Carving a Spalted top body?

[Michael Icefire]

This is about the cap, so I guess counts as a finishing question..
Wondering if anyone has tried to carve a spalted top, to round the horns and body edges? I will attach a pic or 2 so you can see what I am talking about. I know I would lose a bit of the cap in those areas, but I've seen some that blended that into the design well. The second pic shows one barely carved...

Look at the back of the one in the case, The front edges around the horns would have some body wood showing, like that...I like spalted tops, but don't like flat bodies that well...

[pablopepper]

The spalt cap will only be about 1mm thick. any carving will go straight through into the basswood or whatever is underneath, but if you're okay with that, then it's up to you. That said, you're considering an Ib-5 yeah? They have nice rounded, contoured bodies like the more expensive Ibanez Soundgears. Not exactly a flat top.

[ultpanzi]

The second pic isnt a veneer. Its a thick top alternate wood allowing for carving. If youre going to go for it, watch out for binding. If you have binding, dont try to sand through it, cut it to the curve you want first so youre only carving through wood. Its not 100% necessary but it gives you a little more control. Hope this helps and have fun carving it up!!

[Michael Icefire]

I thought the IB-5 with a spalted top came flat like the IB-6. Are you saying it comes rounded like a ash IB-5? That will help me a lot if it already comes that way. There are no pics anywhere of the special order IB-5S to compare...

[pablopepper]

Oh right, didn't think of that. Can't say I've seen a spalt top Ib-5. I'm pretty sure the top on an Ib-6 isn't flat like, say a telecaster top. There is still some contouring going on, just not fully curved off like the ash 5 stringer.

[Michael Icefire]

I don't know either, just going by this pic of the IB-6, thought the IB-5 spalted would be very similar. Check out the body pic of the 6 on the bass page, looks flat in the pix..

[pablopepper]

Here's Lawry's. Bit better angle om this pic.

[Michael Icefire]

Looks like he may have shaped its bit, just what I want to do if needed.

[pablopepper]

That's how the kit comes standard bro.

[wokkaboy]

yes Michael the IB6 does come like that, the edges are contoured back and front.
If the IB-5S follows the same shape as the IB-5 then it could be more rounded than the IB-6 but the IB-5 is a slightly smaller body