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whyachi
Guest
Which woods can be used for unfinished bodies? I know the standards like wenge, bubinga and the rosewoods, but how about black korina? Zebrawood? Am I missing any others?
Nando Vallart
Epic Member
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Black Korina does need a finish, Zebrawood, I can't remember...
rockskate4x
Hero Member
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I think it is more important for necks to be finished, than for bodies. It's harder for bodies to "do the prezel act" than necks. Steve Vai had a guitar with a swamp ash body that was left unfinished. I don't think he had any problems, but it's one ugly looking guitar...
I suggest putting a finish on (something hand rubbed that brings out color and figure) purely for cosmetic reasons.
I suggest putting a finish on (something hand rubbed that brings out color and figure) purely for cosmetic reasons.
tubby.twins
Hero Member
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Walnut and Purpleheart work fairly well. Both could use some nice applications of oil, but a hard finish isn't really necessary.
Wenge and Bubinga are other options, but those weigh even more. My Purpleheart body is heavy enough!
Wenge and Bubinga are other options, but those weigh even more. My Purpleheart body is heavy enough!
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whyachi
Guest
tubby.twins said:
Purpleheart is definitely an option. I wish bloodwood was. I'm just looking for an exotic wood I can use on a totally finish-free bass. I think its currently #37 on the list of Warmoths I'd like to put together.
line6man
Epic Member
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Tubby, I remember talking to David Schwab about his pickups and such and when the topic of your triple pickup purpleheart bass and it's soundclips came up, he was telling me how bad Purpleheart splinters or something.
Is that true?
I'll have to dig up the IM conversation, because I can't remember, but it was kind of offputting as far as wanting a raw Purpleheart body goes.
Is that true?
I'll have to dig up the IM conversation, because I can't remember, but it was kind of offputting as far as wanting a raw Purpleheart body goes.
tubby.twins
Hero Member
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Yeah, it's a splinter-prone wood to work with, because it's so dense and the fibers aren't very tightly held together (across the grain). But usually once it's been shaped and sanded by Warmoth, you won't get splinters. But you do need to be careful when working around sharper edges, such as the neck pocket and the pickup cavities.
When I was routing the middle pickup cavity I didn't have a lot of problems, because the router bit was spinning so fast (and I worked very slowly). But later on when I used hand tools to cut another piece of purpleheart to make a thumbrest, it did make a lot of splinters.
When I was routing the middle pickup cavity I didn't have a lot of problems, because the router bit was spinning so fast (and I worked very slowly). But later on when I used hand tools to cut another piece of purpleheart to make a thumbrest, it did make a lot of splinters.
