Wood for a scrathplate

[ukdaffy2014]

Help from anyone
I am considering replacing my scratchplate on my bass for a wood one, (currently a pearly one which I don't like) Any ideas on best wood to use etc and what stains anyone has used. (will be shaping it myself)
Pic below of bass in question

[ritch]

I'd be interested in this too. I'd like to make a nice maple one for a walnut R*ck*nb*ck*r as I think it would look way nicer than the white they come with.

(Not that I have one yet, but am hopefully getting one in the very near future).

Anyone know of a good source of thin wood pieces?

[MoonBassAlpha]

I can't think of a bass with a wooden scratch plate that looks any good. I know it's a matter of opinion, but they always seem to look a bit rubbish. I'd happy to have my opinion changed by suitable photo evidence though....

[Manton Customs]

You may want to look into veneering a plastic pickguard rather than making the whole thing from wood, it'd be cheaper, easier, you'd have more choice of material and it'd be more stable and strong.

The wood you chose would depend on the colour you would like, what are you thinking colour wise?

[chris_b]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1439416140' post='2842781']
I can't think of a bass with a wooden scratch plate that looks any good.
[/quote]

I can.

Carl Thompson basses

[Roland Rock]

A good solution to the stability issue is to make a kind of 'posh ply' where you laminate four layers of veneer together with alternating grain directions. The result is really strong.

[MoonBassAlpha]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1439463395' post='2843022']
I can.

Carl Thompson basses
[/quote]
Nope, I've not seen one with a wooden scratchplate yet. Some pictures I've seen have wooden control panels which to my eye spoils the look of otherwise interesting looking basses. It just looks like a school woodwork project to me on an otherwise amazingly crafted bass. In general, that is, not [i]just[/i] CT basses.

[chris_b]

Sorry about that. . . . I can't tell my scratch plate from my control panel.

Edited August 16, 2015 by chris_b

[jazzyvee]

Not done it on bass but i changed the one on my fender strat to a quilted maple one and it looks great.

[rmorris]

Any ideas where best to buy small pieces of suitable woods ?

[jazzyvee]

[quote name='rmorris' timestamp='1439911532' post='2846692']
Any ideas where best to buy small pieces of suitable woods ?
[/quote]
I got John Diggins (Jaydee custom guitars) to do mine for me I'm sure there are decent places on-line to get small pieces of wood.

[yorks5stringer]

A sheet of veneer A4 size comes in at around £2.