Author Topic: Wood a.k.a.'s (Read 512 times)

jalevinemd · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2004, 08:03:54 PM »

Ellery,

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not the wood.

Jonathan

lowlife · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2004, 02:11:05 PM »

OK, I couldn't wait any longer. Last night, which was about 7 days, I decided to play my Excel. No, my fingers did not fall off of my hand, and I felt no itch at all. I played for about 90 minutes, and after cleaning the bass, I also washed my hands with antiseptic soap, just to be on the safe side.

This morning however, the itch had returned to the same area, and I'm sure before tomorrow, the rash will have reappeared.

Is it the wood? Is is something in the case? I don't honestly know,

A) I can sell the bass, take the monetary loss and the loss of a work of art.
B) I can keep the bass and not play it; looks nicer than any Persian rug I own.
C) I can keep the base, play it anyway and keep scratching.

If there are any other options that I've missed, your feedback is most welcome.

Ellery (Itchy Lowlife)

David Houck · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2004, 02:39:31 PM »

D) Send the bass to Santa Rosa and have a new fretboard installed.

bob · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2004, 03:13:49 PM »

E) Apply some sort of clear sealer coat. I can't make a specific recommendation, but there are a number of things that would leave you with a natural appearance, yet might provide just enough protection to save your fingers - or at least enough to be an improvement.

But before you do anything drastic, wait and see whether you have visual evidence in the morning, rather than just a funny feeling. The mind plays games, and you're understandably anxious about this, but it's somewhat harder to fake a rash.

Still, I expect you're right, in which case I also like option D better than your first three.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2004, 05:23:09 PM »

Ellery,

I bumped into my friend at the hospital today and she asked how you were doing. Sorry to hear about the latest results from the Alembic Center for the Advancement of Contact Dermatitis. I like Dave's idea the best...a new fretboard is just what the doctor ordered. Chin up!

Sincerely,

Jonathan

lowlife · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2004, 01:04:45 PM »

So this guy goes to the doctor and says, 'I get this rash everytime I touch this wood.' And the doctor says, 'So don't touch the wood.'
Ba-rum-pum
Okay, okay, I won't quit my day job.

Dave, Jonathan, you're both correct that a new fretboard would solve the problem, but then this bass would no longer have the same growl or bite, which is one of it's outstanding features. I kid you not, it's that deep harsh sound that sold me, and without the Pao ferro fretboard the sound will be sacrificed IMHO.

Ellery (Lowlife)

David Houck · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2004, 01:49:04 PM »

You might want to consider getting Mica's opinion about the sound of your bass and how it might change with different woods for the fretboard. She's definitely an expert and she may have suggestions that might not occur to the rest of us. There does exist the possibility that this unfortunate problem may result in a rewarding solution.

lowlife · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2004, 01:57:53 PM »

Dave, you're right and I firmly believe that there are no accidents.

Mica, if you're listening, do you have any suggestions to offer?

Ellery (Lowlife)

bsee · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2004, 02:10:46 PM »

Is pau ferro the only wood with that tonal property? I doubt it. You don't have to swap to ebony, but maybe some other material could still provide the tone you need without the itch. What other woods are rock-hard that could become a fretboard? Purpleheart? Bubinga? Anything really hard in the Rosewood family?

I did a little poking around and found a site that says Brazilian Walnut is very similar to Pau Ferro in tonal properties. I wonder if Alembic can get a small sample of this wood for you to see and handle for a few days to see if it makes you itch?

lowlife · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2004, 02:25:08 PM »

There is another point that I must consider.
I was/am alergic to dogs, and I have two.
I was/am alergic to cats, and I have two.
I chose to sneeze, itch, etc for a long period of time and fortunately, I became desensitized.

That having been said, it is possible that with continued exposure, the same thing could happen with pau ferro.

Since I'm not ready to alter the bass, I guess that it's worth a try. Purpleheart would look stunning on a fretboard though.

Ellery (Lowlife)

hollis · « **Reply #25 on:** June 11, 2004, 02:57:53 PM »

So Doc, tell me will I be able to play violin?.... Ba da bash! Ba da chee!

Sealing is out of the question?