Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: flaxattack on September 05, 2004, 10:36:45 AM

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 05, 2004, 10:36:45 AM

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?

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: kmh364 on September 05, 2004, 04:08:45 PM

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.

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: rami on September 05, 2004, 05:52:24 PM

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  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/12531.jpg)
   
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/12532.jpg)

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 05, 2004, 06:23:50 PM

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

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: kmh364 on September 05, 2004, 08:50:19 PM

Rami: Well said!

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: trekster on September 06, 2004, 06:00:49 AM

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.

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: rami on September 06, 2004, 06:09:31 AM

Hey Jeff,
 
Here's an upview shot of Dark Prince,
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/12536.jpg)
 
 
I particularly love the way then neck and body blend together.  You just see the ebony laminates surrounded by Purpleheart.

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 06, 2004, 07:54:29 AM

ooweee that looks sweet- is purple much heavier than mahog

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: poor_nigel on September 06, 2004, 10:05:06 AM

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.

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: dannobasso on September 06, 2004, 02:16:21 PM

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

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 06, 2004, 03:08:23 PM

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)

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 06, 2004, 03:14:25 PM

and do you notice a difference danno between the puple bass and the mahog cores

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: David Houck on September 06, 2004, 06:27:10 PM

The quote generator indicates that a Purpleheart body is a $300 upgrade.

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: dannobasso on September 06, 2004, 08:22:33 PM

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

Title: Purpleheart bodies- cosmetic or functional?
Post by: flaxattack on September 06, 2004, 10:17:35 PM

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