Solid or Laminate

[philw]

All,

I'm in the market for an inexpensive double bass (I already play EUB but fancy a "real" one). There's one on eBay at the moment that the seller claims has a solid spruce top and solid maple back and sides. However, despite being the original owner of the bass he can't tell me the manufacturer or the model number (he says it was a present and all he has is a print-out of the spec) so I don't really know if it really is solid or a laminate. I'm going to see the bass tomorrow evening and I wondered if anybody has some tips on identifying what a bass is made from?

Ta
Phil

[jakenewmanbass]

You can usually see from looking at the edges of the wood, on the outer rim or in the f holes. if it's laminate you should be able to see the layers of the wood (unless it's very heavily lacquered)
Being really honest with inexpensive instruments a solid table (top) does not make a vast tonal difference.

[guyl]

I think that you really should play any DB before buying - no matter how attractive the price!

"Spec", "manufacturers", "models" (or which tree etc...) won't really tell you how a DB sounds or plays. It's all much more of a grey area than, say, buying a second hand Fender Jazz!