Rosewood necked 6 string?

[sargebaker]

I was wondering if an ash bodied 6 with a solid rosewood neck/fingerboard would be a good idea? Would the bass be unbearably heavy or neckdive? a local guy made a tenor 5 string completely out of rosewood and the thing sounds like a bell! it's a real slap monster.

 

[Phil Mastro]

It would be really heavy for sure. Neckdive depends a lot on the body design. Out of curiosity, who is this local guy/luthier you speak of?

 

[sargebaker]

He's relatively unknown, name is Max Villeneuve, it's not Pierre Laporte or anything What I want is a very traditional Jazz styled body, with most likely Bartolini Classic Bass G6 pickups, or Nordstrand Big Singles. Hipshot ultralites to help with weight/neckdive.

What body shape would help to limit/reduce neckdive? I guess the MPG/Fbass esque shapes with the upper horn extending to or past the 12th fret, or a singlecut.

 

[pacmanb]

Many Conklins have those long upper horns, and they don't look bad at all ; Peavy Grind is another example...
You may also consider a scarf-joined headstock, made out of some light wood- light ash or korina for example. Or make it headless

Btw. I'm just starting a fretless 5er, five-piece ash/rosewood neck (rosewood stringers are pretty wide) so neck-dive bothers me too

 

[sargebaker]

IF I ever decide to have it built, my best bet will be to just have a sit down with the luthier and get his input.... I've been getting bad GAS for an MPG Level 6 though...