Quality of figured tops?

[dNA]

I'm thinking of doing a tobacco burst flame top on alder body p-bass.  In looking at the body builder, I see the "unique choice" tops and it makes me wonder what i'm actually getting if I don't choose on of those. Like, do I run the risk of getting a lame looking top if I just choose flame or quilted maple and don't pick a unique choice?

 

[Kaoskadosk]

"Standard grade is AA. If you are looking for extreme figure,
please call us for availability and prices. " - Taken from Warmoths website

AA will be figured, but less figured than high quality tops and could have deadspots. It's a gamble for sure, but sometimes you get a top that you might think is a 3A or 4A.

 

[Mor Paul]

Warmoth normally grabs good wood, but if you order 3A or more, you know you'll be getting something great.

 

[bassilisk]

I realize I'm jumping in a little late, but I built a bass 3 years ago (carved top Dinky P, Mahogany body) and went for the 5A Quilted Maple top upgrade sight unseen.

All I can say is I was not disappointed. It's the amber one.

 

[dNA]

yeah. definitely a noticeable difference. though maybe not proportional to the cost.. but I ended up going with a unique choice top for my bass body cuz i'm paranoid

 

[Nando Vallart]

yeah. definitely a noticeable difference. though maybe not proportional to the cost.. but I ended up going with a unique choice top for my bass body cuz i'm paranoid

It is proportional to the cost, because the more figurated you want the wood, the ABSURDLY BIGGER is the difficulty to find it... believe me 5A wood is pretty rare to find...

 

[dNA]

Hi Dan,
Unfortunately the top you chose was warped and couldn’t be used, follow the link below and scroll down for the other choices.
http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/P-Bass/Pbass.aspx
Regards,

Dan Allen
Warmoth Guitar Products

very sad moment for me. now i have to choose AGAIN

 

[Patrick]

LT476  :headbang1:

 

[dNA]

I was really tempted to go with a Canary top, but that would totally change the aesthetic on the instrument. Just looking at that though made me want to build a dozen more guitars

 

[swarfrat]

LT743 - Not sure how many A's this is but it was $150 on the site this evening: Man the more I look at that one I want to ask, "hey can I send you $150 and hold that top until I'm ready to build?"

 

[Panthur]

Hi Dan,
Unfortunately the top you chose was warped and couldn’t be used, follow the link below and scroll down for the other choices.
http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/P-Bass/Pbass.aspx
Regards,

Dan Allen
Warmoth Guitar Products

very sad moment for me. now i have to choose AGAIN

Gutted, that's a pretty disappointing service. Surely these things are checked before they are put up for sale ?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

LT743 - Not sure how many A's this is but it was $150 on the site this evening: Man the more I look at that one I want to ask, "hey can I send you $150 and hold that top until I'm ready to build?"

That's kind of an oddball.  The bridge pup looks to be routed for direct mount and neck pickup looks to be routed for a pickup ring.  It also has a recessed Wilky.  The price drop may be for the really custom nature of it, which makes the top a steal of a deal.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Gutted, that's a pretty disappointing service. Surely these things are checked before they are put up for sale ?

It is wood after all.  Necks are returned for warpage - a small percentage, but returned none the less.

In the unique choice section it does have a disclaimer that some pieces are not able to be used for different, unforseen reasons.

 

[swarfrat]

Good catch on the wood/ring mix - it's a body builder screengrab, but with a specific top. The pickup mix was a mistake.  But that is  one of the more striking tops I've seen lately.