What is this wood???

[Bassist59]

I am refinishing an abandoned, really cheap $130.00 bass I bought around 2008. It was a Dean Zone bass. Most of those are advertised as being made of basswood.

I sanded the black translucent paint off and this doesn’t look like basswood to me. I’m about to hit it with shellac once I get is sanded smooth. It’ll be painted gloss black so it doesn’t matter but I was just curious. The body is lightweight and hard. It sounds hard when you knock on it with your knuckles.

Any idea what kind of wood this thing is made of?

Ash, maybe?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Almost looks like mahogany from the neck pocket. Is it that "pink" in person?

 

[T_Bone_TL]

I immediately thought "Luan" which is one of the umpteen things that are also called mahogany.

Wood database says I spelled it wrong and that "it" is also many species...

Lauan | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwood)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

See how it looks when you put the shellac on, might pop the grain and look great, or just advertise its multiple pieces. You'll have to grain fill it anyway, nothing to lose.

 

[Bassist59]

Almost looks like mahogany from the neck pocket. Is it that "pink" in person?

Yes, the neck pocket has a red tint and appears unfinished.

See how it looks when you put the shellac on, might pop the grain and look great, or just advertise its multiple pieces. You'll have to grain fill it anyway, nothing to lose.

I’ll post some photos when I get the shellac on. I never really liked the finish so I took some 120 grain sandpaper and got the color off in about 2 hours by hand. There is still something on the body, it’s definitely not bare wood. I could use grain filler but there’s no real grain to fill. I might do it anyway.

The shellac is just going to be a barrier between whatever sealer is on there and the nitro paint I intend to use.

I immediately thought "Luan" which is one of the umpteen things that are also called mahogany.

Wood database says I spelled it wrong and that "it" is also many species...

I’ll check that out, thank you! The original finish slightly showed the grain through the paint. That flat finish just never looked right to me, plus it got damaged over the years.

 

[Bloomfield]

Looks like some type of Lauan or Meranti.

 

[Beej]

Another vote for Lauan/Meranti

 

[two fingers]

Before you finish, just rub it down with some water and take some pics. The grain will pop and it will dry in a few minutes. It's the easiest way to see the natural color/grain of the wood.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I see grain pores through the finish on the photo you showed, if you want a glass-smooth paint finish, gonna have to grain fill it. Some people have been using west System epoxy for that, because it doesn't shrink back like some pore fillers. Haven't tried it yet, but I mean to. If you don't grain fill it, and paint over it, it will eventually telegraph through, particularly with nitro, that stuff shrinks a lot as it cures.

 

[Arie X]

"select hardwood"

 

[gln1955]

When I see that used in cheap furniture, I just call it Asian Mystery Wood.

 

[Arie X]

i'm not an international forrester, but i always imagined some woods get named on the spot primarily due to marketing (hmm..what profitable wood does this look like today?) or maybe having like 3 out of 12 points of similarity to something that sold well in the last month.

 

[nilorius]

I am refinishing an abandoned, really cheap $130.00 bass I bought around 2008. It was a Dean Zone bass. Most of those are advertised as being made of basswood.

I sanded the black translucent paint off and this doesn’t look like basswood to me. I’m about to hit it with shellac once I get is sanded smooth. It’ll be painted gloss black so it doesn’t matter but I was just curious. The body is lightweight and hard. It sounds hard when you knock on it with your knuckles.

Any idea what kind of wood this thing is made of?


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Ash, maybe?

I think You are right - it's ash.

 

[mrm56]

looks like Meranti (Lauan). a mahogany look alike but not a true mahogany.

 

[Valvehead]

Looks like red cedar to me.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I am refinishing an abandoned, really cheap $130.00 bass I bought around 2008. It was a Dean Zone bass. Most of those are advertised as being made of basswood.

I sanded the black translucent paint off and this doesn’t look like basswood to me. I’m about to hit it with shellac once I get is sanded smooth. It’ll be painted gloss black so it doesn’t matter but I was just curious. The body is lightweight and hard. It sounds hard when you knock on it with your knuckles.

Any idea what kind of wood this thing is made of?


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Ash, maybe?

That is not ash. Not at all.

I'd say it probably is basswood or maybe poplar.

 

[Hopkins]

I'm sure it's just basswood. The previous dark finish accented the grain patterm

 

[StatesideRambler]

Basswood is likely, alder or poplar perhaps, but the character of the neck pocket is neither of those. Lauan seems unlikely. In my experience with lauan it never stops exuding sticky goo. It’s a wonderful wood for truck beds because of that. OTOH I didn’t know there were lauan varieties that are serviceable for furniture and instruments. I’m throwing in with gln1955’s “Asian Mystery Wood.”

 

[Bassist59]

I see grain pores through the finish on the photo you showed, if you want a glass-smooth paint finish, gonna have to grain fill it. Some people have been using west System epoxy for that, because it doesn't shrink back like some pore fillers. Haven't tried it yet, but I mean to. If you don't grain fill it, and paint over it, it will eventually telegraph through, particularly with nitro, that stuff shrinks a lot as it cures.

Thanks for that advice! I have grain filler that I used on a kit bass I built. That kit was made of basswood and it really didn’t look like what’s on this Dean bass.

I was thinking it would be unnecessary to use it but....why not! This process is fun and I am in no rush...

I still have this stuff from stew Mac. You mix it up with water, brush on then sand. I can certainly do that.

 

[Bassist59]

Before you finish, just rub it down with some water and take some pics. The grain will pop and it will dry in a few minutes. It's the easiest way to see the natural color/grain of the wood.

It’ll be a pleasure, no problem!

Be advised though, there is still a coat of something on there. I think I only sanded through to the wood in a few spots.