Identifying a bass as carved or laminate

[Martin Sheridan]

Ask your shop bass expert to show you. That's the best way to learn and any reputable dealer will be happy to do so. On carved basses the grain will show through at the edges of both top and back. The sides are a little more difficult, but if you examine what the wood looks like under the varnish in the C bout and look inside the bass and examine the inside of the bout it will look the same except for the varnish. Some German makers were very good at touching up the eges to hide the laminate and on those you have to find where the varnish is worn off the edges to see the grain or the laminate.
The cheaper laminated basses are very easy to tell because they don't make any attempt to hide the laminate on the sides. Remember also that there are basses with solid wood tops, and laminated backs and sides and I've seen some that have solid tops and backs but laminated sides.
All bass players should take a little time to learn to recognize if a bass is solid, laminated or hybrid. Your bass person will be happy to educate you.