Not much different, the maple top, fungus or not, might give it some added attack, the phatter bridge some added sustain. But if truth be told that bass sounded good from day one. The limba soft wood it is made out of is dent-prone as hell, but so resonant that even my luthier was impressed. He finished it poly rather than nitro to make it a bit harder on the surface. The Epi off the rack, even with Epi pups, puts the eighties Explorers of Gibson to shame as regards authority, sustain and attack. No comparison. Equipped with TB Plus pups it becomes snarlier and more focused, think of a Ric with the warm fullness of a TBird. Recommended even without silly fungus wood and pimp hardware!