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Double Bass How common is a cedar top?

I just played an upright bass with a cedar top and was very impressed... I'm curious if anyone knows how common they are? I can't seem to find many available in a quick online search...

Thanks,
Dan
 
I was just today wondering this myself. Never occurred to me before, even though of course many guitars have cedar tops, and today I wondered "Are there any basses with cedar tops?" Then I dismissed the notion, "probably prone to cracking...".

In acoustic guitars cedar tops are thought to be warmer sounding, needing less, if any, time to "break in". Hopefully some knowledgeable cedar-top experts will chime in here. Low tension strings required?

Please describe your experience more! Hmmm... 5-string custom bass... The GAS is stirring up in my belly of desire...
 
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I just played an upright bass with a cedar top and was very impressed... I'm curious if anyone knows how common they are? I can't seem to find many available in a quick online search...

Thanks,
Dan
They are definitely out there. Not super common though. I'm pretty sure Arnold Schnitzer made a bass a while back with a redwood top and I seem to remember that Seth Kimmel has used cedar too… I am guessing that there aren't many European basses, new or old, with cedar tops though.
 
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Sorry to disappoint everyone... I'm just a newbie with upright basses (am making the jump from elec now :) and I just played a friends who said it had a cedar top and I was wondering if that was what made the high notes sustain so long? I don't know anything else about it really (what brand, model, etc.) as I am just learning what to look for...

Thanks,
Dan
 
They are definitely out there. Not super common though. I'm pretty sure Arnold Schnitzer made a bass a while back with a redwood top and I seem to remember that Seth Kimmel has used cedar too… I am guessing that there aren't many European basses, new or old, with cedar tops though.


Seth and I were looking at an incredible piece of Port Orford Ceder for my bass but I chose the pine I have now because of the more bassy sound. But honestly, I think a small solo style bass with ceder and maybe myrtlewood back would be unique and killer
 
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Ok, I found out it was made by Matthew Tucker at Bresque Basses & Cellos in Sydney, Australia... I went and tried some of his other basses as well - amazing! I wish I could afford one - he has won several awards on his website...

cheers,
Dan
 
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From Seth? Be still my beating heart.....

Absolutely. Seth is down for any new ideas. To be honest I was really considering it for the bass that I just got from him but the pine just is so buttery and more the sound I wanted. But yeah, if I had the spare $$$ I would love to play ina baroque group with a Port Orford cedar top and myrtlewood back sides. Would be such a cool sound
 
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