Help identifying top wood

Discussion in 'Luthier's Corner' started by Nenor, Jun 26, 2019.

  1. Nenor

    Nenor

    Feb 9, 2003
    Israel
    As the title says. It's a 2001 Ken Bebensee. Thanks.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Gary_M

    Gary_M Do you know where your towel is? Supporting Member

    Oct 19, 2013
    Northern Indiana
    Could be figured Myrtle. :)
     
    mikewalker likes this.
  3. Could be anigre, I used that in a couple recent builds and the color and grain look right, that has more figuring than what I had. However I'm not sure I've ever seen anigre in a commercial build.
     
  4. Did you check out Ken's website? He has a gallery of many of his builds and information about them. Lots of eye candy as well.
     
  5. Nenor

    Nenor

    Feb 9, 2003
    Israel
    Thanks for the comments. I was actually the original owner. Sold the bass a decade ago. I ordered it with a Walnut burl top without really knowing back then what I'm ordering, therefor never questioned about it. I think it's clear it isn't Walnut... just curios what it is. I don't have it and don't know where it is today.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2020
  6. Scoops

    Scoops Why do we use base 10 when we only have 8 fingers Supporting Member

    Oct 22, 2013
    Sugar Creek, Wisc
    Hard to tell, but it could be maple
     
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  7. MotorCityMinion

    MotorCityMinion

    Jun 15, 2017
    I"m curious now. What makes you think it's not Walnut?
     
  8. Shedua511

    Shedua511

    Apr 6, 2013
    Oslo, Norway
    Agent for Scandinavian countries: Stick Enterprises Inc.
    My vote goes to koa.
    [​IMG]
     
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  9. jumbodbassman

    jumbodbassman

    Dec 28, 2009
    Stuck in traffic -NY & CT
    Born Again Tubey
    i was thinking maple too....
     
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  10. mikewalker

    mikewalker Supporting Member

    Jul 30, 2017
    Canada, Eh!
    Looks like Myrtle to me (first impression)
     
  11. tpaul

    tpaul Supporting Member

    Mar 19, 2011
    Vermont
    This is the extent of my expertise:

    wood.jpg
     
  12. dwizum

    dwizum

    Dec 21, 2018
    Any other photos? Walnut covers a few species with sometimes radically different appearances. Especially once you talk about burl and potential hybrid or graft Lumber. If you're familiar with one species, seeing another one might make you think it wasn't walnut.
     
  13. Nenor

    Nenor

    Feb 9, 2003
    Israel
    More pictures, including the back.
     

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  14. roller

    roller Supporting Member

    Mar 30, 2014
    I vote maple burl... maybe myrtle burl.

    Those markings certainly appear to be some sort of burl... and it doesn't look like cat puke, so we know it's not buckeye burl. :smug:

     
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  15. wraub

    wraub

    Apr 9, 2004
    ennui, az
    Myrtle, maybe olive...?
     
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  16. vvvmmm

    vvvmmm

    Dec 6, 2016
    Chi
    "Top Wood" is my English game show name.

    (Note my good taste in not claiming it's my British stripper name.)
     
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  17. dwizum

    dwizum

    Dec 21, 2018
    Has it potentially seen a lot of sun? Walnut heartwood will take on a honey tone like that from UV.

    At any rate it's hard to tell what it is. But it is certainly beautiful. If I was sold that bass and told by the builder it was walnut burl I'd probably just accept that at face value. It does look fairly light in color but it's not inexplicable.

    Here's a walnut burl Lakland on reverb that looks really close:

    Lakland 55-94 2017 Natural Walnut Burl | Russell's Bass Shop
     
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  18. If he’s still in business contact him. It really could be any one of several species of wood. Having said that, there is something to it that makes me think it could be stained figured birch. The colour and the figure reminds me of what was occasionally used in the making of “federal card tables” back in the 1800’sl
     
  19. dwizum

    dwizum

    Dec 21, 2018
    Ironically, stained birch was used in furniture during that era as a way to imitate other more expensive lumber, like walnut!
     
  20. I'm saying it's flamed Koa.