Wood for bass guitar

[Louwtjie]

Hallo.
I'm busy building my first bass guitar.
I like the methods used by Randal Fulmer's Wyn guitars, and plan my guitar accordingly.
My plan is to use Rosewood for the neck, with a Teak fretboard.
For the body I have Teak, or Wild Teak, (African Teak also called Kiaat)
What should be the best to use? The Wild teak is not so hard as the Teak
I'm not an expert in different types of wood for the right tone.
The weight of the guitar is not a problem

 

[FBB Custom]

I have used Kiaat for bodies. It is a good medium density wood for that purpose. I'll let someone else tackle the tone question.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

@louwt - Are you asking a question? I could not easily infer by your post what information you are hoping to glean....

 

[Louwtjie]

What wood would be the best for the body? Kiaat or Teak?

 

[Jloch86]

 

[JayGunn]

Teak is as soft as walnut. Rosewood(s) are generally more than twice as hard. I have used tons of teak--I love the stuff. It would make a very good neck wood because of its stability, although it is only about as stiff as mahogany, so I'd add graphite reinforcement. And rosewood would make a great fretboard because it is hard and will hold a fret well.

Just as I wouldn't expect walnut to be hard enough to hold a fret I would never use teak for that purpose. So my humble opinion is:

rosewood neck, teak fretboard = not good
teak neck, rosewood fretboard = very good

Teak | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwoods)
East Indian Rosewood | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwoods)

Check the Janka hardness of each, then note the stiffness (MOE, modulus of elasticity). Hope this helps!

John

 

[Canadian APII]

He might convince me if he actually touched on the physics concerning tone wood. What he talks about is irrelevant.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The Endless Debate Begins Anew! My $.02, it makes some unquantifiable tone difference unique to each piece of wood, but not enough to supersede other considerations like weight, balance, and pure aesthetics. Personally I like mahogany bodies with or without some kind of decorative wood veneer cap. It's commonly available, easy to work, and looks nice for clear or transparent finishes. I like ash, alder, or maple for painted. Basswood is nice and light, but dents really easily.

 

[Means2nEnd]

I like when the wood doesn't matter guys use Willseasyguitar videos in reference to guitars not basses to go against the beliefs of ALL the biggest independant builders like Mike Tobias, Roger Sadowsky, Joe Zon, Pete Skjold..etc.. they all know nothing about building basses with wood apparently.

Bass strings have more mass than guitar strings and vibrate bigger, with more force so it's like comparing paper airplanes to jets. Oh and by the way Will has also put out newer videos since 2014 where he does admit wood matters but the white board with all those numbers, letters and such is pretty impressive. FYI

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

What wood would be the best for the body? Kiaat or Teak?

My opinion would be to use the wood that looks the nicest.

 

[Will_White]

I second Michael's opinion, I'll also add that if looks are subjectively comparable then I'd go with the lighter (weight) one if it's not too soft. I don't think that wood really matters for the overall tone with magnetic pickups but I do think that overall stiffness can change the note characteristics (attack, sustain, bloom etc.) Now that's not to say that it's entirely predictable but to take it to extremes most people can tell the difference between a hollowbody bass and a Bass Labs L-bow