Question for Mica: core woods

[Steve Wood (s_wood)]

Mica, no one is better than you at using words to describe the different tones produced by different woods...except perhaps your mom.
 
Anyway, all things being equal, how would you describe the difference in tone in a Series I with a mahagony core vs. one with a walnut core?  
 
Anyone else, feel free to dive in!

[Chris G. (76ac070)]

Well....................my '76 Series I with a cherry core, purple heart neck with walnut stringers and schedua top & back has a VERY warm/dark sound to her.  She's presently out with mom & dad being refurbished after 26+ years, and I'm told that everyone in the shop who's played her feels that she's quite the graceful lady and is envious - to say the least.  Just my biased two cents worth  ;>)
 
Chris

[mica]

Trying to put into words the sometimes very subtle difference the construction materials make on our instruments can be challenging.  
 
My best attmept in your example is that Mahogany will generally accept more influence from the top and back woods on a Series II, meaning it will sound brighter with a Maple top and back than one with a Walnut core.  
 
Walnut has a little more personality than Mahogany. It's a bit darker sounding, and seems to decrease the resonance of the upper and upper mid frequencies. When you put on a Maple top and back, it will be brighter sounding, but not as bright one with a Mahogany core.
 
Overall, I regard Walnut to have a rounder sound. Of course this advice only applies to Alembics, other builders will have differing experiences because we each have our own techniques in empolying these woods.

[Michael Delacerda (dela217)]

I have had Alembics over the years that had other core woods beside mahogany.  I have had basses with maple, walnut, cherry, ash, birch and oak cores.  Of all of these, my favorites were the walnut and the maple ones.  I found them to be overall more lively and focused with their tone.  I realize too that there were other factors that contributed to this.  I also find that sandwiches of alternating woods to help with this particular tone too.  For example a bass with a top and back wood that are different, combine the sonic qualities of both.