Hey guys! Wanting to know if this bass is fully laminated, A mix or fully carved? Thanks! Maybe ever the type of wood if you could!
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Double Bass Is this bass laminated?
- Thread starter LandonR
- Start date
The price you paid for it can often times be an indicator, not always, laminates are usually cheaper. The pics you provided aren't terribly helpful. Take a look at the edges of the back and top, if it's layered, than they are plywood. None of these pics have a good look at the edges. If the rim of the top is thicker than the interior that's another indication it may be carved. Is there a label inside? Knowing who made it and what model it is will help immensely.
Do these help!
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Yep, very helpful. Those certainly look like solid pieces of wood to me. I'm no expert though. What about a label? There should be a label inside visible from the E-string f-hole. Usually has the maker, the model, sometimes there will be repair labels as well, if a luthier has to go in to fix a crack or something, they will leave a label sometimes to record who and when fixed it.
It seems like the choices in your survey are mixed up.
If the DB is laminated it's all laminated.
If it's {fully) carved it's all carved.
If it's a hybrid, it's got a carved top and laminated back and ribs.
I've never heard of a DB with a laminated top with a carved back and ribs. Do they exist? If so, why?
If the DB is laminated it's all laminated.
If it's {fully) carved it's all carved.
If it's a hybrid, it's got a carved top and laminated back and ribs.
I've never heard of a DB with a laminated top with a carved back and ribs. Do they exist? If so, why?
- Jan 12, 2004
- 1,493
- 1,270
- Disclosures
- Owner, Stand Up Guy Basses (Repair/Sell/Buy upright basses)
Yes to the carved top, and the back may be of solid wood as well. The ribs look like poplar to me (greenish appearance, lack of grain).
Also, it looks from your first pics like either the top has been off before or it needs some seams glued.
Also, it looks from your first pics like either the top has been off before or it needs some seams glued.
- Jan 12, 2004
- 1,493
- 1,270
- Disclosures
- Owner, Stand Up Guy Basses (Repair/Sell/Buy upright basses)
John Hay (TBs 360 Guy) repaired one a few years back. Turned out to be a great sounding instrument. As to why they exist, who knows?
Here's that too tell me what you think
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I'll go on record and say top and back are solid wood. Can't tell about the ribs, but probably.
"Carved" is a bit of a misnomer as an opposite to "laminate". Laminates are never carved, but solid wood is sometimes pressed into shape and not always carved into to shape (as I understand it.)
"Carved" is a bit of a misnomer as an opposite to "laminate". Laminates are never carved, but solid wood is sometimes pressed into shape and not always carved into to shape (as I understand it.)
How much? I wouldn't buy a fully carved Carlo Robelli if you put a gun to my head.
This one is is close, it has gamba corners instead of violin corners like yours, but it's the same maker.
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I've also never heard of laminated top and solid back and sides, but solid top and back and laminated ribs seems to be becoming a thing.
Buy a used Shen, or drive to my house and walk away with a decent laminate for $500.
$1200 is great deal for a bass with a carved top, as long as it plays fine. Spend a bit more to get is set up and you will have a starter that won't hold you back.
At the $1200 price point I would expect that to be the case here.
While it's easy to assume that solid wood automatically makes an instrument better than a laminate, it's just not always the case. A bargain-basement instrument with solid wood is still a bargain-basement instrument. Often the solid woods used in such a bass are of suspect quality and are likely to move or split because they weren't properly dried. It's also common for the tops to be very thick so they're about as resonant as a cinder block. It's very possible that a laminate bass in the same price range could sound just as good and be much better made. Also, as @KUNGfuSHERIFF points out, you may find a much better laminate bass on the used market for much less.
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