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TEAK WOOD for body?is it good?

Discussion in 'Luthier's Corner' started by vinz, Jul 21, 2009.

  1. Jul 21, 2009 #1
    vinz

    vinz

    Mar 2, 2007
    Philippines
    i have a few slabs of Teak Wood here at my home, just wonderin if its good for a bass body? will it sound good? or do i need to combine it with other woods? Teak Wood are such durable and strong woods perhaps the strongest in the world from what ive read in some article over the net,i need some suggestions please thanks, im planning to build a jazz bass shape out of it.
     
  2. Jul 21, 2009 #2
    vbasscustom

    vbasscustom

    Sep 8, 2008
    heavy, but yes. bass worthy. so go for it.
     
  3. Jul 21, 2009 #3
    powerbass

    powerbass

    Nov 2, 2006
    western MA
    Teak is heavy and oily - it is superior for rot resistance. Unless you have carbide tools it will dull your joiner and planer blades instantly. It is difficult to glue together unless you are using epoxy or Gorilla glue. IMHO there are better wood choices for a bass
     
  4. Jul 21, 2009 #4
    Rattman

    Rattman

    Jul 3, 2006
    Orange County, Ca. USA
    I dunno.... teak for instruments? Seems like a poor choice of bass-building material to me, as teak is the wood of choice for well-heeled boatmakers for it's absolute weather-ability (resistance to UV and water deterioration). I think you're gonna have a real hard time with any kind of finish other than a natural one. Let us know how it turns out.
     
  5. Jul 22, 2009 #5
    vinz

    vinz

    Mar 2, 2007
    Philippines
    thanks for your inputs, we got the teak slabs in a forest here in the Philippines, old folks said that those Teak Trees were planted by Japanese Workers when Philkippines is still occupied by Japan during the WW2. anyway ill let you know if i started building it, i needed opinions first thats why i asked here first, i already have the tools, its my first build :D

    here are some few pics of the Teak that i have but its installed as a wood parquet tell me if its a beauty or not :):

    DSC00161.jpg
    DSC00163.jpg
    DSC06902.jpg
    DSC01895.jpg
    DSC01891.jpg
     
    Isotonic likes this.
  6. Jul 22, 2009 #6
    Rattman

    Rattman

    Jul 3, 2006
    Orange County, Ca. USA
    Hey there Vinz.... yes, that wood parquet is definitely a "beauty" to be sure. Where is that place located exactly... Bataan, Zambales, Laguna, Manila or someplace else?
     
  7. Jul 22, 2009 #7
    Sardine

    Sardine

    Feb 2, 2009
    Maine
    It is very heavy, the dust is nasty, and it can be a brutal pain to work with, but I am going to cast my vote as yes. I made my first bass with teak and while it lacks in some areas (due to my inexperience), the tone is good and the sustain...Talk about sustain. So I would say if you have teak, use it.

    Also, as a side note, I had no trouble gluing with titebond, although the piece of teak I used was quite dry.
     
  8. Jul 23, 2009 #8
    ctmullins

    ctmullins Dominated Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 18, 2008
    MS Gulf Coast
    I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
    One additional benefit - no need for a case! :)
     
  9. Jul 23, 2009 #9
    Triad

    Triad Supporting Member Commercial User

    Jul 4, 2006
    Europe
    Builder
    I've owned a bass with Teak body and Ovangkol neck. It sounded extremely warm and deep and was very light too.
    The lack of top end was probably due to a wrong neck woods choice... but I'd vote YES 'cause I have a nice Teak body blank too! :D
     
  10. Jul 24, 2009 #10
    vinz

    vinz

    Mar 2, 2007
    Philippines
    hey man:) we got it from a forest in Davao, with all the DENR permits, taxes etc. its such a pain to get that wood but its worth it and PHILIPPINE TEAK is very rare and endangered, but ours is permitted by the DENR so there's no problem acquiring it.


    hehe im already expecting that brutal work,but im hoping that all that effort will be worth it.

    well the specs would be:

    -Maple Neck and Ebony Fretboard, headstock still on designing stage.
    -TEAK BODY with NARRA TOP but cut to thin like an SR PRESTIGE.
    -Body shape will be like a MACH III WAL BASS,
    like this: [​IMG]
    -im still deciding whether it will be a 5 stringer or a 4 stringer.
    -Wide string Spacing
    -EMG Pups with EQ
    -Hardware color will depend on availability.

    what do you think guys?:)