Density / Weight of Standard Woods for tops?

[tomhug]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Hey Mica, do you have any pics of this featherweight Essence?

[keith_h]

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]

...or the balance...

[rjmsteel]

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]

 
It's purdy!
 
 
Another thing that makes my bass a bit heavy is the chunky neck carve I requested.

[mtjam]

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]

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]

Sweet looking bass Mica. Is that your favourite Alembic body style?

[mica]

I do love the Essence very much, but my heart belongs to the medium scale Series I Point body!

[jseitang]

mica-
 
im ready.
 
J