Question about body woods

[wiseguy]

Hi all. I'm thinking about ordering a Stanley Clarke bass. I have a question about body woods. I see that one can upgrade from mahogany body to others (vermilion, purpleheart, maple). How much does changing the body to some of these woods affect the sound of the bass? Is it worth it if you have purpleheart neck laminates, or do they play the dominant role in forming the tone? I think I plan on going with coco bolo front and back. Although this is just preliminary musings, I'm curious about having a bass made out of purpleheart, maple, and coco bolo. I play alot of funk, slap and pop, etc. Any opinions or suggestions would be welcome, as I'm not real familiar with the tonal characteristics of all the various woods offered by Alembic. Thanks in advance

[palembic]

Brother Ryan,
 
welcome to the club.
As In understand you are putting together your first Alembic so for us Paul's is it a bit too early to yell for pictures so hold the bottles guys.
This is part of a long running gag already so don't be offended by it ...it's just us.
 
ABout your question.
There is already a lot said about wood choices in this wacko club (we even have a real Treebeard hrum-humming around in a very slow way ...but that's -again- another joke). Did you do a search already on wood in threads-titles?  
 
We have a Coco Bolo Baby here -well ..HE says he is a Coco Bolo monster but he isn't, in fact he is our all beloved moder Val- who can tell you fine coco bolo stories.
 
What I remember is that the neck contsruction is essential for tone shaping related to wood, there ar maple/purplehart, maple/ ebony, ebony/purple heart (see Brother Rami's last monster), maple/coco bolo etc ...etc ...
 
I'm sure other people can guide you further. And as I said ...that Search device comes in handy.
 
 
Paul the bad one

[wiseguy]

Thanks to The Bad One. I have been reading alot of the posts in different section of the club and I also did a search--I'm not a total newb! I've already learned that you are probably one of the tops in terms of volumes of posts around here It's just that there are so many posts with 'wood' in them and it's a very disorganized endeavour. I was just looking for a little bit more info. To be more specific, info on what/how much different body woods change the sound of a Stanley Clarke. I've noticed that they have been making some vermilion ones which some have claimed are 'warmer' sounding than the mahogany. Just wondered if anyone had played one with a purpleheart core. I take it this would be heavier--thus perhaps helping with some of the neck dives that tend to accompany alembics with smaller bodies. But I would be concerned that too much purpleheart might 'take over' and drown out the other woods' tones, ie: coco bolo. I don't know if this is something to be concerned about or not. To be honest, I'm not even sure if the whole wood tone thing is over-rated and that maybe aethetics should be more of a concern. So as you can see, I AM a total newb when it comes to wood choices!  Thanks again anyone who has a few minutes to respond. Ryan.

[valvil]

Hello Ryan,
 
welcome to the club.
 
A Stanley Clarke model is obviously a great choice for slap/pop. We use maple (with thin walnut veneers) or maple and purpleheart for neck woods on the SC signature models. These combinations generally give you plenty of brightness to play with, the purplheart/maple combo giving you a fuller sound.  A vermillion core will be warmer sounding than a standard mahogany, which is usually pretty neutral. A maple core would be pretty bright and likely heavier than mahogany; a purpleheart body would be heavier than mahogany but I haven't heard one yet so I can't tell you what it would sound like.
 
I think your first idea of a maple body with coco bolo top & back would work quite well. I'd go for maple/purpleheart laminates in the neck.
 
If you have more questions you are welcome to call me at Alembic between 10 am and 4pm pacific standard time, Monday thorugh Friday (though I won't be in the office tomorrow).
 
Valentino

[palembic]

Brother Ryan,  
 
yeah ...I'm embarassed about those posts. Even that is an addiction. Watch the numbers: if I hit 1000 they're gonna make me Retired Member !!!!!
 
Maybe this old thread (when I was young LOL) can be usefull>  
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/1918.html#POST2360  
 
PTBO
 
(Message edited by palembic on January 20, 2004)

[alembic76407]

Brother Paul, they will not retire you, they will just archive you
 
David T

[palembic]

Yes ...put me in a kind of museum with Alembics weird world , in a kind of cage. With an underscript: don't talk basses (but please DO feed and offer a beer. Watch out for the noise of empty bottles ...
 
Love you brother David
 
 
Paul the bad one

[jazzyvee]

I have an SC similar to the one you are thinking of it has a maple neck with two purpleheart laminages, ebony fingerboard, the body has the hippy sandwich made of a mahogany core with maple laminates on both sides and a coco-bolo top and back.
 
 It is quite a heavy bass but not uncomfortable.  I've never had an alembic before so I can't compare it to anyting alembic apart from stuff on Stanleys albums which is unfair since his is a series bass... but it sounds as close to a series one as my budget allows .....LOL
 
it is incredibly versatile from a warm double bass type thud , incredibly deep and clear and powerful bass for reggae and dub reggae, also moves very easily to the stingingly crisp slap sounds that you would expect from a music man or Fender Jazz bass but with better clarity and no distortion.
 
 Also has that bite that clarkee gets when he really digs in to the strings near the bass of the neck which I love to bits.  I have no problems with the combination of woods I have and there is no sound I have tried to get that I have not been able to reproduce to good effect. Even that dry jaco sound, the crisp top and deep bottom that  marcus miller gets... I can't fault the sound at all.

[wiseguy]

Thanks to all who responded. Looks like the Clarke Deluxe may be just what I'm looking for. Although I'd love to try to save a bit more $$$ and really get to show off a featured custom to Paul et al.  I look fwd to working with the Alembic folks over the course of this year. Ryan.

[bracheen]

Hi Ryan, let me add my welcome to the others.   A SC Deluxe is pretty show off worthy.  Good choice. Looking forward to tracking the progress once started in Factory to Customer.
 
Sam