highly figured maple.... phooey!

[B String]

Don't get me wrong. I like a good piece of wood as much as
the next guy, but whats with the AAAAAAAAAA grade of
figured maple? The saying too much of a good thing applies
here. I've seen guys proudly showing basses that look like
paisley golf pantsor plaid shirts. Natural wood top basses
are beautiful, but not when they look like a Jackson Pollock.
Also, whats the difference in AAAAAAAA grade tops, and
AAAAAA grade tops? MARKETING! Sorry if this seems like a
rant, but I just saw a bass that almost gave me motion
sickness it had so much going on. Perhaps some tasteful
pictures might help me understand.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

How about this?

 

[M_A_T_T]

I've never heard of a 10A top, it's usually A - AAAAA. I think figured wood is cool, but I build stuff with it, so I have a different point of view.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks !. I like nice uniform look to the figure , it is still from mother nature.

 

[fraublugher]

i like flame but not quilted and preferably teabiscuited

 

[Ian Perge]

I've never heard of a 10A top, it's usually A - AAAAA.

"10-top" is a Paul Reed Smith term: they use it to describe the "top 10% of their wood stock". I'd imagine that would correspond to a 4-5A top. G*itarists, having to go off and do things their own way...

And yes, I agree that there can be too much of a good thing in any styling of wood.

 

[Wilbyman]

Perhaps some tasteful
pictures might help me understand.

I like the understated elegance of this quilt (sorry Brian, couldn't help it):

 

[all_grown_up]

One person's art is another's monstrosity. Like a lot that goes on in these threads, it is personal taste. Understated classic elegance, vs raw in your face.

Viva le difference!

 

[B String]

And this is what I'n talking about. From far enough away, it
almost looks like polka dots. I had to take Dramamine, just
to look at the thing. I'm sure its a nice bass, but the first
rows of people will be sea sick I guarantee.

 

[Wilbyman]

You are right about that golf shirt thing.

 

[B String]

He shoots!..... He scores!!!!!

 

[M_A_T_T]

I like the understated elegance of this quilt (sorry Brian, couldn't help it):

Re: Attachment:

Okay, I see what you guys mean about too much of a good thing. Nice quilt by itself, but kinda ugly when EVERYTHING on the bass in quilted maple.

 

[Fuzzbass]

If ya don't like it, don't buy it.




But seriously: after owning a few spalty-quilty-flamey things I realize paint better suits my blue-collar playing style. But I still love lookin' at fancy wood tops.

 

[lyle]

Roscoe have some of the nicest quilts I have ever seen.

 

[Halftooth]

Roscoe have some of the nicest quilts I have ever seen.

Amen to that!
I just aquired an Exhibition Quitl topped LG-3005 and it's amazing. It looks as if there's running water on the top of my bass!
As far as the exhibition grade stuff, you either like it or you don't. I myself love it, although Spalt tops occasionally don't agree with my that well.

 

[Munjibunga]

Look at this, then go throw up, then.

 

[JimS]

He shoots!..... He scores!!!!!

You OWNED this one!

 

[JimS]

 

[Stewmc5222]

I'm pretty happy with the fretboard of the Bee I'm about to get...

 

[VinceLovesF]

This is my F with Burl Maple Top..
Better colors in person than on the pic! But you get the idea...
Love it!



If you want to see more....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164315&highlight=BN5
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170211&highlight=BN5

Vince