The "brass" is in fact (I think) a brass alloy, harder than brass. I find the sustain on my THE 78 and THE 78/12 absolutely huge (Max has played my 6 and agreed on that), and they are both full of bass as well but also with a shimmering top end. I'm sure that neither of those has a veneer on the top, rather the top is dyed to resemble mahogany but is spruce or cedar.

Do NOT overstring the THE78s - my 6 I bowed by putting 13/58s on so it now sports a bridge doctor, and my 12 had been strung with 13/56s (in concert, on a 12!) from new when I got it and also now sports a bridge doctor.

It's the top bout (not the bottom) that is small on the L9, L99 and L999.