Artist : SFARZO STRINGS
Inactive
Supporting Member
Apr 16, 2007
9,437
8,453
57
Petaluma, California 94952
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I am confused, a little.

In the past, I would see a quilted maple top bass by Alembic or Peavey USA Cirrus, or any other boutique bass and I'd be wowed and almost hypnotized by the wood grain, especially if there was a poly coat to add depth.

In the last few years, the lower end basses have come out with quilted maple tops.

Has this tainted the look ? Do we look at quilted maple tops now and automatically think entry level / sophomore level bass ?

 
#2
mb94952 said:
I am confused, a little.

In the past, I would see a quilted maple top bass by Alembic or Peavey USA Cirrus, or any other boutique bass and I'd be wowed and almost hypnotized by the wood grain, especially if there was a poly coat to add depth.

In the last few years, the lower end basses have come out with quilted maple tops.

Has this tainted the look ? Do we look at quilted maple tops now and automatically think entry level / sophomore level bass ?
Click to expand...
I don't know about un-cool (I am the last guy to ever comment on that topic) and some makers are still doing some great quilt models. But your question prompted my to consider my current lineup. Almost every bass and guitar that I have owned in the past 5+ years had some stunning top of some sort. Flames and quilts. But right now I don't own a single figured top. All painted. Hadn't ever thought about it.
 
#3
well, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
So, something like a highly flamed, figured or quilted top is never inherently cool or uncool, just depends on what you like.

personally I think quilted tops look cool as heck. :p
 
#4
mb94952 said:

In the past, I would see a quilted maple top bass by Alembic or Peavey USA Cirrus, or any other boutique bass and I'd be wowed and almost hypnotized by the wood grain, especially if there was a poly coat to add depth.

In the last few years, the lower end basses have come out with quilted maple tops.
Click to expand...

OH NO! Now I have to sell my Alembic! :atoz:
 
#9
I still like quilted maple!

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#10
I think that people will like whatever looks the coolest to them no matter what but for people like me that think so many different woods (flame, spalted etc.) look just as good it does start to get annoying seeing all of those cheap photo-quilted tops. It also doesn't help that I have all of these beautiful oil finish and flame maple basses and for some reason every time a non-musician walks in my room and looks at my wall they instantly go for the one cheap bass I have with a fake quilt maple top.
 
#15
Execution is everything. If you take a look at some of the entry level models, it just seems like they threw it on top to make it sell.

Even if it is a laminate, I would venture to compare it to the photo flame technique. Can it be done well? Sure. There are plenty that I would still take.

ursarn+rdsqmd5.jpg
 
#17
Has Quilted Maple Top become un-cool ??
Click to expand...
Yeah, furniture basses are largely over. I'm certainly sick of them.

Seeing a paper-thin B-grade veneer in nauseating trans-blue hiding the crapwood body on every hideous kid guitar over about $150 for the past fifteen years or so couldn't have helped.

They're an integral part of the geek-bass look, though, so I don't expect them to totally go away.

That ridiculous new Fender "Select" line with furniture laminate and instantly-degrading gold pimp hardware could not look more like $299 instruments if they were actually trying to. :rollno:
 

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