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flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 136
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 10:36 am:   Edit Post

since there is no descirption of purpleheart bodies on the site, i am wondering if putpleheart bodies are for comsmetics or do they offer any fundamental sound changes. does a coco bolo front and back wiuth purpleheart body sound appealing from either perspective?
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 466
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 4:08 pm:   Edit Post

It depends on the instrument. Body woods affect the sound more on set-neck's versus neck-thru's. Actually, Further guitars come standard with a (semi-hollow) purple heart body. Rami and Barry are both devotees of the PH body, Cocobolo top/back "hippie" sando. Perhaps they can elaborate on it's sound (as well as weight) contributions.

My attitude is that I don't think you can go wrong sound-wise with ANY "hippie" sando combo you can pick (weight is a different matter). If you like the way it looks, knock yourself out, LOL! Personally, purpleheart is so unusual and cool-looking, I'm digging it for aesthetic reasons alone.
rami
Advanced Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 378
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 5:52 pm:   Edit Post

The best description I ever read for the use of Purpleheart is "....heavy construction and shipbuilding....".
It's one seriously hard and heavy wood. It also looks so un-natural by it's color, I just knew that it was the wood for me. My previous custom "Dark Prince" and my current project "Black Byrd" both feature Purpleheart for the body core and neck laminates (along with Ebony). Personally, I love the sound and endless sustain. The "Dark Prince" lives up to it's Purpleheart and Ebony heritage - sounds as heavy and hard as it's construction.

Rami






flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 138
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post

so it is heavier than mahoghany?
thanks rami- wopuld love to see a side shot of the body wood
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 468
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 8:50 pm:   Edit Post

Rami: Well said!
trekster
New
Username: trekster

Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 6:00 am:   Edit Post

Shipbuilding is right -- in fact, I was watching a documentary on the rebuilding of "The Pride of Baltimore" and they said they were using P-Heart for the keel of the boat.

As an hobby builder of basses, I do know one thing about purpleheart -- the wood has so much silica in it that it dulls bladed tools very quickly.
rami
Advanced Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 379
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 6:09 am:   Edit Post

Hey Jeff,

Here's an upview shot of "Dark Prince",




I particularly love the way then neck and body blend together. You just see the ebony laminates surrounded by Purpleheart.
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 139
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 7:54 am:   Edit Post

ooweee that looks sweet- is purple much heavier than mahog
poor_nigel
Intermediate Member
Username: poor_nigel

Post Number: 156
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post

Purpleheart
Avg. Weight (@ 6-8% moisture) :
4.6 Lbs. per Bd. Ft.

Mahogany
Avg. Weight (@ 6-8% moisture) :
3.1 Lbs per Bd. Ft.

Doing the math, purpleheart is very close to 50% heavier than mahogany. I found it surprising that cocobolo is listed as heavier than Macassar ebony, which are listed as 5.6 and 5.5, respectively.
Note: Figures gotten from Ken Smith Basses site.
dannobasso
Intermediate Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 130
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 2:16 pm:   Edit Post

my first custom Spoiler 6 (see showcase sect.) came with a purpleheart body, quilt top and deluxe laminates. It sounds great. All my others have mahog bodies and cores.
Danno
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 140
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 3:08 pm:   Edit Post

thanks danno- am guessing we are talking about a lb heavier overall
how wide is a board foot anyway?
am toying with changing my order to a purple-maple lam- purple body core sandwich
anyone know how much they charge???

(Message edited by flaxattack on September 06, 2004)

(Message edited by flaxattack on September 06, 2004)
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 141
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 3:14 pm:   Edit Post

and do you notice a difference danno between the puple bass and the mahog cores
davehouck
Senior Member
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 822
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post

The quote generator indicates that a Purpleheart body is a $300 upgrade.
dannobasso
Intermediate Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 131
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 8:22 pm:   Edit Post

The neck on the Dragon Spoiler is quite narrow. At home I play with me fingers on stage I always use a pick. Since most of my basses have purpleheart, I was thinking about the ebony lams on the next one. People seem to be raving about them. More costly but seems worth it if you save up a few more weeks.
The purp has a crisper tone mixed with the maple top. There is only 1 laminite on the body. No "sandwich". My others are darker woods over mahog.
(see Danno's chillen). My favorite combo is the wide flame koa, maple accent, mahog wide 6 Spoiler. Each one is a bit different. All of the basses are a bit hefty. No pain, no gain!
Danno
flaxattack
Intermediate Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 143
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 10:17 pm:   Edit Post

thanks danno- all for nothing perhaps- steve from superbass says that my neck and core are already done and in clamps- but fyi- i went with one ebony lam in my neck for $600 more. according to vaL and mica it will greatly increase the fundamental sustain and noy overly increase the wieght of the neck- see my flaxattack order in dreamin

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