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Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: Flatwoundbass on September 06, 2011, 12:20:05 PM

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: Flatwoundbass on September 06, 2011, 12:20:05 PM

Hi all,
 
I have a '97 Epic 5 with what appears to be a veneer between the maple neck and the ebony fingerboard...It seems to be the same wood that is used on my headstock veneer, which is not walnut(?), which is what the body top is.  Is there a particular species of wood commonly used for this under the fingerboard/headstock application?  Attached is a headstock pic, but the strip under the fingerboard may prove difficult to get a good photo of...
Any opinions/information greatly appreciated!
 
-Steve(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/112655.jpg)

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: mica on September 06, 2011, 12:31:18 PM

The veneer was usually Walnut. On the original style of LED installation, there were two veneers, typically Maple and Walnut or Maple and Purpleheart.  
 
This was termed sacrificial veneer and it was intended to make future (and inevitable) repairs easier. We stopped doing it I think in about 1999 or 2000, as we improved techniques for removing fingerboards, and the clean look of the Ebony right to the edge of the neck was, well, cleaner! It also allows for the fingerboard to be thicker by the thickness of the veneer.

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: Flatwoundbass on September 06, 2011, 12:43:06 PM

Thanks, Mica!
 
Great to hear it straight from the source...does the headstock veneer look like walnut to you as well?

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: mica on September 06, 2011, 12:46:01 PM

Yes, that looks like Flame Walnut. It could also be Flame Koa, but it doesn't quite look like Koa to me.

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: Flatwoundbass on September 06, 2011, 01:34:56 PM

Thanks again for the mystery solving!...here's a final one...got a guess on the top wood?
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/112661.jpg)

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: tmoney61092 on September 06, 2011, 01:38:13 PM

Walnut
 
~Taylor

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: Flatwoundbass on September 06, 2011, 01:48:03 PM

Just plain walnut, or would this be considered burl or flame or ???

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: mica on September 06, 2011, 02:36:56 PM

California Walnut

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: Flatwoundbass on September 08, 2011, 09:53:55 AM

Thanks Mica for your expertise and helpfulness!

Title: Veneer under fingerboard?
Post by: hifiguy on September 08, 2011, 10:13:10 AM

Now that was interesting!  I've always wondered why there seemed to be a paper thin maple veneer between the fretboard and neck of my '97 Stanley Sig Std. even though it doesn't have LEDs.