Check out this interview with Mike Lull below is the link and the two questions on lighter woods.
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/12/15/custom-shop-an-interview-with-mike-lull/ What are some of the lighter woods, for those with back issues?
Louisiana Southern Ash, which is what swamp ash is, varies in weight dramatically. The bottom portion of the tree is very light, while the middle is kind of medium weight the top of the tree is heavy. We’ve all seen vintage Fender basses from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s that weighed thirteen pounds and were just exceedingly heavy. That was just a different portion of the tree that was being used.
Most of the lightweight alder is gone. Lightweight alder would be old growth stuff. Most of that wood is gone, because alder was considered a firewood over here on the West Coast in particular, and those groves of those big trees are gone and they’re using newer wood. We’re chambering our alder bodies to get the weight the way we want it to be, which is coming in at about seven and a half to eight pounds. Some are a little lighter, some a little heavier, but nothing is over nine pounds. The five-strings come in between eight and nine pounds. By chambering the alder bodies, we’re able to keep that weight factor down, which makes them sound much more like the vintage basses from the ‘50s and ‘60s. So weight is a big factor.
It’s interesting that the actual part of the tree makes all the difference.
Yeah, I was taught that by a lumber guy years ago. I always wanted the lightest weight swamp ash and figured, it was the swamp ash tree! Just cut me some good pieces off of it! [laughs] He said, “No, no, no. You don’t understand. This 30% of the tree down here is nice and lightweight. That’s what everybody wants. The middle of the tree is another 25% heavier, and the top of the tree is all heavyweight stuff.” They can’t pick and choose the tree. These lumber guys get a tree, cut it up and they have to use it. You have to pick and choose what it is you’re getting from these guys.
