Body Wood ID

[rv_bass]

Would anyone happen to know what type of body wood this is?  At first I thought it was mahogany, but now I'm wondering if it is cherry.  Thanks - Rob

[Twocan]

Looks like. Mahogany to me.

[tx196059]

Might be cherry.

[growlypants]

...or perhaps Mahogacherry!

[lembic76450]

Pics 5 and 6 look like the grain of cherry to me.

[Ziemann]

It's very nice and it does look like cherry.

[xlrogue6]

Only the build card knows for sure.

[rv_bass]

Unfortunately there is No build card currently available.  I'm leaning toward cherry at the moment, very similar in appearance to another bass I have with a cherry core made around the same time as well, especially that light spot.

[rv_bass]

I'm leaning toward cherry as body wood For 76-265.  In the photo below, 76-270 on the right with confirmed cherry bodywood (per file card); and on the left 76-265 with very similar body wood, especially with the reguard to the lighter grain spot.  The tonal quality of both these basses is somewhat similar (deep and clear/crisp). 

[edwardofhuncote]

I had forgotten those two were so close... two fine specimens. 

That core wood sure looks the same to me too, but I'd still be hard-pressed to swear on it. Main thing is, "deep, clear, and crisp". 

[s_wood]

Rob:

I have another candidate for you: koa.  Your core looks very, very similar to the koa core on my '76 Series I (76-414), and to my inexpert eyes it looks more like koa than cherry.  According to Mica, the cores back then weren't nearly as standardized as they are now, and koa and cherry were commonly used.  And, to make matters worse, when she pulled my wood card I learned that my neck was made of birch - not maple. That was pretty common in 1976, so yours might also have a birch neck.

Steve

[rv_bass]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback...another curve ball!  Koa, wouldn't that be cool? There are some small dark streaks in the grain here and there reminiscent of Koa.  And a birch neck?  I think the center neck laminant may be birch since it has a different color from the primary neck wood when a photo is taken with a flash...all bets are off now until I bring it some day to Santa Rosa for an expert opinion...      

Thanks!  Rob

[mario_farufyno]

Rob, you can request those info here, did you know?

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?board=169.0

[rv_bass]

Hi Mario,

Thanks very much for the link.  I had previously requested the info, but Mica mentioned that the card was missing from the file for this bass.  So, I've just been speculating for now. 

Thanks,
Rob

[mario_farufyno]

Oh, man, sorry for that.