Building a Semi-Hollow Archtop Bass

[Dave Gentner]

I've been asked to build a a semi-hollow archtop bass similar to the Guild Starfire. I'm trying to decide whether I should go with mahogany or maple for the top, back, sides, and center block. My customer is interested in the "woofy" sound from the big Gibson pickups of the '60s.

[Barry Daniels]

In my opinion a woofy sound is more likely produced by mahogany. Maple is more metallic and hissy.

[Bob Ionta]

FWIW, a 1966-ish Gibson EB-2 I repaired was maple. Very thunky sound with round-wound strings through an old Ampeg B-15N.

[Alan Carruth]

Maple and mahogany can be quite similar in properties. The first archtop I made had mahogany B&S, and so far as I know it's still going strong after 30+ years. The way you make it has far more bearing on the sound you get than the material, so long as that's 'reasonable'.

[Dave Gentner]

Thanks guys for the responses. I've decided on quilted big leaf maple. This is a Casino I made recently using quilted maple.

[Barry Daniels]

I would recommend considering using spruce for the top and whatever hardwood for the B&S. I think the spruce would add more fullness to the tone than hardwood. It certainly works for acoustic archtop guitars. Here is a seven string that I helped build. It has curly hard maple back and sides.