calypsocoral Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/images/galerie/basicpm/ba_pm4_voodoo.jpg I know I may be alone here, but I am a sucker for matte finishes. Does anybody know how they do that "zebra" effect? Painting the individual grains would be too pain-staking, especially since this is their "basic" model... Anyway, this is made by Sandberg guitars in Germany. Here is their LINK The pickups are made by a German company called Delano. They also make the MM-style pickups used in the Human Base bass in THIS THREAD. Thoughts? Comments? Experiences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowbee Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I guess depending on how much their basic range costs it could even be a laminated veneer, practically a photocopy of a grain effect? Now theres three of you in a band, youre like a proper band. Youre like the policemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 Umm... yeah... their basses start at 1060 Euros. Roughly $2000 USD. For that price, it had better not be a veneer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Most likely the finish is the result of a very dark (black) stain that is applied and then removed. Most heavy grained, soft woods will be quite dramatic as their "grain" accepts the stain differently. I don't think it is a photo application but very likely a veneer. After the stain is applied, it is clear coated to preserve the finish. Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theTragicRich Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Boy would I like to twist her knobs! (trying to stay with the porn theme here... help me out!) Very nice bass there. [Carvin] XB76WF - All Walnut 6-string fretless [schecter] Stiletto Studio 5 Fretless | Stiletto Elite 5 [Ampeg] SVT3-Pro | SVT-410HLF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I'd have to try one to let you know. I'd be curious how it plays and sounds. The split-coil looks interesting. I'm not impressed at all with it's looks. Maybe it looks better in person. Makes me think Soundgear to be honest. http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/1/9/2/437192.jpg Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I like some of the finishes available from F Bass: http://fbass.com/html/finishes.html Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 The bass in the original post looks like cross-cut Zebrawood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch hitter Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 well.... looks like I need new pants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Most likely the finish is the result of a very dark (black) stain that is applied and then removed. Most heavy grained, soft woods will be quite dramatic as their "grain" accepts the stain differently. I don't think it is a photo application but very likely a veneer. After the stain is applied, it is clear coated to preserve the finish. Rocky +1. Nice grain pattern. Not that keen on the color though. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 Not crazy about that color? http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/images/galerie/basicjm/ba_jm5_zebrared.jpg How about that one? And, for those who think that finish is a veneer... http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/images/customshop/g_zebrarot.jpg There is a side-on shot of the grain and the finish. I never thought anything could make me go so crazy over a plank of Swamp Ash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 Some of those are pretty hot! The "ceruse" colors from F-basses are a lot like the ones I'm referring to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlrush Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 The red with black grain is stunning. My guess is that it's rubbed with dye stain and the grain takes the red heavier, making it look black. Awesome. Could've been rubbed with gilsonite first too. That would make the grain dark but not affect the rest of the wood much. Visit my band's new web site. www.themojoroots.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 On the red body, you can see from the side that the top wood is about 3/8" thick. It is most noticable on the base, just above the strap button. Veneer may not be the proper name for the process. Usually, in solid body instruments, it is referred to as "Top Wood" Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Not crazy about that color? http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/images/galerie/basicjm/ba_jm5_zebrared.jpg How about that one? Now we're talkin! Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edro Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I know I may be alone here, but I am a sucker for matte finishes. You're not alone. Matte finishes are better IMO, especially on those hot and humid days. They also don't show fingerprints as much as gloss, which means less time cleaning the bass and more time playing it. The red one is nice, but not $2,000 USD nice. This is the opinion of someone proud to be frugal, so my 2 cents has a different conversion rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Most of the time, matte/oil finishes are used with miminal staining (in the examples above, that staining took a while to develop). I'm not sure why. Warwick has probably been the best at oil finishes with "stripey" types of wood. Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 My favorite mattes are from Warwick, especially this Vampire: http://rhee.net/nordstrand/wick/vamp1.jpg And this Streamer: http://rhee.net/nordstrand/wick/streamerlx1.jpg Their glosses aren't bad, either: http://rhee.net/nordstrand/wick/buzzard.jpg "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 On the red body, you can see from the side that the top wood is about 3/8" thick. It is most noticable on the base, just above the strap button. Veneer may not be the proper name for the process. Usually, in solid body instruments, it is referred to as "Top Wood" Rocky Hi Rocky, Yeah, when I think "veneer", I generally picture something 1/8" thick and synthetic, like cheap furniture. It's possible you may be right about using that heavily-grained Ash as a top wood. I don't know how good your computer monitor is, but, if I look really close, I think I do see the grains extending to the very back of the instrument, making it a solid piece of Ash. This is not exactly a high-resolution picture, so it is hard to tell either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 You're not alone. Matte finishes are better IMO, especially on those hot and humid days. They also don't show fingerprints as much as gloss, which means less time cleaning the bass and more time playing it. The red one is nice, but not $2,000 USD nice. This is the opinion of someone proud to be frugal, so my 2 cents has a different conversion rate. Hi Edro, Yeah, I totally agree with your take there. Just for some more info, I checked the "reviews" portion of the website and found a review by Bass Player Magazine for a model similar to that one. The actual street price was something close to $1750. Keep in mind that the basses are made in Germany. I'm sure if they contracted someone in the USA, like Human Base did, the price would come down a few hundred more, especially given the current exchange rates. I checked out an interview with Dave Mustaine on the Dean Guitars website. He said he liked solid finishes because he thought clear ones make it look like he's playing part of a coffee table. My viewpoint on finish preference comes from two extremes. 1) A bass is a piece of wood. It should look like one. 2) A bass is an instrument, an artistic expression of function. Like yourself, I find clear glosses and solid glosses to be somewhat high-maintenance. Save the glosses for your dinette set! Note: The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect the opinions of 99.998% of this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 With wood grain you have more porous than others. The first post is just stained. Then maybe cleared. You can get an even finish by clearing first then apply a 'stain' over the cleared area. It won't soak in and give an even coat. The red and black, I would go about it by appling a black or near black stain. (possibly wipe off excess or) Let dry. Sand off top layer hopefully it would not affect the porous grain appearance, then apply the red stain. Soaking into any extra area of the black to help tint the color. Clearcoat, color sand, buff, polish, assemble, bring the rawk! Brocko Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 With wood grain you have more porous than others. The first post is just stained. Then maybe cleared. You can get an even finish by clearing first then apply a 'stain' over the cleared area. It won't soak in and give an even coat. The red and black, I would go about it by appling a black or near black stain. (possibly wipe off excess or) Let dry. Sand off top layer hopefully it would not affect the porous grain appearance, then apply the red stain. Soaking into any extra area of the black to help tint the color. Clearcoat, color sand, buff, polish, assemble, bring the rawk! Hi Brocko, That was an interesting post. I am not very well-versed in finishing technique. So, does the direction of the grain have anything to do with how deeply it absorbs the dye? I'm wondering if you would apply the black dye first, then the more "coarse" grain (the darker grain) would soak it more deeply than the rest (hence why one direction retains the black while the rest does not)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Not the direction of the grain but the direction of the cut will determine what will end up showing after staining. The coarse grain will absorb more regardless. Whether you drag left ro right, right to left, up/down, down/up it will take the same. One point, you would want to drag your applicator with the natural direction of the grain to limit the snagging effect. Unless that was the desired effect. Brocko Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi Curr Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I know I may be alone here, but I am a sucker for matte finishes. You're not alone. Matte finishes are better IMO, especially on those hot and humid days. They also don't show fingerprints as much as gloss, which means less time cleaning the bass and more time playing it. The red one is nice, but not $2,000 USD nice. This is the opinion of someone proud to be frugal, so my 2 cents has a different conversion rate. I love flat finishes, too! My latest acquisition has a matte black body and satin neck. Oh how I love it!!!! http://images.guitarcenter.com/products/optionRegular/Dean/549766jpg.jpg "...Rock's chosen warriors will RULE the Apocalypse!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 http://rhee.net/nordstrand/wick/buzzard.jpg I really didn't need to see that Buzzard. Those basses give me GAS pains. I'd really like to have the Status version with the red LEDs on the neck and roman numeral inlays. Hotness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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