I don't believe the walnut ones are.
Seriously, yes, but the bodies are quite thin front to back, so weight isn't as much of an issue as some other shapes.
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Maple body basses - why there's not that many?
- Thread starter jg42
- Start date
Seriously, yes, but the bodies are quite thin front to back, so weight isn't as much of an issue as some other shapes.
I don't believe the walnut ones are.
Seriously, yes, but the bodies are quite thin front to back, so weight isn't as much of an issue as some other shapes.
The '72 Ric 4001 I had was pretty heavy. But, that’s compared to all the other basses in my stable at the time (mid/late 90's), and I know that a Rickenbacker will vary in weight just as much as anything else. A friend of mine has an 80’s 4003, and it’s light as a feather.
I think one of the main reasons maple isn't used more often than it is (other than the cost), is that the denser species of maple are pretty hard to work from a mass production perspective. Time consuming to shape and finish ("Time is Money"), and hard on the tools. Basswood, agathis, alder, etc., are cheaper, quicker, and easier to work with, and the tooling lasts a lot longer. Which means more profit. Which makes the company Bean Counters - and the stock holders - happy.
I have 3 4003s that are all quite light, and a 4003s/8, that isn't.
Maple is really, really, heavy.
Go find one of the all-maple Peavey T-40s or T-45s and get back to me.
God this is news to me. The only maple bodied bass I have is a Fortress Masterman 5. Its by far the lightest bass I own. Granted the other two I keep with me are an old Hohner arbour series bass I found on a skip and know nothing about. It could also be maple i guess. The other is a bubinga Corvette which ways more than a neutron star about to collapse.
And I have one of these gathering dust in a case. Never noticed this being overly heavy either. Maybe my corvette is so heavy I think everything is light by
comparison
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
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I love the sound of Maple. I bought the Fender Precision Steve Harris signature bass. It lists as 12 pounds 15 ounces. I just say it feel like 13+ pounds. Its a beast of a bass but the sustain, mids and highs are just fantastic. The bottom end really growls when you dig in. The salesman basically said that this bass is like a P-bass with an attitude. It definitely has a tad bit of a different sound and feel than my other P-basses.
Yes, its MIM BUT.... it sounds and plays as good as any other Fender MIA bass. I have a few other Fender P basses and a J bass, I just keep picking up the Fender SH bass instead. I'm a short stocky 5'5 but I have to use a 3.5 inch strap to even out the weight on my shoulder.
I was looking at the Fender Custom Shop quite sometime ago. I don't think you can even get a maple body/neck and fret board with the 7.25 radius neck. Try one out if you like P-basses. This has quickly become my favorite.
Yes, its MIM BUT.... it sounds and plays as good as any other Fender MIA bass. I have a few other Fender P basses and a J bass, I just keep picking up the Fender SH bass instead. I'm a short stocky 5'5 but I have to use a 3.5 inch strap to even out the weight on my shoulder.
I was looking at the Fender Custom Shop quite sometime ago. I don't think you can even get a maple body/neck and fret board with the 7.25 radius neck. Try one out if you like P-basses. This has quickly become my favorite.
Yeah, Rics are usually 8lbs +, and the body is only 1-1/4" thick, vs. Fender style bodies at 1-1/2"-1-3/4" thick. A solid maple jazz would probably weigh 12 lbs. I love maple for necks, but unless you keep it thin, just too heavy for most body shapes. That solid maple.construction has a lot to do with the classic Ric tone.
Happiness is an RD shoulder groove.An all maple Gibson RD will put a groove in one's shoulder as well.
I've had a similar but thinner Levy's strap for years. I love RDs, but have never gotten on with wide straps. My RD like thing only weighs 9.5 pounds despite being made from Walnut and maple.Guitar Strap - MSS2-4-DBR hehe, your shoulder will thank you!
I built this 4003 clone a few years ago, all rock maple neck and body wings. Here it is right before paint. I love working with maple, it machines really cleanly, and it's so hard you can sand it to a satin sheen and just clearcoat it, or it takes paint beautifully. I think this one weighed in at 8.75 lbs. And BTW, it sounds EXACTLY like an off-the-shelf Ric. I'll let the Tonewood fanatics debate how much of that is due to maple, and how much to using genuine Ric pups and wiring harness.
I have an old '80s Guild Pilot with a solid cherry burst flame maple body and I used to have another Pilot with a solid natural quilt maple body (I should have never let that one go). Both were gorgeous, Didn't seem to be any heavier than my P bass at the time (probably due to thinner and more narrow bodies of the Pilots). They have EMG PJs and a great full range sound.
I'm a huge fan of figured maple and other figured woods.
I'm a huge fan of figured maple and other figured woods.
Looking forward to playing my European Maple bodied Bordwell when it's completed: Cliff Bordwell 2021 Build: Outstanding Myrtle Top!
