| Official Luthiers Forum! http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Wal Bass made in England, info needed... http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=5334 |
Page 1 of 2 |
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Okay, a buddy called who is a bass player. He asked me if I could fret a bass that is now a fretless. I said sure, but it would ruin the resale value.... He goes with that and bingo drops $3700 for a used Wal Bass out of the UK. After going online with his idea to fret a fretless bass, he hears the same sentiments from Wal Bass owners...... don't do it! So now my friend has two Wal fretless basses. Two to three year wait on a new one he sez.... So we are not going to cut fret slots on the Wal neck. I'm going to make him an entire duplicate neck for his Wal. Does anyone know the species of wood which makes up the two center laminations in the Wal neck? The other woods appear common, mahogany, and maple. The wood in the center appears to be very fibrous, and yellowish white in nature. It's not something I'm familiar with. I'll post pictures for later. Thanks for any info you can give or places to look for information. Maybe I should contact Wal basses? They might just be willing to share that information. |
|
| Author: | PaddyD [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
hi bruce, if you send me photos and details of the bass, i would be willing to contact wal directly for you as its not too far away from me. paddy |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Basically the wood in the center two laminations are the mystery wood. I recognize of course the mahogany and the maple, but the center wood is somewhat of a mystery to me. What do you think it may be? While we are at it, we may as well go to an original duplication of the woods. Very interesting bass guitar. TIA for any help. Wood guys? Paddy thanks for the offer to contact Wal direct, that would be helpful. |
|
| Author: | PaddyD [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
i have called pete stevens and left a message bruce, i will let you know as soon as i know, if you know what i mean! paddy |
|
| Author: | RussellR [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Bruce From what I can see It has the look of Air Dried Holly. |
|
| Author: | RussellR [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Or Ash |
|
| Author: | Pwoolson [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
My vote would be ash as well. At first I didn't think is was pourous enough but then I thought again. Another vote might be hickory. It can have that same look but it's very heavy and I don't think anyone would use it for neck wood. I'm not much help am I? 
|
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I've never used Ash or Holly, so it looks foreign to my eye. It has a yellowish cast to it, but the finish is very clear. The mahogany and maple are the correct colors in the photos, so you can guess the center wood is as well. Clear finish, no tint that I can tell. |
|
| Author: | Addam Stark [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
O.K. These wood may sound crazy but wal used these for necks. Hornbeam in the center Mukalungu strips and them hardrock maple. Good Luck! |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Thanks Paddy.
|
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Hornbeam, what is that Addam? I think they make Klemmsia clamps with horbeam. Makalungu, man, that I can't even say that. I wonder if my wood supplier has heard of these. Well Addam, I know you aren't just pulling these woods out of your hat, I'll go peek at my wood pics in my Paxtons catalog. Thanks. |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
No Pics. Hmmm, Mattia shared a webpage with all kinds of wood pics, maybe he'll come along and share that again. |
|
| Author: | Colin S [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Bruce, Hornbeam is a common hedgerow tree in the UK Carpinus betulus, I believe that it is also cultivated as a park and hedge tree in the US. You also have a native US Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana. It's a hard, fine grained timber from which the old nine-pin skittles games in the UK were made and is used in piano making. I used Hornbream for the fingerboard and soundboard frets on my 7-course lute. Lovely timber, nice for carving. Colin |
|
| Author: | Mattia Valente [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] No Pics. Hmmm, Mattia shared a webpage with all kinds of wood pics, maybe he'll come along and share that again.[/QUOTE] http://www.upnorthstrings.com/laminatedguitarplates.html That one? |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Mattia, not it. You remember the site with all... the wood species depicted. I think the guy saves pics off the web and it has hundreds of photos of wood, and nothing but wood.... gotta go save a smoke damaged baby grand, a friend called. Back later. Thanks. |
|
| Author: | Addam Stark [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Gilmer Wood Company has these woods in stock. Check them out, they have everything. |
|
| Author: | Dave White [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Bruce, That will be this one then: HobbitHouse |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Hornbeam from HobbitHouse 
Maybe so? 
|
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Colin, nice carving, that would be good for necks then.... if it's strong. I am almost 99 percent sure I saw it on cam clamps somewhere. So it must be strong too. |
|
| Author: | Mattia Valente [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Uh, what Dave linked to. Didn't double-check the link I copied, that's another window I had open at the same time. Oops. Hobbit House Inc it is! |
|
| Author: | Colin S [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] Colin, nice carving, that would be good for necks then.... if it's strong. I am almost 99 percent sure I saw it on cam clamps somewhere. So it must be strong too.[/QUOTE] Maybe a bit on the heavy side for a complete neck Bruce but would sure make a good laminate as in this bass. Good and hard enough for a lute fretboard. But gut strings aren't too demanding! It's like Lime in that it can be carved in any direction with or across the grain. My Klemsias are Hornbeam. Yep. Colin |
|
| Author: | Addam Stark [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Hormbeam is used for the sole on nice German hand planes. 
Plane body: red beech Sole: hornbeam |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Did you finish that plane Addam, it sure looks nice. Oh wood, we're talking wood here. Addam, so really how do you know what Wal used in these necks? While I'm at it, I may as well hit the nail on the head. I might even build me a bass too and make it a Wal-Dic Bass. 
Got an email into Gilmer for some hornybeam and makulungutu.... wwhatever, looks like mahogany to me. |
|
| Author: | Addam Stark [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
No hand plan finishing for me, but you never know. I have a buddy that has a couple and he has the paperwork that came with the basses and it tells about the neck woods, we had looked into the woods for building necks for a bass or two a couple of years ago. Never did get to it. |
|
| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Aha, boy I'd like a look at those papers. Maybe Steve the guy who owns this bass actually has papers on it. Heck, if a dog comes with papers a bass should too. Good Idea: Dickey Acoustic Guitar Pedigree showing all the details and hand written notes and a Special Folder to keep it in and a Certificate of Ownership to the original owner suitable for framing.... etc etc... That was fun. Okay, I'll put a call in to Steve. Guess what this guy does? He's a TRAIN ENGINEER, the guy plays bass and drives a blooming train down the tracks. Makes more money that me! |
|
| Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|