Mahogany talkin’

[Toban.Ivan]

Hi all.

I’m in need of help from the wood lovers here.

I have a Tom Clement bass that lived throu lots of tortures and failures to the point that the body has just to be redone.
Sadly.

But hey.. let’s take the good side of the situation.

I’m planning a complete build of a new body that has to achieve a couple of targets that are absolutly essential.

- keep the weigt very very close to the original body (super mega lovingly light)
- make it slightly bigger, especially in the forearm contour (it’s a Ryan 4 strings, very confy but a little too “mini” for me)
- I have to use woods that not only will accept simple oil finishing (tru oil very probably)

So the title..

I have access to heavy Kaya mahogany and/or average weight Korina.
The Bass has a Maple/Ebony neck and I’m planning to use a Nordstrand DC set (Parallel version) with the outer coils in ‘70 jazz positions.
I’m searching growly Jazzy sounds (mainly in passive) to thick modern hifi (with the active Nordstrand preamp on and in series mode)

So.. having to keep a lot of attention to weight I’m planning to heavily chamber the body topping it to taste with the best top I could find. A thick one.

With “heavily” I mean very heavily chambered..

Heavy Mahogany or average Korina?
Is there any important difference?

 

[Scoops]

Heavy Mahogany or average Korina?
Is there any important difference?

Not quite sure what you are looking for as I am unclear on what you mean by "Heavy Mahogany or average Korina" but if you Google "Korina vs Mahogany" you'll get a lot of info

 

[JIO]

hummm... I like mahogany tone-wise and light weight is a good goal. Either wood (Korina, which is generally soft) or Kaya mahogany (not familiar with Kaya) can be made lighter by removing wood. (as in; "chambering") I'd have to see the body design you are wanting to create to see specifically what you are talking about. Luan ply is light and can be used as a "top" to cover a routed/chambered body. No need for a "thick one" (top?) as anywhere you need structure (neck-pocket/bridge) should be left solid.

 

[wraub]

Clement Ryan...

 

[Toban.Ivan]

Yes. More precisely it’s the #207.
I’m afraid to show it as it is now however.. I wouldn’t cause Tom one heart attack.

I found the shape to be perfectly fit to my body, the belly contour just gives menthe perfect position in collaboration with the strap height pushing the Bass orizzontally vs my plucking hand and therefore granting me easy access to the first frets.

It’s just perfect for the overall position.
The only thing I’m missing is a bit more material where the forearm contour is. because of the way I rest my plucking arm.

I’ve done a little scetch but this is for a build blog

 

[Beej]

Is the piece of Khaya you have access to particularly heavy or something? Both Khaya and Limba (Korina) are pretty close in weight, although Khaya is a little heavier. I'd personally just go with the one that looks best to you, and then chamber the crap out of it to help reduce the weight.