Generally speaking, which of the Standard Woods would contribute the least to the overall weight of a bass build?
California Walnut
Bubinga
Vermillion
Purple Heart
Flame Maple
Birds-eye Maple
Lacewood
Zebra wood
I'm specifically interested in the effect a top veneer would have on a 5-string Essence.
I also realize that the neck sandwich and the body wood will have a vastly more significant impact on final build weight.
Lacewood is the lightest and Purple Heart and Vermillion are heavier. Maple is variable: eastern hard maple is heavy; western big-leaf maple not so much. I had Bubinga bass and it was medium weight.
No experience with Zebrawood. Of course, my experiences may not be typical.
VMG
Guy I worked for had an Ed Reynolds bass with maple neck through solid bubinga body; it was a feather-weight, as I recall. (Very Alembic-like, actually, oval inlays & everything; does anybody know if Ed ever worked at the Mothership?)
Peter
Speaking from experience - avoid vermillion and purple heart - !
They have very rich colors, but are very dense / heavy.
You are correct - the neck recipe and the body core wood have a greater impact and the top veneer probably contributes least to overall weight.
Overall size / thickness of the body will also be a factor. An Essence has a smaller body than many of the other models, so you're looking in the right place there.
Sometimes a little more weight can be offset by overall balance.
For me, I'd rather have a heavier instrument that balances well than a lighter one with neck dive, etc.
Here's the average density of the standard woods:
California Walnut
Specific gravity = .60-.70
Bubinga
Specific gravity = .65-.80
Vermilion
Specific gravity = .65-.75
Purpleheart
Specific gravity = .75-.90
Western Flame Maple
Specific gravity = .55-.65
Eastern Maple (Bird's-eye)
Specific gravity = .65-.75
Lacewood
Specific gravity = .45-.65
Zebrawood
Specific gravity = .65-.75
You're right, the top laminate is only 1/4 thick, so while you will notice a difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest top woods, the neck and the main body wood will have a larger impact on the weight (and tone) of the bass.
Here's an example with the Essence bass. The original all-Maple Essence basses weighed about 8 pounds on average for a 4-string. My Essence is 10.75 pounds with a 7-piece Maple/Purpleheart neck, Cherry body and Kingwood top. This is in stark contrast to the 6.75 pound Zebrawood Essence in our showroom that has a Mahogany body, and a Mahogany, Walnut and Birch neck that feels like it is filled with helium!
Hey Mica, do you have any pics of this featherweight Essence?
Mica,
I'm surprised at the weight of your Essence. It didn't seem that heavy to me when I played it at the Chicago get gathering. It must be the size that makes it appear lighter.
Keith
...or the balance...
Mica,
I remember your beautiful Kingwood Essence at the Chicago gathering.
Keith I however seem to remember Mica\s bass as having a compact mass to the bass when Mica handed the bass to me briefly. Balanced (as referenced) yet dense... I\m sure it sounds great with those combinations of wood/body size.
(http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/402/196680.jpg)
It's purdy!
Another thing that makes my bass a bit heavy is the chunky neck carve I requested.
That is purdy! I have a soft spot for zebrawood since my first Alembic has a zebrawood top. I've also always wanted a super lightweight Alembic. What's the scale length on that one? Thanks, Mica!
Regular ol' long scale there.
Zebrawood on this top is very handsome - you can't really tell in this still image, but it's shimmery like crazy. Very nice example!
Sweet looking bass Mica. Is that your favourite Alembic body style?
I do love the Essence very much, but my heart belongs to the medium scale Series I Point body!
mica-
im ready.
J