Help me pick a top wood for my new Fishbone sixer!

[Jeremy Allen]

Friends, John and Thom at Fishbone Basses are building me a six string (after they generously loaned me a five string for about four months, to play and evaluate--these are amazing instruments). I've got it narrowed down to either burled walnut or paduak. What are your opinions?

Paduak:

Walnut #1:

Walnut #2:

 

[Dave W]

I'd go with one of the walnuts. I don't particularly like the Paduak.

 

[fourstringbliss]

#2.

 

[MostlyBass]

Walnut. 2 looks great.

 

[4StringShooter]

Nice looking Guitar.

 

[SherwoodGreen]

I'll be an advocate for the Paduak; I like the look.
They sure do make an interesting bridge, eh?

 

[dreads311]

I like the red hue of the paduak. Walnut 1 is sexy. Walnut 2 is classy. Tough call...

 

[Borzi_4]

I have a bass with a Paduak top and I don't believe the pic does it justice. That said, I voted Walnut #1

 

[Jeremy Allen]

Nice looking Guitar.

Why thank you, 4StringShooter, I think so too. It oughta sit real nice next to my other two axes, a 4-string double bass and a 4-string P-bass.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

They sure do make an interesting bridge, eh?

Yes, the bridge is a patented design. I'm not sure what it does, but they've resisted requests to license it to other makers (for better or for worse).

I have a bass with a Paduak top and I don't believe the pic does it justice. That said, I voted Walnut #1

I agree with you. I hadn't been considering Paduak, but when we were looking at the wood samples they mocked up these images from, they brought a couple of finished basses with them, one of which had the Paduak top. In person, it was stunning and irresistible--I couldn't take my eyes off it.

 

[Musiclogic]

I am also a Padauk Lover, but something with a little more figure and less plain would be my choice for Padauk. The Curly walnut is nice also. Definitely a tough choice

 

[Munjibunga]

It's "padauk," folks. And that's what I'd go with.

 

[jmclearnon]

How about both.....

 

[wednesdayagain]

Tough choice, but I'd go with Walnut #1

 

[SDMFJay]

I love the slightly lighter, worn look of walnut #1

 

[Wallace320]

Padauk

not "Paduak"

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Munjibunga]

Padauk

not "Paduak"

Cheers,
Wallace

Wallace, see post #12.

 

[smperry]

I'd normally prefer walnut, but in this case, I think the padauk wins. It looks great with the multi-lam neck.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

Sorry about the spelling, dudes; I'm normally as big of a grammar/spelling nazi as anyone, but in this case I got confused by the (incorrect) photo filenames.

My wife made the same comment about the padauk contrasting so nicely with the laminates. I also have five fingerboard options, but the darkest wenge looks best to me (and I liked wenge under my fingers and in my ears).

 

[SherwoodGreen]

I don't care if it's spelled "paduak" "padauk" orr "schmadauk"!
As if the spelling would affect the playability, or the build order!.

The color tone of that wood top looks killer- I claim first vote for the PadAuk; so get that order in!

I've spoken with Fishbone in the past btw; very cool guys.
Enjoy your new bass, I'd love a fretted 4 like that!