Question Laminated Body?

[ctrydrums]

I purchased an apparently genuine early 2000s Stingray 4 string with as hipshop DTuner from a private party and have used it with great satisfaction for several years. While cleaning it recently I noted what appears to be a vertical ridge in the finish on the back from the bottom of the bass (when held upright) just inboard of the battery access all the way up to the cut-out. Nothing like it appears on the front. Is this an indication of a seam in the body? I thought all the Stingrays were solid slab bodies. Did I get taken?

 

[jlepre]

Most bodies are NOT one solid piece of wood. I've owned 10 or so EBMM basses, and of the 6 or so trans finish basses, I think I may have had ONE that was one piece body. Most are actually 2 pieces glued together.

 

[Movielife]

Most are two but the grain is matched very well on natural/bursts.

 

[JayDawg]

Does anyone know the purpose of using two different pieces of wood glued together as opposed to one solid piece?

 

[jlepre]

Less expensive, and I would think its much easier to find smaller pieces of wood.

 

[mmbassplayer]

Completely unrelated but John... Your bass was born on my 21st birthday!

 

[jlepre]

LOL cool!

 

[Gravesend Black]

That is kinda surprising. I do not know why but I've always thought that MMs are one piece bodies.
I've tried to find the seam on my SR but failed.Maybe someone could tell about usual seam spots on the body to investigate it precisely ?Perhaps it is one piece and I'm lucky.

 

[jlepre]

Look at the bottom of the bass where the strap button is. Obviously this will only work on a trans finished bass.

 

[Gravesend Black]

Look at the bottom of the bass where the strap button is. Obviously this will only work on a trans finished bass.

Thx. Mine seems to be a 2 pieces one (. The seam, from the strap button to the neck plate. That is how it should be?

 

[jlepre]

Yup...that's how I've seen it done. Nothing wrong with a 2 piece body. Many times the 2 piece is the way to go, as it's better to have (TWO) great pieces, then (ONE) ok pieces of wood. With the amazing pre-amp that the EBMM basses posses, the wood is merely a canvas for these masterpieces. JMHO...

 

[Musicman Nut]

Any time you put two pieces of wood together it makes a solid piece of wood, less chances of the wood warping etc, very common in the Guitar Building world.

 

[JMD]

Yes - a totally rare body would be one piece.......cost would be through the roof. I wonder if 2 pieces cut and matched together actually increase resonance (compared to 1 piece)? hmmmm. Not specific to MM, but other manufactures I've seen generally use 2 pieces on translucent finishes and 3 pieces on opaque colors. Overseas, I find are usually more than 3 pieces......and fancier stuff has a lamitate on top.

A few of my own observations.

Although.....my SM std looks like 1 piece of poplar....so....who really knows?

 

[Gravesend Black]

I thought that more pieces = less quality. Cheap instruments are often 3 or more pieces frankenstein monsters)

 

[koogie2k]

I thought that more pieces = less quality. Cheap instruments are often 3 or more pieces frankenstein monsters)

Not a true statement. Even some of those boutique builders use a two piece body and top. The "cheapness" comes in the rest of the build and parts. I saw a one piece body guitar and it was hot trash. Same can be said by multiple. Mostly comes down to the build and pride in their product.

 

[Gravesend Black]

Not a true statement. Even some of those boutique builders use a two piece body and top. The "cheapness" comes in the rest of the build and parts. I saw a one piece body guitar and it was hot trash. Same can be said by multiple. Mostly comes down to the build and pride in their product.

I was not a statement at all =) Till this time I thought that it could be like that cuz usually a cheap guitar is more then 2 pieces)

 

[jlepre]

I was not a statement at all =) Till this time I thought that it could be like that cuz usually a cheap guitar is more then 2 pieces)

I must disagree. It WAS a statement, otherwise it would have ended in a question mark...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Any time you put two pieces of wood together it makes a solid piece of wood, less chances of the wood warping etc, very common in the Guitar Building world.

That's my understanding aswell Dave.

BTW my 1989 Ray is a 3 piece cut from the same plank. Killer Bass.

 

[jlepre]

It also makes it easier to insert things like the tone block that is available on the SR5 20th, and the Reflex. Sometimes builders use ONE piece of the body to attach all the pickups so as to make it more resonant.

I've even seen other builder us "biscuits" to glue each piece to make an even STRONGER piece of wood.

 

[koogie2k]

I was not a statement at all =) Till this time I thought that it could be like that cuz usually a cheap guitar is more then 2 pieces)

My bad bro. Didn't mean to come off in a bad way. Definitely not my intent.