Mulitilaminate bass project

[brokencookie]

I purchased a bass body (about 10 years ago) that was in pretty bad shape. I got it cheap and it looked interesting because it has 2 precision pickups in mirrored orientation. I finally got around to working on it and found a few interesting things. Here is what I know
1. The bass is made from 20 layers of wood. It looks like a maple top with mahogany lamintes. There may be a third wood involved but I cannot quite identify it.

2. The eletronics cavity is in the back and it looks squarish, like the old Arias I have seen. The electronics were rusty, but I was able to determine that they were VVT and a 3 way switch.

3. Bolt on neck setup and shaped like a Fender.

4. It weighs 11.5 lbs bare ( no hardware, just the body)

If anyone has some thought about the origin of the bass I would appreciate it.
I would like to refinish in fairly natural wood tones. I know that most laminate basses are solid colored but i kind of like it the with the exposed wood. So I am really struggling with the whole sealer, oil, stain/dye etc. I have searched the forum and I am just buried information that makes my head
hurt I will try and post pictures tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

 

[allexcosta]

4. It weighs 11.5 lbs bare ( no hardware, just the body)

And who's gonna play this boat anchor?

 

[Praxist]

I think you're describing plywood! lol

 

[SurferJoe46]

1. The bass is made from 20 layers of wood. It looks like a maple top with mahogany lamintes. There may be a third wood involved but I cannot quite identify it.

4. It weighs 11.5 lbs bare ( no hardware, just the body)

I've seen over 30 plies in bodies before - usually a cheap or home-built body and at 11.5lbs, it sure sounds homemade.

I'm not sure that a manufacturer would send out something THAT heavy without a trailer hitch and wheels.

 

[brokencookie]

i rechecked the weight. I guess I either had my thumb on the balance or my conversion factor was wacked. The actual weight of the bass is 6.4 lbs.

The layers are light and dark mahogany. The are set so the grain is at right angles between the light and dark.

I found a picture on the forum so I know that at least one other exists.

I'll upload some more pictures as soon as I beat the camera into submission

 

[SurferJoe46]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That's different!

 

[allexcosta]

I think you're describing plywood! lol

It does look like plywood. And the strips in the center are painted... Compare:

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[berwick63]

It IS plywood. Plywood does not describe a product, it describes a process. You can ply just about any woods together. Plywood is still wood. Just thin, alternating layers, to provide strength by flop flipping the grain patterns.

 

[whisper14072]

hmmm actually looks pretty cool