Wood ID

[Deanus]

Hi guys

I'll start by saying that I'm not a luthier, never built anything even remotely similar to a bass. I just happen to have a Starfire (by EKS) Precision which I'm sanding down and I'd like to know what kind of wood it has. It's a cheap bass, I bought it for around 150 bucks 10 years ago, so I would assume it's a cheap kind of wood, and it's not that heavy (feels lighter than my maple Jazz for sure).

Also, which pups would you suggest for such a bass? I'm not after a specific kind of tone, I just need a good solid fender-type sound (I guess tight lows with a full bodied mid-range) that I can work with during rehearsals and jam sessions etc. and since it's a cheap bass my expectations aren't high at all... same as my budget.

Thanks
Dean

 

[Reticle]

Sand down around the edges. I'd put my money on plywood. Red Oak or similar, possibly.

 

[Hopkins]

I would guess that it may be some sort of ply also, but its hard to say by the pictures.

 

[Deanus]

Doesn't appear to be plywood... I'm as surprised as you are.

What are your suggestions regarding pickups? I've seen something from Bill Lawrence that I might like, and they happen to have really good prices. Any thoughts?

 

[Hopkins]

The color looks like it could be alder, but I haven't seen alder with that kind of streaking

 

[Dadagoboi]

The color looks like it could be alder, but I haven't seen alder with that kind of streaking

It could be Chinese alder. They use a lot of it in their furniture industry and it's good quality. I've also seen that streaking in some domestic alder but I don't have any pictures.

 

[Hopkins]

It could be Chinese alder. They use a lot of it in their furniture industry and it's good quality. I've also seen that streaking in some domestic alder but I don't have any pictures.

That would be guess then, as it is an over seas import bass body. I have used more alder than any other wood, I haven't come across any with red streaks like that before. Now that I said that, the next 5 boards I buy will have those exact markings

 

[Dadagoboi]

That would be guess then, as it is an over seas import bass body. I have used more alder than any other wood, I haven't come across any with red streaks like that before. Now that I said that, the next 5 boards I buy will have those exact markings

Yep, that's how it goes. IIRC the one piece Oregon 14x20 air dried alder blank I bought last year had some of those streaks, they're like the ones you see in white oak. I looked again, no pix.