I've watched parts of this video a few times now and always stop after he demos different tone woods by dropping them on the floor.
The fact that all of them are different sizes and thicknesses makes this demo completely pointless, I think.
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Modern Wood
- Thread starter DigitalMan
- Start date
I've watched parts of this video a few times now and always stop after he demos different tone woods by dropping them on the floor.
The fact that all of them are different sizes and thicknesses makes this demo completely pointless, I think.
Scott thank you for this. Just when days are getting stale a gem like this pops out of the "wood work".
Well, there's not too many spalted finishes available down in the "cheap seats" where I live. I love my Squiers and vintage Peaveys and older designs done by the "budget line" of the major manufacturers. Sub $350.00 basses are my bread 'n' butter. The "Northern Ash" used by the older Peaveys is a beautiful grain, and the maple finishes of some of the Squiers are quite nice for a natural finish. I bought a used G&L Tribby JB-2 with a gorgeous ash finish in this price range as well.
It seems that these "modern woods" appear mostly in the boutique brands, and often used in a more "modern" overall bass design that what I prefer. So it's not really an issue for me.
It seems that these "modern woods" appear mostly in the boutique brands, and often used in a more "modern" overall bass design that what I prefer. So it's not really an issue for me.
Not a fan of spalted wood myself, often looks like what it is, fungal decay, but to each their own. I'm a sucker for walnut and cocobolo, some people probably think of as "those boring brown woods". Burl can be cool, kind of looks like boiling liquid if finished right. Kind of like the fishing industry where what used to be called junk bottom fish is now all that's left, so we eat it as "seafood salad". Some of the traditional exotics are getting hard to come by, so people are trying other woods. It's all good if you like it.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Call me crazy, I am used to it, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would find fault with this flamed and spalted maple. It's a nitro finish on a mahogany body with tort binding. Paul Slagle of EchoPark did this nasty deed on my forthcoming hollow Jazz:
But I also realize that for whatever reason - there will always be a few that find it offensive, or simply don't like it, or are not attracted to it. You aren't going to hurt my feelings.
That is what makes the world go round here on the TB. One person's jewel is another person's yawn - and that is how it should be. What a boring world if we all loved the same things.
But I also realize that for whatever reason - there will always be a few that find it offensive, or simply don't like it, or are not attracted to it. You aren't going to hurt my feelings.
That is what makes the world go round here on the TB. One person's jewel is another person's yawn - and that is how it should be. What a boring world if we all loved the same things.
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That one is actually quite beautiful, the spalting is subtle, not the in-your-face rot look at all.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Thanks Gilmour
Yeah, my tastes have been changing over the past few years. I appreciate subtle much more these days. The older I get the simpler I want.
What I loved about this piece of wood originally is that it looked like someone took a black crayon and scribbled on the top. In this photo the flame is barely visible. I had no idea the flame would pop the way it did. But in the final analysis, the crayon scribbles are barely visible and the flame rather pronounced. If you look for the scribbles you will see them, but you never know, sometimes when you get to the finishing stages - nature loves to play tricks on you.
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Yes, also that beautiful wood covered with a see-thru paint looks great too. This one is a Spector NS 5XL USA Bass with flame maple wood covered by a see-thru black cherry / Burgundy red wine, one of my favorites too and with that gold bridge and keys, sweet.
This one's awesome too, makes you want to just grab it and get a closer look.
I agree, I myself much prefer a painted bass to any wood grain. Not that I haven't seen some very nice natural finished basses but most are either way too busy or just plain boring. Seems like a lot of people just like any sort of grain and will "ooooh" and "ahhh" over every piece of wood they see. Different strokes for different folks.
As cnltb said, different sized and shaped wood will sound different when hurled to the floor. The video implies that you can gain some knowledge of a species of wood's resonance from this silly exercise. Do this is a controlled manner with the same dimensioned chunks and you may be able to say something about those particular samples. Do enough replicates and you can make some claims about a typical piece of that type of wood.
I like natural finishes and wood grain in the more conventional forms, I'm not much of a glitz and glitter guy.
What I can't help but wonder sometimes is how the DB guys view all this constant talk about woods, colors, image, hardware, etc. that goes on in EB circles, and contributes to the eye rolling look down their nose attitude some have toward us ? Notice I said some.
Would you like your DB in spruce natural shellac or spruce natural shellac sir ? Oh, it doesn't matter, you'll just practice and work on your technique ? Very well sir.
What I can't help but wonder sometimes is how the DB guys view all this constant talk about woods, colors, image, hardware, etc. that goes on in EB circles, and contributes to the eye rolling look down their nose attitude some have toward us ? Notice I said some.
Would you like your DB in spruce natural shellac or spruce natural shellac sir ? Oh, it doesn't matter, you'll just practice and work on your technique ? Very well sir.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey Johnson
Thanks for the kind comment. No, it's hard to tell in the unfinished photo above, but turquoise typical jazz "blocks", and if you look closely you can see that it is fretted.
I like natural finishes and wood grain in the more conventional forms, I'm not much of a glitz and glitter guy.
What I can't help but wonder sometimes is how the DB guys view all this constant talk about woods, colors, image, hardware, etc. that goes on in EB circles, and contributes to the eye rolling look down their nose attitude some have toward us ? Notice I said some.
Would you like your DB in spruce natural shellac or spruce natural shellac sir ? Oh, it doesn't matter, you'll just practice and work on your technique ? Very well sir.
Upright basses tend to be plenty expensive as is, throwing in figured woods would seem to be a little too expensive. Plus, the size of an upright would severly restrict lumber choices.
Acoustic instruments in general tend to be restricted to certain tonewoods. Burled and spalted woods generally aren't stable enough for acoustic use. This is not an issue on electric instruments.
Some of these crazy tops are actually from a
Very nice. Will it have the volume knob on the bridge like a Rob Allen? Love the clean and simple look of that on a bass like that.
Very nice. Will it have the volume knob on the bridge like a Rob Allen? Love the clean and simple look of that on a bass like that.
