The bass is ok. . . notice how the finish is all scraped up because I applied the laquer too thin, and how I never bothered to finish the electronics compartment cover 
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Purpleheart for neck material...
- Thread starter KAOSBass
- Start date
LOL take off that laquer man!!(oil?). Finish that control plate!!, what'll THAT take?, maybe 3 hours tops? It will even be cooler. The body is really different from your normal everyday fare, thats what makes it so cool.
I guess if it was someone else's bass, i'd be more inclined to get it done, but the cover plate works just fine without finish. . . 
If I do re-finish, I think I'm going to go back in and carve a little bit more off the neck first. The tone is a bit on the wild side, and I want to mellow it out a bit. This one was a bit of an experient to see how defined I could make the B string. . . so it's 35" scale and asymetrical on the neck profile and very thick on the low side. You can really hear all those half steps on low B, C, D, but the treble and high mids are really too aggressive.
I'm a firm believer in nitro-cellulose lacquer and not-too-thick. . . because of the tone. But this one went too thin. Hey! It was my first time. How was i 'sposed to know 'til 5 years into service when it started cracking? If I strip it to re-finish, I won't have a bass to play, and I work 2 gigs. I wonder if there are any other minimal-rig people here who only use 1 instrument. Guess I'll probably have to wait 'til I complete another bass which will take eons before I put this one under the knife again.
If I do re-finish, I think I'm going to go back in and carve a little bit more off the neck first. The tone is a bit on the wild side, and I want to mellow it out a bit. This one was a bit of an experient to see how defined I could make the B string. . . so it's 35" scale and asymetrical on the neck profile and very thick on the low side. You can really hear all those half steps on low B, C, D, but the treble and high mids are really too aggressive.
I'm a firm believer in nitro-cellulose lacquer and not-too-thick. . . because of the tone. But this one went too thin. Hey! It was my first time. How was i 'sposed to know 'til 5 years into service when it started cracking? If I strip it to re-finish, I won't have a bass to play, and I work 2 gigs. I wonder if there are any other minimal-rig people here who only use 1 instrument. Guess I'll probably have to wait 'til I complete another bass which will take eons before I put this one under the knife again.
Wow...I am at work and I had to show someone. The person did not appreciate the beauty of that floor and stair, but that was totally cool! I am envious!
That makes me smile. Only a bass player could get wood over wood. As excited as I was about the bass, the flooring is gorgeous. I too am a purple heart nut. My current goto bass (that was built from TB part) is an ash dinkyP with a purpleheart top and a maple/maple neck. I put it together to make sure everything would fit and started to play it. I still need to do the finish work. It sounds and plays so good I don't want to take it apart! Purpleheart Rocks
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Yeah I did all the work except foundation and plumbing. . . the floor was very hard to sand. It's like it was mocking me and my "insignificant" sand paperI've gone over the purple heart deep end. Don't mind me.
Sorry for bumping a zombie thread but that is just too awesome!!!
mikeyswood
Inactive
I've made necks out of purpleheart. . . be ready for very sure bottom and bright top end. It's stiff.
But, I'm a purpleheart fanatic. I just made my recording studio floor out of it
I feel like I'm watching Porn.
I've made necks out of purpleheart. . . be ready for very sure bottom and bright top end. It's stiff.
But, I'm a purpleheart fanatic. I just made my recording studio floor out of it
What differences in recording tone will you get with the purpleheart vs. a maple floor?
from the testing we've done, the floor makes the overhead mics sound a bit brighter than oak or maple.
Studio isn't up and running yet in this location (my house). . . it's one of those never-ending construction projects.
Studio isn't up and running yet in this location (my house). . . it's one of those never-ending construction projects.
Yeah I did all the work except foundation and plumbing. . . the floor was very hard to sand. It's like it was mocking me and my "insignificant" sand paper
Oh - My - GOD! That is the most beautiful wood floor and staircase I've ever seen. Great stuff! I'm that build-a-guitar-out-of-one-solid-piece-of-wood guy, and I built a guitar out of a nice 14" wide plank of purpleheart in the 1970's, and the neck is still dead straight. It's a wonderful wood. Hmmm, maybe I need to find some more for another bass! I'd say go for it if you like the dark, rich color. And, yes, it's hard on your tools. But I'd rather have a hard neck and dull tools, than sharp tools and a soft neck!
mikeyswood
Inactive
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
If I remember correctly, The late Greg Curbow built some of his earlier basses with purpleheart necks & bodies.
There are a few custom builders around who will build you an all purpleheart bass if you ask, but nobody I know of does it as a standard model.
Mike Lipe and I built a solid purpleheart Tele-style guitar for a customer about ten years ago. It was very heavy, around 12 lbs. It sounded okay, about like a solid maple guitar. Super bright and cold. Nothing to get excited about, in my opinion. But it sure was purple.
It was pretty to look at, but not a guitar that you'd want to do gigs or recordings with. I'd expect the same thing if you built a Fender-pattern bass from purpleheart. Purpleheart is a heavy dense wood with stringy grain, and packed full of a purple colored waxy resin. It's very strong, but it's difficult to glue and finish and its tap tone is a dull thump. Not the kind of wood we look for when building instruments.
Mike Lipe and I built a solid purpleheart Tele-style guitar for a customer about ten years ago. It was very heavy, around 12 lbs. It sounded okay, about like a solid maple guitar. Super bright and cold. Nothing to get excited about, in my opinion. But it sure was purple.
It was pretty to look at, but not a guitar that you'd want to do gigs or recordings with. I'd expect the same thing if you built a Fender-pattern bass from purpleheart. Purpleheart is a heavy dense wood with stringy grain, and packed full of a purple colored waxy resin. It's very strong, but it's difficult to glue and finish and its tap tone is a dull thump. Not the kind of wood we look for when building instruments.
- May 1, 2014
- 2,494
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- Disclosures
- Owner Melodious Resonance Constructs
@kkaarrll - Are you looking for a major manufacturer or a builder willing to make you a PH bass / neck? Warmoth will build a PH neck, but I don't believe PH bodies are a standard option.
Hello All,
I'm considering ordering an 8 string guitar with a Purple Heart neck with 2 Koa strips and an ebony fretboard.
I'm looking for really solid and defined low end (low B and F#/E). I know this is a bass forum but since 8 string guitars share much of the same range I would really appreciate hearing from those with experience.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
I'm considering ordering an 8 string guitar with a Purple Heart neck with 2 Koa strips and an ebony fretboard.
I'm looking for really solid and defined low end (low B and F#/E). I know this is a bass forum but since 8 string guitars share much of the same range I would really appreciate hearing from those with experience.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
