What would you do? (Custom Builds)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Tom Albano

Ive heard that plenty, Im currently looking at 2 Smith basses in my price range and I wont get to try them out before I buy, they dont have ebony boards!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ken-Smith-BSR5JD...#ht_538wt_1167

nice thick mahogany lam in that neck!

or this

http://photos.integritybassandguitar...?gallery=77205

I like the simplicity of this bass....

That was about the only time we used Mahogany in the neck and made about 50 basses or so like that.
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...olt-on%29.html
http://www.kensmithbasses.com/models...srjserial.html

In the early 1980s, I made one or two 5pc necks with mahogany as the thinner feature wood. I don't know if I made any others but if I did, it was a thin center of 1/4" or so. Maybe a few at most if at all. That was over 25 years ago and can't remember.

Mahogany is stable but not so flexible as Maple or Shedua like we use now. Walnut is another dark stable wood but not so flexible. Neck wood need to give a little so they don't split or crack if they take a hit. Maple is about the best wood I have found for neck materials.