Guest MoJo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I bought a P bass copy yesterday, claimed to have been made in the 70's. It bears the brand name Craftsman. The body is solid wood, thankfully, not ply. I removed the neck and took a photo of the grain. Can anyone identify what wood it is? http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w614/markmojo1962/20140830_113816_zps28mpjuin.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradwell Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Pretty sure that's mahogany. Pinkish brown colour and relatively tight grain. Quite dense - so if it's solid I imagine the guitar will be relatively heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Yep.....its pretty heavy. I thought it might be mahogany but wasn't sure Edited August 30, 2014 by MoJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbass Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 It looks like mahogany or beech judging by the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Yeah I immediately thought mahogany before I looked at other replies, just from the wood colour and grain alone. I don't know if you'll get any tone colouration from the body but I'd bet it has good sustain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Beech wood grain: There's a bit of variety in [url="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mahogany+wood+grain+pattern&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=4ewBVJeHEcua0QXJ24GwAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1242&bih=585"]mahogany[/url] My guess is beech. That was my first thought when I saw it. Edited August 30, 2014 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) I'm pretty certain that that is mahogany, not beech Edited August 30, 2014 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 +1 for the mahogany -1 for the beech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Looks very much more like mahogany, similar tight grain to beech but mahogany has more grain figuring - and much more likely in a 70s build. If you blag a drop of teak oil off a joiner/wood yard and put a bit on it you'll see the shimmer off the grain, even on that patch, beech doesn't do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1409412978' post='2539500'] I'm pretty certain that that is mahogany, not beech [/quote] ... and after seeing that incredible table of yours, I'd be inclined to believe you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booooooom Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Definitely looks like mahogany but probably a similar looking cheaper alternative as it's painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradwell Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I would reckon it's painted because it's probably made from more than one piece glued together. Still a solid block but the paint will cover up the join lines. If I had a solid lump of mahogany big enough for a whole guitar body, the last thing I'd want to do is paint it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='Bradwell' timestamp='1409416689' post='2539551'] I would reckon it's painted because it's probably made from more than one piece glued together. Still a solid block but the paint will cover up the join lines. If I had a solid lump of mahogany big enough for a whole guitar body, the last thing I'd want to do is paint it. [/quote] Probably this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 My old Antoria is a butchers block of mahogany: [attachment=170475:Antoria Jazz 1975 06.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1409420775' post='2539594'] My old Antoria is a butchers block of mahogany: [attachment=170475:Antoria Jazz 1975 06.JPG] [/quote] Lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Looks like sapele to me (I think it's a relative of mahogany) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradwell Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I think sapele is the african relative of mahogany, true mahogany comes from south america. Doesn't help that the terminology changes and there's multiple names for each. There's always variations in colour but sapele tends to be a more purple tinted brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I think my kitchen chopping board is a nice big hunk of sapele - every time I look at it I imagine it being used to make a bass body from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1409428347' post='2539673'] I think my kitchen chopping board is a nice big hunk of sapele - every time I look at it I imagine it being used to make a bass body from [/quote] If it's good enough for Martin & Co, it should be good enough for a bass Edited August 30, 2014 by MoJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbass Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='Bradwell' timestamp='1409416689' post='2539551'] I would reckon it's painted because it's probably made from more than one piece glued together. Still a solid block but the paint will cover up the join lines. If I had a solid lump of mahogany big enough for a whole guitar body, the last thing I'd want to do is paint it. [/quote] +1 on the timber being glued together. Having pieces glued together helps the timber from moving too much (cupping and bowing etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 It's probably Mahogany. My other thought was sapele but there are machining issues with sapele that a more budget guitar company might not want to handle. Definitely not beech, the way the grain has lifted and the ragging round the screw holes IMO discounts that. For cost reasons it's also probably glued, even then large chunks of wood fetched a premium. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.