Player Magazine Q & A (in English)

[Bryan L Williams]

If used as a body core on a Smith bass, how might Acer pseudoplatanus compare tonally with Acer rubrum?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

If used as a body core on a Smith bass, how might Acer pseudoplatanus compare tonally with Acer rubrum?

Trying to be a wise guy?

I think from what I have seen, the pseudoplatanus is slightly harder and tighter grained than the rubrum as far as basic properties go.

The rubrum here is more plentiful and cut mostly on the slab. Some logs are quartered on occasion for Guitar blocks. When quartered, the edge shows little or no flame in comparison to the slab or grade cut commercial logs with the flame is more prominent on the sides that show when used as a core. That's the visual.

On the tone, depending on the top/back woods, I think the softer rubrum is more favourable. I also want to point out that the macrophyllum is equally desirable for weight and tone. If quilted, the figure is mild but attractive. If flamed, it can be even more attractive than the rubrum around the edges.

[Bryan L Williams]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Trying to be a wise guy?

I think from what I have seen, the pseudoplatanus is slightly harder and tighter grained than the rubrum as far as basic properties go.

The rubrum here is more plentiful and cut mostly on the slab. Some logs are quartered on occasion for Guitar blocks. When quartered, the edge shows little or no flame in comparison to the slab or grade cut commercial logs with the flame is more prominent on the sides that show when used as a core. That's the visual.

On the tone, depending on the top/back woods, I think the softer rubrum is more favourable. I also want to point out that the macrophyllum is equally desirable for weight and tone. If quilted, the figure is mild but attractive. If flamed, it can be even more attractive than the rubrum around the edges.

I know you don't use European Maple in your electric basses, but I could not resist asking you...especially since you play large violi...I mean double basses also. Plus, you really know about Maple, so I just had to ask about how you thought rubrum compared with its European relatives. So, in the tone department, it sounds like rubrum might generally fall somewhere between Acer pseudoplatanus and Acer macrophyllum?

When would you recommend rubrum over macrophyllum as a core wood in a Smith bass?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

I know you don't use European Maple in your electric basses, but I could not resist asking you...especially since you play large violi...I mean double basses also. Plus, you really know about Maple, so I just had to ask about how you thought rubrum compared with its European relatives. So, in the tone department, it sounds like rubrum might generally fall somewhere between Acer pseudoplatanus and Acer macrophyllum?

When would you recommend rubrum over macrophyllum as a core wood in a Smith bass?

Actually, I have a bit of Euro maple for over 10 years now. I stashed it away till just recently. We sell it as Sycamore (what they often call it in England and Europe) and use it mainly for top and back sets. This is from trees grown in USA but planted from English and Norway seeds 100's of years ago. The wood I have was cut specifically to yield guitar wood. While I have less than enough to make 100 bass top/back sets (estimated), I have the other two species above in stock for a lifetime worth that is 8-20 years old in-stock.

[Bryan L Williams]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Actually, I have a bit of Euro maple for over 10 years now. I stashed it away till just recently. We sell it as Sycamore (what they often call it in England and Europe) and use it mainly for top and back sets. This is from trees grown in USA but planted from English and Norway seeds 100's of years ago. The wood I have was cut specifically to yield guitar wood. While I have less than enough to make 100 bass top/back sets (estimated), I have the other two species above in stock for a lifetime worth that is 8-20 years old in-stock.

Well...I stand corrected! (Now I know why I did not see it listed in the wood pages...it's been in hiding. ) That sounds like some pretty unique Maple you have there.

If you were going to pair up the Euro-American Maple with one of the two other American species as a core wood, which would you personally choose...and why?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

Well...I stand corrected! (Now I know why I did not see it listed in the wood pages...it's been in hiding. ) That sounds like some pretty unique Maple you have there.

If you were going to pair up the Euro-American Maple with one of the two other American species as a core wood, which would you personally choose...and why?

Easy, not the Euro stuff. It's mostly cut into blocks on the quarter. The top surfaces have more figure showing than the edges do for showing off the figure like the edge of the core would.