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Pretty much going to let Brian do what he feels is best this time. I'm assuming a mahogany body and an ebony fingerboard. He usually likes a myrtle top with that combo. He's mentioned a piezo bridge before so maybe that. Need to save some dough first and then just tell him to go for it. Really, really looking forward to this bass finally getting made.
Piezos...even better.
Nice to hear this is going to come to fruition soon mate, you've been planning it for a while
Will it be a different body shape to the usual Ristola to allow space for the chambering?
Just thinking out loud here, but what kind of tone can you expect from mahogany/myrtle with an ebony board?...
Eude
Nice to hear this is going to come to fruition soon mate, you've been planning it for a while
Will it be a different body shape to the usual Ristola to allow space for the chambering?
Just thinking out loud here, but what kind of tone can you expect from mahogany/myrtle with an ebony board?...
Eude
Brian has his body shape that he prefers. The only thing that I'm trying to get him to change a bit is the lower horn so it rests a bit differently when I'm sitting.
The mahogany/myrtle/ebony combo has been my and Brian's favorite combo of all the basses he's made. I'm not great at describing sound, but it seems to have more present low mids with a sweet, clear top end. It sounds warm and very even to me through out the range of the instrument. My cherry bass in comparison is brighter and certainly harder sounding. Being that it's a denser wood, that makes sense. I've compensated with electronics and technique to get it to sound warmer, but I'm sure the mahogany body will get me more of the sound I'm looking for. The chambering should give me a more dynamic instrument with some air and bloom to the notes. My main issue with a solid body instrument is the limited dynamic range. I'm hoping a less dense body wood and the chambering will help with this. The finish that he's using is thinner as well which should also help. I'm even considering an oil finish. We'll see what Brian thinks.
Just to add on, I think mahogany and ebony is a classic body/fingerboard combo.
I think it's right up there with ash/maple and alder/rosewood.
It has a warm, thick, low mid push with great top end clarity and I think the myrtle top probably accentuates both.
I think it's right up there with ash/maple and alder/rosewood.
It has a warm, thick, low mid push with great top end clarity and I think the myrtle top probably accentuates both.
What neck wood would you rock with that combo? Ash? Maple? Wenge? other?
Would a lighter weight mahogany have less of a mid push tush?...
Eude
My only experience with mahogany/ebony is with maple necked basses though I'm sure ash would work well too.
Wenge necks (IME) impart their own tone and I wouldn't personally use one with that combo.
From what I've read an Ash neck can be very similar tonally to Wenge, so maybe Maple would be more transparent and let the rest of the woods do the talking. Thinking fretless here...
Well, my (since gone) Stambaugh fretless had a wenge/zebrano neck, ebony fingerboard and bubinga body. It sounded a lot like a Warwick fretless, even when I changed electronics.
My new Stambaugh has an ash neck and it doesn't have the same "attack" that I've always associated with wenge necks.
That said, while I'm convinced that woods affect the tone, I'm always wary of making statements about to what degree or how. I simply haven't played enough basses that were built the same way other than wood to say.
What I WILL say is that both ash necks and wenge necks feel fantastic.
But shoot an email to Brian or Chris Stambaugh or Michael Tobias or even all three. I'd be interested to hear what guys who have built quite a few basses have to say about these questions.
Wenge definitely has a pronounced effect, and can really produce that "Warwick" tone sometimes.
I have an Alder bodies bass with a Wenge neck and board and it pretty much sounds like a Warwick, even though it weighs half as much
I have to say, I'm starting to like the idea of a maple neck in this combo, I haven't had a maple necked bass for a long long time...
Eude
I've always been curious with an ash neck with that combo, but honestly, I'm not left wanting with the maple neck (or usually maple/purpleheart). A hybrid maple/ash neck could be a cool experiment.
The fretless 5 string bass a couple of pages ago had the mahogany/ebony combo with the maple/purpleheart neck. That fretless was so happening on every level.
The fretless 5 string bass a couple of pages ago had the mahogany/ebony combo with the maple/purpleheart neck. That fretless was so happening on every level.
That would be mine!
And I can confirm emjazz' remark, the sound is stupendous.
One minor correction: neck is maple/bubinga...
That would be mine!
And I can confirm emjazz' remark, the sound is stupendous.
One minor correction: neck is maple/bubinga...
That's right....bubinga. What a great bass.
Hey all....great used Ristola 5 string in the classifieds! http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-only-ristola-exotic-5-string-custom-bass-981290/
Very nice. I'm sure it's going to be incredible once it's completed. If possible, please post progress pictures once Brian starts handcrafting it.
excellent news Andy - hope to see some pics soon!
How about the body? Will it be Brian's signature body, or have you worked with him to make some mods - based on your previous experience (stability when sitting)?
How about the body? Will it be Brian's signature body, or have you worked with him to make some mods - based on your previous experience (stability when sitting)?
