One Piece Body

[newtley]

I do my initial screening of most instruments that I aquire based upon how they feel; and sound...unplugged. Obviously I plug 'em in too..but later on in the process. As these are tools for me I don't normally get too hung up on the cosmetic stuff, but this bass is an exception.

I stumbled upon my total dream Sterling this past weekend, a spanky-new 07 Sterling HS Tobacco/Tort/Rosewood with matching headstock (yeah, I know.. no pix no bass..) and only after I impulse-purchased it did I really scrutinize the beauty of the wood and finish.

Upon first observations I thought it was a one-piece body but with more scrutiny it does seem to have a join, but the interesting thing is that the grain actually matches at the join...

So.. two questions to the peanut gallery:

1)Who has true one piece bodies?


2) Who has body joinery with matching grain?

~Feel free to insert anatomical references, as thread derailment seems likely.

Oh yeah..in gigland this thing completely burns rubber in all switch positions..and did I mention that it's featherweight too?

Nice work, SLO-folks..thanks for building my bass..

--- Glad I kept the router away from my single H Sterling..

 

[EBMM7181]

I'm pretty sure that only the S.U.B. Basses were two piece. The StingRay, Sterling, & Bongo are all one piece............But I could be wrong, I've been wrong before..... once or twice

 

[kaaikop]

You mean something like this?

Mine is pretty hard to tell, if it is two pieces... really looks like one-piece, but i believe it's actually two. Pretty nice job.

 

[newtley]

You mean something like this?

Mine is pretty hard to tell, if it is two pieces... really looks like one-piece, but i believe it's actually two. Pretty nice job.

..yup..psychic twins...I see you like position 3...

 

[EBMM7181]

kaaikop's has a hipshot on it.......

 

[newtley]

If you can't beat 'em..

I'm pretty sure that only the S.U.B. Basses were two piece. The StingRay, Sterling, & Bongo are all one piece............But I could be wrong, I've been wrong before..... once or twice

..Join 'Em!

It's pretty easy to tell on those basses/guitars with finishes allowing for visible endgrain:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/1133-walk-er-join-plank.html

Impossible to observe on solid finishes, and mighty hard on basses like mine.

It's all minutia, I admit..but makes for fun lunchtime pondering..

 

[newtley]

kaaikop's has a hipshot on it.......

keen eye, matey..

 

[Moondog]

I'm pretty sure that only the S.U.B. Basses were two piece. The StingRay, Sterling, & Bongo are all one piece............But I could be wrong, I've been wrong before..... once or twice

I know 1-piece bodies are rare. I've had/have basses that do appear to
be 1-piece but are actually 2-piece. The folks @ SLO do an incredible job
mating pieces of wood/grain/shade together. It bothers me when I see
2 completely different shades matched together like some other
manufacturer's do...but that's why I love MusicMan
(& their attention to detail)

 

[Dargin]

You are more likely to find a one piece body on the Sterling.

 

[newtley]

You are more likely to find a one piece body on the Sterling.

..because the bass' namesake has a one-piece body himself..?

And one neck too! NOW I get it!! Brilliant!


seriously..would it be cuz the sterling requires a smaller dimensional piece of rough stock?

 

[hankSRay]

I heard that 1 piece bodies are acctually more prone to warping over time than the 2 piece.

 

[Kirby]

I have a Sterling that is a one piece and it is beautiful! My PBB.

 

[andynpeters]

I heard that 1 piece bodies are acctually more prone to warping over time than the 2 piece.

Never heard of a warped BODY!!! Ah well, one more thing to worry about!

 

[hankSRay]

Never heard of a warped BODY!!! Ah well, one more thing to worry about!

yeah, it probably only happens when they dont let the wood dry long enough first. More of something to worry about on basses with bad QC, not an EBMM.

 

[Kirby]

I have never heard of a body blank warping either. Maybe prior to being sealed, but the finish is so thick and tough that I find it hard to believe moisture could get in to a degree to allow warping. If you do not get enough grain filler in a body before shooting it, I have seen finishes sink to where you can see a bit of the grain, but that was with vintage lacquer finishes not the modern finishes of today.

I think you can put your mind at ease that your Ernie Ball bodies are safe from warping.

 

[kaaikop]

actually, that's the picture I wanted to show:
Can you tell it's 2 pieces!!! the guy who made this baby is an artist
(whoever you are, thank you!! this bass rocks!)

 

[Moondog]

More almost undetectable 2-pieces..

 

[Musicman Nut]

I heard that 1 piece bodies are acctually more prone to warping over time than the 2 piece.

Your right, a Multi Joined Body is done for several reasons and yours is a Primary one.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

My Trans White is a 2 piece. The matching is very good!

 

[kaaikop]

Whoa that's a nice one Gav...
That for sale?