| Author | Message | ||
| tomhug
Intermediate Member Username: tomhug Post Number: 124 Registered: 7-2008 |
Generally speaking, which of the Standard Woods would contribute the least to the overall weight of a bass build? California Walnut Bubinga Vermillion Purple Heart Flame Maple Birds-eye Maple Lacewood Zebra wood I'm specifically interested in the effect a top veneer would have on a 5-string Essence. I also realize that the neck sandwich and the body wood will have a vastly more significant impact on final build weight. | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 904 Registered: 5-2007 |
Lacewood is the lightest and Purple Heart and Vermillion are heavier. Maple is variable: eastern hard maple is heavy; western big-leaf maple not so much. I had Bubinga bass and it was medium weight. No experience with Zebrawood. Of course, my experiences may not be typical. VMG | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1761 Registered: 10-2006 |
Guy I worked for had an Ed Reynolds bass with maple neck through solid bubinga body; it was a feather-weight, as I recall. (Very Alembic-like, actually, oval inlays & everything; does anybody know if Ed ever worked at the Mothership?) Peter | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 342 Registered: 6-2012 |
Speaking from experience - avoid vermillion and purple heart - ! They have very rich colors, but are very dense / heavy. You are correct - the neck recipe and the body core wood have a greater impact and the top veneer probably contributes least to overall weight. Overall size / thickness of the body will also be a factor. An Essence has a smaller body than many of the other models, so you're looking in the right place there. Sometimes a little more weight can be offset by overall balance. For me, I'd rather have a heavier instrument that balances well than a lighter one with neck dive, etc. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8226 Registered: 6-2000 |
Here's the average density of the standard woods: California Walnut Specific gravity = .60-.70 Bubinga Specific gravity = .65-.80 Vermilion Specific gravity = .65-.75 Purpleheart Specific gravity = .75-.90 Western Flame Maple Specific gravity = .55-.65 Eastern Maple (Bird's-eye) Specific gravity = .65-.75 Lacewood Specific gravity = .45-.65 Zebrawood Specific gravity = .65-.75 You're right, the top laminate is only 1/4" thick, so while you will notice a difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest top woods, the neck and the main body wood will have a larger impact on the weight (and tone) of the bass. Here's an example with the Essence bass. The original all-Maple Essence basses weighed about 8 pounds on average for a 4-string. My Essence is 10.75 pounds with a 7-piece Maple/Purpleheart neck, Cherry body and Kingwood top. This is in stark contrast to the 6.75 pound Zebrawood Essence in our showroom that has a Mahogany body, and a Mahogany, Walnut and Birch neck that feels like it is filled with helium! | ||
| mtjam
Intermediate Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 177 Registered: 11-2011 |
Hey Mica, do you have any pics of this featherweight Essence? | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2051 Registered: 2-2005 |
Mica, I'm surprised at the weight of your Essence. It didn't seem that heavy to me when I played it at the Chicago get gathering. It must be the size that makes it appear lighter. Keith | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Advanced Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 343 Registered: 6-2012 |
...or the balance... | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 230 Registered: 7-2008 |
Mica, I remember your beautiful Kingwood Essence at the Chicago gathering. Keith I however seem to remember Mica`s bass as having a "compact mass" to the bass when Mica handed the bass to me briefly. Balanced (as referenced) yet dense... I`m sure it sounds great with those combinations of wood/body size. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8227 Registered: 6-2000 |
 It's purdy! Another thing that makes my bass a bit heavy is the chunky neck carve I requested. | ||
| mtjam
Intermediate Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 178 Registered: 11-2011 |
That is purdy! I have a soft spot for zebrawood since my first Alembic has a zebrawood top. I've also always wanted a super lightweight Alembic. What's the scale length on that one? Thanks, Mica! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8228 Registered: 6-2000 |
Regular ol' long scale there. Zebrawood on this top is very handsome - you can't really tell in this still image, but it's shimmery like crazy. Very nice example! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4173 Registered: 6-2002 |
Sweet looking bass Mica. Is that your favourite Alembic body style? | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 8231 Registered: 6-2000 |
I do love the Essence very much, but my heart belongs to the medium scale Series I Point body! | ||
| jseitang
Advanced Member Username: jseitang Post Number: 337 Registered: 6-2002 |
mica- im ready. J |
