what does a tone block do?

[Hopkins]

You might like to watch this...



After you watch this, you might like to watch all of his vids about neck construction. Carl Thompson has some interesting things to say about "tone blocks" and similar.

You beat me to it Rev.

Carl is my favorite builder out there, even though I really don't like the look of his basses.

 

[Dave Higham]

, even though I really don't like the look of his basses.

Oh, so it's not just me then?

 

[tjclem]

I guess I have been calling something a "tone block" that isn't one. The few times I have used a board in the middle of the body generally 4" wide that both the neck and the bridge mount to then glued on wings to make up the rest of the body. The piece in the middle generally Maple or Alder is what I have been calling a tone block. What should it be called? Thanks all!

 

[hover]

I guess I have been calling something a "tone block" that isn't one. The few times I have used a board in the middle of the body generally 4" wide that both the neck and the bridge mount to then glued on wings to make up the rest of the body. The piece in the middle generally Maple or Alder is what I have been calling a tone block. What should it be called? Thanks all!

Centerblock.

And a tone block does just that. It blocks tone.

 

[Triad]

I think it makes a difference since on a "fake neck-thru" the lamination are only about a few millimeters thick... so the toneblock connects the neck to the bridge. A harder wood will certainly make the sound different from a piece of Alder... but of course the wood used for the wings is important too. Let's say it makes a difference but it's not big and there's no way to "measure" it since there aren't two identical instruments.

 

[cnltb]

hey guys im just curious as i just got back from a music store that had to basses from two different brands (local luthiers) and they were virtually the same (5 string, j pickups, Aggie 3 band mahogany body, set neck) the only difference was one had a alder tone block, i personally couldn't hear a difference but the owner of said shop said tone wise it makes a huge difference, any thoughts?

"what does a tone block do?"

It adds glue to the bass.
It enables builders to use pieces of wood for the back of an instrument that would possibly have been too small for anything else and gone to waste. Now they can charge for those too.
I do not think that the 'mass argument' holds any water at all. 'Tone blocks' are not very heavy.

Some people like the looks.
Being someone that doesn't go for looks of an instrument much,I have never heard a 'tone block' add anything of value or 'tone' to an instrument.
Nothing at all.(IMHO,IME)

 

[RockNRollAl]

Got to love this... First, they try to sell you on some expensive tonewoods. Then, they try to sell you a odd chunk of material. Then, they add a huge metal bridge...

Seriously, tone blocks only make sense (to me) in a hollowbody instrument, like a guitar or violin.

 

[Jim Nazium]

I think you can [del]justify[/del] market any cosmetic or non-functional feature by putting the word "tone" in front of it. That's not just a paint stripe, it's a tone stripe.

 

[crazygtr]

I think you can [del]justify[/del] market any cosmetic or non-functional feature by putting the word "tone" in front of it. That's not just a paint stripe, it's a tone stripe.

+1

 

[Space Pickle]

tone blocks are a lot like speed holes:

 

[Southway]

Now I understand those guitars with the "monkey grip"! Tone Holes!

 

[BassNoobSuomi]

It makes money.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

But seriously....it saves lumber by more easily allowing thinner neck stock.

 

[eyeballkid]

lmao! sooo true!

 

[David Jayne]

Hahahah.....that gave me a good laugh. : D