The Miracle of Photoshop....

So - here's a mockup of what the Winter project body will look like....

The core will be mahogany, the front and back facings will be spalted maple (is it pronounced 'shpalted', or 'ssspalted'?? whatever.) with a layer of black veneer between the core and facings.

Still working out the details - hardware, neck, etc. - but it's a good visual start.

EDIT: Okay, the top pic is if I rotate the maple top 180 degrees. This way, it shows more of the spalt, but doesn't have that matching center spalt area right behind the bridge. Decisions, decisions....

So, this is what the top of the new bass will look like. 1/4" Spalted Maple, bookmatched facings. I'm still debating about the rest of the wood - my mahogany core is 3/4" thick, and adding these on, we're at 1". I need to get the body up to 1-3/4 inch or approximately 40mm thick, so I may get some 3/4" maple for the back. The problem is: where to get it.

I could also tweak the laminate sammitch a bit - add some dyed black veneer between the spalted top and the mahogany in front, and between the core and whatever wood I use for the back. Sort of an 'accent line'.

I'm really starting to think a maple or ash - 3/4" - for the back, and also the lighter wood would help match the spalt of the maple. (also be 'affordable'...ifyaknowwhutimean...)