Author Topic: Tone question (Read 153 times)

binho · « **on:** March 05, 2007, 07:05:39 AM »

hello everybody. I have a STANLEY CLARKE signature deluxe ( 4 strings ) and a SERIES 1 ( short scale 4 strings ). The neck wood is maple on both basses. I want to buy a BROWN BASS and I need to know if there is a tone difference between these models ( in reference to the different woods used on neck and body ).
Thanks for help !

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2007, 05:02:56 PM »

Hi Fabio.

First, I would be surprised if your S1 had a Maple neck with no other wood laminates; that would be rare. And, unlike the Signature Standard, I would have to say the same thing about a Signature Deluxe. I would imagine the Deluxe has Purpleheart laminates, and if so, they would contribute significantly to the tone. Same with the S1, depending on the year, it may have Purpleheart or other laminates as well as the Maple.

But you are right to think that the neck woods contribute significantly to the tone of a neck through bass, and the Brown Bass is going to sound different. Also the body core and top and back laminates also contribute to the tone; and there again the Brown Bass's overall combination of woods give it its unique tone.

bsee · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2007, 05:26:58 PM »

If it's an older Series 1 it could have something else in the neck other than today's typical choices. It is possible that there might be Brown Bass style woods on an old Series bass, so you should make sure of what you have there before you take any answer as gospel.

If the necks are both primarily maple, then the Brown is probably going to have a different tone. Heck, every Alembic sounds a little different!

binho · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2007, 07:37:59 PM »

thanks for help. The neck of my signature and my series 1 are identical ( maple with purpleheart laminates ). I dont mentioned this in my explanation ( excuse me, I forgot ). Maybe the sound of the BROWN BASS is a bit darker than my other two basses.Is it right ?

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2007, 02:31:26 PM »

Yes Fabio, the Brown Bass has a much warmer tone with the primarily Mahogany neck construction. You can really hear a difference between it and a bass with a Maple neck.

binho · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2007, 04:06:58 PM »

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR THE HELP !

jags · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2007, 04:59:23 AM »

your welcome binho. now your with the bunch of us. curious about tone and neck lams. the new craze around here is everyone educating themselves on neck woods, and then coming up with cool custom necks for their new basses. you should look into this,if your going to get something new. dont forget ebony its the most important,and it less than $700 per laminate. so everyone says,and its so pretty how can they be wrong. this option is the most important upgrade for your bass you can get. many other things are mostly cosmetic

binho · « **Reply #7 on:** March 07, 2007, 06:21:49 AM »

thanks for the advice JAGS !