Cherry body

[Paul Cooke]

I have access to a large piece of cherry which could be used for a body for a bass... before I go to the trouble of having it planked and dried, has anybody had a bass body done with Cherry before now and did it work?

This cherry tree (which I helped take down last weekend) is really large in cross section and the largest chunk is over two foot in diameter and 4 foot long, dead straight with no branches over that part either.

We already have a couple of local cabinet makers interested in it, but it would be nice to know if it would make a good body for a bass first.

[OldGit]

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='283750' date='Sep 14 2008, 04:43 PM']I have access to a large piece of cherry which could be used for a body for a bass... before I go to the trouble of having it planked and dried, has anybody had a bass body done with Cherry before now and did it work?

This cherry tree (which I helped take down last weekend) is really large in cross section and the largest chunk is over two foot in diameter and 4 foot long, dead straight with no branches over that part either.

We already have a couple of local cabinet makers interested in it, but it would be nice to know if it would make a good body for a bass first.[/quote]


TB Discusson on the subject here
[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5174"]Talk bass on cherry wood bass bodies[/url]

[Mr. Foxen]

Some Wishbasses are made of cherry from Steve's own garden.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='283786' date='Sep 14 2008, 05:38 PM']Some Wishbasses are made of cherry from Steve's own garden.[/quote]

That's probably not the best recommendation! ;-)

[budget bassist]

From what i gather from that thread on TB it's a fairly nice tonewood and pretty too, i say go for it. Can't hurt can it? At the very worst you'll end up with a pretty bass that sounds average, which you could change with pickups. Do it

[alexclaber]

My '87 Warwick Streamer has a cherry body and sounds very nice. Cherry appears to have fallen out of favour as a tonewood because its relatively expensive and doesn't look fancy but that doesn't mean it isn't a good body wood. It isn't the lightest of woods, so bear that in mind with body shapes / chambering.

Alex

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='alexclaber' post='283818' date='Sep 14 2008, 06:41 PM']My '87 Warwick Streamer has a cherry body and sounds very nice. Cherry appears to have fallen out of favour as a tonewood because its relatively expensive and doesn't look fancy but that doesn't mean it isn't a good body wood. It isn't the lightest of woods, so bear that in mind with body shapes / chambering.

Alex[/quote]

As Alex says, the earliest Warwick Streamer Stage Is were Cherry bodied then they changed to Maple. I have to say that the early Cherry bodied models are still some of my favourites Warwick pretty much came up with their slogan 'The sound of wood' based upon these Cherry Streamers.

[ARGH]

A few Wal's used Cherry,Ive Cherry in a neck of one of my fretless's...Its not light by any means usually,but I wouldnt say no to a few bits of free nice hardwood of high quality.

Should mix with a top well.....say a burl of some type,if only for looks.

[stingrayfan]

Don't know what it would sound like but it would be cool to have a bass made from the tree you helped fell.

[noelk27]

My only experience of cherry wood is in a 6-string acoustic guitar - back and sides, with a spruce top. Beautiful tone - a little more bass and mid range than it's rosewood sister. Now a little over 20 years old, and the finish has matured, darkening a tone or two over the years - now a beautiful deep colour with a red-ish hue. I'd certainly be tempted to try a cherry wood bass.

[BassBod]

My Clifton shortscale is all cherry - English body and american neck. Nice wood, the English seems like alder, but with more interesting grain. The american cherry is denser, with a darker reddish colour, but has resin pockets that can pop up when you start carving it. Look at Mo Clifton's site (www.cliftonbasses) for more info...


BB

[G-77]

the Status series 3000 i had was Cherry, i recall it was quite heavy and had a good tone.