Walnut/Maple vs. Maple/Walnut

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Leon Droby

It seems like currently the two most popular wood combinations are a walnut core with maple top/back and a maple core with walnut top/back.

In respect to the neck thru basses, what would the tone differences be between the two? And which contributes more to the tone, the core or the top/back (on the neck thru basses)?

Thanks.

Regardless of the model I feel that the Top (and back plates) contribute most to the sound with the core working with the top woods.

In my experience, the Maple top woods have a tighter, higher treble, less mids and more bottom spread than with a Walnut top which has more mids, wider treble presence and clearer bass tone, easier to EQ. So, the Walnut core brightens up the maple top and the maple core helps to spread the walnut tone in the bottom.