Padouk Tone?

[GrooveWarrior]

If I had a bass body that was a solid piece of padouk, what type of tone would I be looking at compared to other woods? The neck would be wenge/padouk/purpleheart/padouk/wenge with an ebony board.

I still have the option of having this bass fretted or lined fretless. I'm thinking it would sound pretty growly based on the neck woods, but I have never had a bass with padouk, much less a solid body of it.

Thanks.

 

[eleonn]

Padouk, African (Pterocarpus soyauxii):
Bright vivid orange color which oxidizes to a warm brown with use. This waxy feeling wood has an open grain texture similar to rosewood and a tone similar to maple with great mids and attack. This is a heavy to medium weight wood that looks great with an oil finish or clear gloss!

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[silvertone]

Most of the Padouk I have come across was purple to light red.
It is commonly used to make the tops of multi-tone box drums and is a very good tone wood.

 

[allenhumble]

Purple? Never seen that, but would like to.

 

[GrooveWarrior]

If it's waxy, what would be the best finish for it? Oil? Poly?

 

[shrimpchowmein]

from my experience and from what i've heard about padouk, be prepared for it to age and change into a brown rather than the brilliant red it starts at.

-mordechai

 

[ChrisBowsman]

If it's waxy, what would be the best finish for it? Oil? Poly?

I believe it's typically left unfinished, like rosewood.

 

[jazzbo58]

This is a heavy to medium weight wood that looks great with an oil finish or clear gloss!
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I would use an oil finish.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[GrooveWarrior]

I would use an oil finish.

Cheers,
Jim

That was my thought. Now I just need to decide between lined fretless and fretted.

 

[Jonsbasses]

from my experience and from what i've heard about padouk, be prepared for it to age and change into a brown rather than the brilliant red it starts at.

-mordechai

That's right. If you want to keep it that red/orange color as long as you can, try and find a finish that will protect against UV rays. The Padauk will oxidize to a very brown color and look nothing like it originally did.

 

[FBB Custom]

It feels waxy, yes, but it takes an oil finish just fine. The oil will deepen the color considerably.

It will photodegrade. Keep it out of direct sun as much as you can since finding a finish with useful UV protection that is easy to apply is not that easy.