Ply or proper wood? - budget basses by big brands

[Truckstop]

Hello,

I was just wondering whether stuff like Yamaha RBX's and Ibanez Soundgear basses are made with proper wood or ply. Looking for a project to do in the shed over winter and want a decent foundation!

If you've got any info on Peavey's, Stagg, Lindo etc etc would also be handy.

Any help gratefully recieved!

[DaveFry]

The Stagg is alder . ( I have one ). [url="http://www.staggmusic.com/en/product_detail/bc300-n.html?backp=1"]http://www.staggmusi...-n.html?backp=1[/url]

[Truckstop]

Cheers!

Used to have one of those years ago in sunburst. The first bass I ever paid for actually!

Stands to reason the BK models (P copies) would also be proper wood?

Truckstop

[muttley]

I read somewhere that Squire Affinity guitars are ply, but this info could be wrong. Entry level Ibanez Soundgear are Agathis (which I think is similar to mahogany) according to website. I've seen Yam RBXs iwith a natural finish so this suggests the bodies are real wood [size=2][sup]TM[/sup][/size].

[BigRedX]

What's wrong with ply?

Good enough for Jens Ritter:

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/0457-4.jpg[/IMG]

and [url=http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=bassen&BassenID=25]Bas Extravaganza[/url]

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/25_Bassen_B25_Multiplex_01.jpg[/IMG]

[Mr. Foxen]

Affinity series I've seen are wood, but not sure what series the Indonesian made ply ones were. Those were proper nasty, might be the starter set Squiers. Don't think you cna tell construction by brand, too many things fall under each brand. Stagg stuff I've see has been a good base for modding. The Vintage V4 I had was a pretty uninspiring mod project, because it already had nice hardware, so hard to think of anywhere to go with it.

Edit: what's going on with the action on the Bas Extravaganza?

Edited September 24, 2012 by Mr. Foxen

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1348482138' post='1814006']
Edit: what's going on with the action on the Bas Extravaganza?
[/quote]

I think its just the angle of that photo. It looks reasonable on the others on the site.

[TRBboy]

The RBX170 is solid Agathis, and the RBX270 is solid Alder. Obviously the RBXA2 has the AIR system, so is technically a hollow plywood body but obviously that's not because it's cheaper than solid wood, it had to be a laminate for the design concept to work.

Older RBXs (late 80's - early 90's) were ply AFAIK (or some of them at least).

[chris_b]

In terms of a “project” I think the quality of the pickups will have more impact on the tone than wood vs ply.

[Truckstop]

Well it's actually more to hone my finishing skills. I want to start getting more experimental with oil and wax based finishes and I think real wood would look a little better and respond more consistently than ply. I may be mistaken of course but I'd just prefer to start as I mean to go on and use real wood!

Thanks for all your help! That Ritter looks awesome!

Truckstop

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1348487260' post='1814113']
Older RBXs (late 80's - early 90's) were ply AFAIK (or some of them at least).
[/quote]

I had an RBX-550M that was made around 1990 and it had a solid body, could've been alder or basswood I guess.

[LeftyJ]

I don't think any major manufacturer uses plywood these days.
However, with cheaper guitars, it's common practice to build bodies from more narrow pieces of wood rather than just 2 or 3 like most guitars. Especially when they have an opaque finish you need to be weary of this. And if you decide to go with a sunburst instrument as your starting point, don't get one that looks like it's a 1-piece body because it will just be a veneer over (often poorly matching) multiple pieces of wood. And the bass doesn't even need to be that cheap for these practices. Even Fender Mexico does this, using up to 7 pieces! That's why the tummycut and the forearm carve are often black on sunburst bodies: to conceal they're veneered. For example, here's a Fender Mexico stock of raw blanks of alder with the veneer already in place:

[muttley]

[quote name='LeftyJ' timestamp='1348555571' post='1815026']
... with cheaper guitars, it's common practice to build bodies from more narrow pieces of wood .... And the bass doesn't even need to be that cheap for these practices. Even Fender Mexico does this, using up to 7 pieces!
[/quote]

Fender MiM basses seem to have a good rep here so it just shows that it doesn't really matter that much...

[size=2]<ducks and runs>[/size]

[Wil]

My favourite bass is made of plywood and it sounds great. Good pickups in the right places.

It has bugger all sustain, but too much of that and the decay envelope that gives your bass sound a lot of it's character is lost anyway, I reckon...

[LeftyJ]

[quote name='muttley' timestamp='1348568133' post='1815206']
Fender MiM basses seem to have a good rep here so it just shows that it doesn't really matter that much...

[size=2]<ducks and runs>[/size]
[/quote]

Very true. It's just not very pretty to look at, and could be a very unpleasant surprise if part of the OP's project involves sanding down the body to apply a transparent finish of some sort. So always be careful with what looks to be a 1-piece body on a sunburst instrument

[iiipopes]

I just recently acquired an Ibanez Soundgear SRA305 5-string with the "scoop" control (Ibanez' version of the EMG EXB: a great variable slap contour control or a vintage-to-modern sweep control) to play as my main bass in a band I have just rejoined (I was their original bass player 20 years ago, and their most recent bass player died unexpectedly and I was called to fill the gap, and, well, they keep asking me back...) that is a pub/party band that plays everything from '60's to present. We gig regularly and have a loyal regional following. Since it has an opaque finish, I don't know what kind of wood it is, but it has great tone and playability, everything is in the right place for the right reason as a 5-string bass, not a converted 4-string bass, and it was inexpensive. In my experience, Ibanez SoundGear has come up in quality over the past decade; but don't pay retail price. The models change over quickly from year to year, mostly cosmetics, pickup selections, tuner layout, etc., and the best deals are in slightly used or last years' new old stock.

Also, with good seasoned wood, ply versus one-piece or two-piece is not the issue it used to be. And generally, with wood supplies as they are world wide, to get a good two-piece body is going to cost a significant amount, usually above the price point of this particular line of instruments. Even in Fender's "golden years," two piece bodies were the norm, and they would use 3-piece bodies at times. Gibson ES-175 and Epiphone Casino guitars have plywood tops. Very good plywood, yes, but plywood nonetheless. So it's not whether it's ply-versus-solid; it is the care in selecting the wood to begin with. Soundgear has come up in quality in that aspect to be a fairly decent value-for-money, if you shop for a good deal.

Actually, for a good electric instrument, I do not like a one-piece body, because the resonances are harder to control and it may have a great tone, or it may have a bad tone. A two-piece body will even out the resonances, much the same way that a two or three piece neck will tend to eliminate the inevitable "dead spot" in a lot of necks, especially Fender-style one-piece necks.

Edited September 25, 2012 by iiipopes

[harleyheath]

that second bass looks decidedly like a Carl Thompson dont think they'll be too much wrong with that action!



[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1348482113' post='1814005']
What's wrong with ply?

Good enough for Jens Ritter:



and [url="http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=bassen&BassenID=25"]Bas Extravaganza[/url]


[/quote]

[harleyheath]

theres so much I wouldlike to say about that pic, but I think i'll leave it at wrong!!



[quote name='LeftyJ' timestamp='1348555571' post='1815026']
I don't think any major manufacturer uses plywood these days.
However, with cheaper guitars, it's common practice to build bodies from more narrow pieces of wood rather than just 2 or 3 like most guitars. Especially when they have an opaque finish you need to be weary of this. And if you decide to go with a sunburst instrument as your starting point, don't get one that looks like it's a 1-piece body because it will just be a veneer over (often poorly matching) multiple pieces of wood. And the bass doesn't even need to be that cheap for these practices. Even Fender Mexico does this, using up to 7 pieces! That's why the tummycut and the forearm carve are often black on sunburst bodies: to conceal they're veneered. For example, here's a Fender Mexico stock of raw blanks of alder with the veneer already in place:


[/quote]

[harleyheath]

I'd go for wood, alder, basswood, ash or a decent mahogany should be cheap, easy to get an give a great sound, if you fancy a practice on something glue two offcuts of 18mm cabinet grade MDF together an cut and carve the crap out of that, good for seeing a body shape before you tear into your wood.
hope it goes well well, enjoy!!