Wood for my future custom.

[dtrice]

Hey, I'm considering a few different woods for my future custom. I think I've narrowed it down to probably either Coco Bolo (obviously very popular) or Redwood Burl (I think it looks great). My wildcard choice would be a Maple. I was hoping to get your opinions on these woods, especially tonally. If you want to bear in mind that I am planning on Triple-Omega body with 3 ebony laminates.

[fasteddy]

Old man's recollection:
Coco Bola is heavy, man .. and real Hard with a capital H = hard to machine or cut or sand or smooth.
Redwood Brul is light weight ... but spotty in hardness, some areas are soft, others are harder.
Maple is also quite light weight compared to central american hard woods, and relatively uniform as to hardness, but pretty easy to machine (and scratch).
Fortunately I'm more into electronics than woodworking, otherwise I might try to convince you to use Maple for the body and Coco Bola as a veneer ...  or something else

[flaxattack]

coco bolo sounds the best....
end of story

[David Houck]

I don't have a Coco Bola bass; but my Maple S1 sounds wonderful.

[the_8_string_king]

Hi Daniel.
 
Here are some of my thoughts, to help you with your request for input.
 
First off all, I'm going to provide you with two links pertaining to you question (all on this site) that you may or may not have seen:  
(1): http://www.alembic.com/info/custom_options.html -read tone woods at the very top.
(2): http://www.alembic.com/info/woodsamples.html -scroll down to body woods and click on each of the individual body woods for a description of the sound of each wood.
 
In case you don't know, as a rule, on Alembic neck throughs, with their construction methods, the neck woods have the biggest impact on sound; then the body woods; then the top/front and (if applicable) back woods.
 
I see you intend to get Ebony neck laminates.  This is an excellent choice, and will have a dramatic and massive effect on the sound.  It increases both the overall sustain, and -in particular- the sustain of the fundamental/lowest partial substantially.  You have to hear it to appreciate it.
 
Mica tells me that they currently tend to recommend just 1 or 2 Ebony laminates in general, 3 at most.  This is because the influence/effect on the sound is so substantial, it's almost overwhelming.  And they say you can get virtually the same effect (of a full complement of every other laminate of Ebony) with only a few laminates.
 
So keep this in mind.  The more Ebony you have in the neck, the more it will influence your overall sound, and (conversely) the less relevent other top/back and body wood choices will be.  If you really want to hear the effect of your top (and back woods -if applicable) you may consider reducing the Ebony laminates to one or two.  For further info, consult the experts -Mica and/or Susan.
 
If you click those links, you'll see that Maple tends to sound very bright, and Mahogany -the standard default body wood tends to sound warm/rich/neutral.  They call Coco Bolo the Crown Jewel of tone woods and hold it in regard -especially in conjunction with a Mahogany body -though many club members have their custom Coco Bolo basses built with Maple bodys.
 
I have no experience with Redwood... but the description(s) I've seen on the site refer to it as having similar tonal characteristics to Maple... very Bright.
 
Will Gunn has an absolutely stunning custom Burl Redwood Balance K 5-string for sale.  There is a picture of it if you scroll down in this thread.  Note the Ebony laminate in the middle: http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/34682.html?1168461535
 
Hope my thoughts are helpful to you, and good luck on your future custom!

[mica]

Your three wood selections are very distinctive tonally. These are three woods that most people should be able to distinguish.
 
Maple is generally a bright sounding wood. Eastern Maples are brighter, Western Maples (so-called soft Maples) have more shimmer on the decay.  
 
Redwood is a relative newcomer to our build list, but we really like it. It's sort of the opposite of Maple, with a big bass response. It sounds very much like Schedua, a wood we used in the 70's alot, but it's much more attractive.  
 
Coco Bolo is our house wood because it's both bright and dark sounding, very complex tone. This makes the instrument versatile.  
 
The neck has the most to say wood-wise on an Alembic bass, especially on the neck through models. You're planning on 3 Ebony neck laminates, and that will pretty much dominate the sound. The other woods will have some influence, but you will mainly hear the Ebony in the neck.  
 
Unless you're selecting a hollow core option, the main body wood has the next greatest impact on the sound.  
 
Finally, the top and back laminates come into play. Depending on what you choose for the neck and body woods, you can be more free to choose the top and back based on looks. I'd need to know more about what sonic goals you have to give more specific advice.

[dtrice]

Understood, Mica. My current Alembic has a Walnut core and Flame Maple laminates. I like that it seems to have a very quick response, but I find it a little lacking in the bottom. Is the 'bright' Maple causing this?

[dtrice]

I am leaning towards a Triple Omega body shape, but I have never played that shape. What are the reviews of this particular body shape?

[mica]

Best for standing. If you practice alot sitting down, it's not particularly comfortable on the thigh.

[bigbadbill]

As Mica says, it tends to dig into your thigh when sitting. Fine for standing though, although as with any of the bigger-bodied Alembics, it doesn't make for the world's lightest bass. Still, assuming you can cope with a 10lb+ bass,the aesthetics are worth it.

[jacko]

How are you getting on with yours now Bill? Have you found a way to support the weight without hurting your back?
 
graeme

[the_8_string_king]

Here's a thought: Get a Coco Bolo top, bookmatched to center, with a Flame Maple body, and Burl Redwood for the back!!!  That would make for a visually and sonically stunning recipe!
 
And maybe Mahogany neck laminates for the outer neck pair -to get some of that great warmth in there!
 
Hey... the Triple Omegas a cool shape, but it'll be heavy -especially if you have Coco Bolo and Ebony neck laminates.
 
Have you considered a Scorpion body?  It seems similar to the Triple O -but is most surely lighter, and would be easier to play sitting.
 
Another club member recently got an incredibly bitchin' 10-string custom Scorpion with Coco Bolo and Ebony neck laminates: http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/21834.html?1182300784
 
(Message edited by the 8 string king on September 23, 2007)

[dtrice]

You know, Mark, I was actually considering that in the back of my head. Maybe I'll settle on bookmatched to center Coco Bolo front/back (for the reputation of great tone). Mahogony or Walnut body. Ebony/Mahogony Neck. I'd like a binding of a sort to outline the great outline of it. Maybe Flame Maple laminate around the body? I think that the light beauty of the Maple would really accent the curves of the dark Coco.

[dtrice]

Man I can't wait to get out of school and start pulling some real money down. All this talking is making me go crazy with anticipation.

[fasteddy]

 Man I can't wait to get out of school and start pulling some real money down. ...
 
Me too ... and I just turned 63.
 
Hey, man, stay in school as long as you can ... Its where the women are.