It's one of the only times you'll actually see the wood in the neck:

Danno;
Another one? Dude, I'm not worthy!!
Good luck. Looking forward to watching this one grow up!!
 
The 'Ho...

This one will be maple top 5,  lined fretless, ebony board, rouge guts, side led's, bridge block, black finish. If you talk to Susan or Mica long enough........ you just end up ordering one. I just have to be careful of that series 2 phone call!  
I wanted a fretless I could play out with that was in keeping with my usual stage set up. The 7 is very out of place in a heavy situation.

One of the last times you'll see it, but you'll foverever know there's some nice Flame Maple tucked under the finish:

Gracious but you folks are fast! Thanks for the update. Have a great  day and give my best to all in the mothership. Btw, I ordered and received 10 Kay mugs and a tote bag to tide me over. Great graphics on the mugs folks!  
Danno

Why in the world would you cover up that top!
   Why o why, ooohh the humanity

Be assured I have my reasons and I have more than ample figured, quilted and flamed instruments. Flamed & Quilted Maple, Figured Walnut, Flame Koa, Cocobolo, Vermillion, inlays, initials, leds, 4,5,6 and 7 bangers, black, almost black, saphire blue, red finishes, pinstripe, deluxe purpleheart, neck thru and set, Excel, Spoiler, Essence, Europa- Distillate, Signature guts, AXY, MXY, Fatboy all courtesy of the artisans from Santa Rosa. But only the Black (and nearly black) Beauties get to go on tour.

I dig Danno, but is it a tone thing that you notice with the flame maple or could you have gone with a plain top? Just curious as I'm very aware of your killer collection.

From what I've seen of Danno's website, I think black is probably the only colour that would fit ;-)
 
graeme

The folks at the mothership pick out the top. I think that they like to build the best instrument possible.  If someday I  choose to have a refinish done, I know what to expect and the beauty will be there.
(but it don't come cheap as we all know) If I had a wife and kids I would not have a collection.

Would it be possible to do the black hardware?  
Does it wear off easily or is it as durable as chrome?
Also what would be the last possible moment left to change my mind and make it fretted? I think my mind is playing tricks on me since the lunar eclipse!

Black is possible, but chrome is harder. I haven't seen the black wear off easily, but then again, we done far fewer blackend brass than any other plating on hardware.  
 
The last possible moment is now. The neck is ready for the fingerboard. I just talked to Bob and put a note on the neck that it might change to fretted. So the bass won't proceed until I hear from you fretted or fretless. Either one is fine, just tell me what you want.

Let's go with the fretless. I think 3 fretted excels and a spoiler should be enough for touring. Also we'll stick with the origional hardware setup. Had a mental hiccup there or was it hormones?
The lined ebony with no inlays will be perfect for the look I've grown to love.

Yeah you don't want them speed bumps!

Danno, .....I so, so, hear you.