Author Topic: Non-ebony bass fretboards? (Read 1122 times)

effclef · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2004, 06:52:20 AM »

CDF - you can have an underwater fire if there's phosphorus (and probably sodium) involved!

Ken - the Ric fingerboards I believe are bubinga. Could have sworn I saw a post to that effect by John Hall on alt.rickenbacker some time back. One reason Ric boards may wear especially well is the frets seem extra jumbo, so the strings don't rub against the lacquer when you fret the notes.

I'm really happy to see Ric still in business and still making basses in the USA. Neck-through and good attention to quality, too.

I've got a near-mint 2001 midnight blue 4003S/5 which I probably wouldn't mind selling...maybe trade for a fretted Essence +/- cash to make up the difference. Maybe I should post on the swap page here.

EffClef

cdf · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2004, 08:47:28 AM »

effclef -

Magnesium probably would do the trick too, also any reaction hot enough to break the molecular bonds and liberate the water's oxygen.

Well kinda off topic, but interesting.

More topically, I have an old kramer guitar (not especially nice) with a lacquered maple board. After several years I wore through the lacquer in many spots ( a couple dings in there too) and while I don't mind the look so much it does feel kinda uneven in places.

811952 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2004, 12:28:25 PM »

EffClef,
I remember seeing that somewhere, about the bubinga fingerboard. I used to have a 4001, and that is certainly what it looked like...

I had a MusicMan (pre EB) stingray fretless with a maple fingerboard for awhile. That's right, a fretless with a finished maple fingerboard (unlined). I wore holes through the laquer and into the maple pretty quickly, then into the wood. It must have been the same soft sugar maple the neck was made from. It was ugly and didn't work out so well. I should have had a new fingerboard put on it, but instead I sold it for cheap... I've recently given away a 5-string jazz bass I had built for me in '86 with a maple board. I couldn't stand playing on it either. Literally gave it to the neighbor kid who has shown an interest in bass... I'm with Susan...
John

kenbass4 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2004, 12:40:09 PM »

Andy and John,

The 4004 (and variations thereof) have a bubinga fingerboard. The 4001 (and now 4003) have a Rosewood fingerboard. They may have had some variations of the 4001 that had bubinga, but mine is definately rosewood.

Ken (TEO)

zappahead · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2004, 01:36:16 PM »

Ive seen plenty of places that use Bubinga, Coco Bolo, Macassar Ebony, Snake Wood,Purpleheart and Pink Ivory and a few others Im forgetting Im sure. Id imagine most or all of those could be had on an Alembic.

I would say that a maple fretboard does indeed look dirty over time, but Id have to say that maybe its a difference between guitar players and bass players because most guitar players I meet with maple fretboards actually like the dirty look. Fender makes a small fortune off of creating that dirty look on the custom shop instruments.

The one place I saw that had amazing fretboards for guitars is timtone's website. He uses bookmatched Coco Bolo and I think they look very nice. Never played one, but they are visually striking.

palembic · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2004, 01:40:10 PM »

Brother John,

I have this great idea.
I'll move over as the new neighbor-kid. I'm -obviously interested in bass- so the next bass you throw out of the window ...yeah right!!!

Paul the bad one

811952 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2004, 06:06:42 PM »

Paul TBO,
You're welcome to move in. Better yet, I'll move over there! I don't think you'll like the junk I pass out to the neighborhood kids though. I mean, this bass is, well... it's got a maple fingerboard! His family is great. They will give me a hand with anything, so it was the least I could do. Anyway, I'd love to live in Belgium. I spent one night there in '77 drinking with a Dutch friend of mine. The cobblestone streets nearly did me in! The Beer was awesome...

As for this thread, I've played a bunch of basses with Pau Ferro boards and seem to recall that they all had a throaty midrange growl. I've owned two basses with purpleheart fingerboards which had a nice full range sound with lots of fundamental and crisp harmonics. I imagine cocobolo would be similar to purpleheart and maybe even a tad brighter..
John

palembic · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2004, 11:49:42 PM »

Damn John ...you trapped me! I LOVE maple fingerboards. My first decent bass was a Tele with maple fingerboard. I loved the Curlees ...remember?? My secret-project-of-which-I-can't-say-much-yet-because-it's-too-early has to do with maple.
The point is that I have a kind of hand-palm disorder/disease: they are DRY ...too dry to be healthy in fact. The positive side on this is that my hands don't leave dirt on strings or neck. As for string worn: the project will have 'd Addario half-wounds!
So I can live with maple-neck junk, especially as they come falling out of the window! LOL

Paul the bad one

dnburgess · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2004, 02:04:45 AM »

I have really enjoyed playing my demo Excel with Pau Ferro fingerboard. It does indeed have a nice throaty midrange growl as John says - I attributed that to the set neck construction, but maybe the fingerboard has something to do with it too.

dnburgess · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2004, 02:08:36 AM »

I have really enjoyed playing my demo Excel with Pau Ferro fingerboard. It does indeed have a nice throaty midrange growl as John says - I attributed that to the set neck construction, but maybe the fingerboard has something to do with it too.

David B.

effclef · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2004, 04:57:36 AM »

Ken - looks like you are right! Ric's site lists it as rosewood. I know I have a 2001 catalog in the case so I will have to check it - I could have sworn my 4003S/5 fingerboard has that Bubinga shimmer to it. Must be the lacquer on rosewood doing it.

Just proves that Alembic's WOOD CARD is priceless, too - sure beats one's memory!

EffClef

rogertvr · « **Reply #26 on:** February 27, 2004, 06:42:34 PM »

I've been a little busy over the last few days...but to quote Valentino's post...
Roger, Sorry, but Susan says...no. To quote her I see many problems and no benefits.
I've seen many lacquered fingerboards where the lacquer cracked and looked pretty bad. Plus you'd likely have to re-lacquer the fingerboard whenever the instrument was up for a re-fret.
The best way to keep the dirt & grime off the fretboard is to play with clean hands and wiping it off with a clean cloth every time after playing, plus, of course using lemon oil periodically for a more thorough cleaning.
Valentino

I've owned my 4001 since August 1981. It was built in October 1980 and I was the first owner. Obviously instruments take a little time to traverse The Pond!

I have never ever had any trouble with either the neck, the frets or anything else on my 4001. Years ago I remember reading horror stories about string gauges etc etc. I settled down to 35-55-75-95 roundwound (Elites Stadium Stainless Steel) around 1990 (after many frustrated sets of Rotosound strings - they were rubbish) and I've stuck with Elites ever since.

My 4001 is played regularly and whilst it has some fret wear, there is nothing serious. I don't understand these postings I see on the net where people are saying that they owned a 4001 and after 6 months the neck went all out of shape or the frets wore down to the fingerboard.

The main point of my post here is that Rickenbacker, in my own case, have created a very beautiful instrument that I would run into a burning building to save. This isn't the first time I've said this in this club. That same instrument has a lacquered fingerboard that is still intact and shows no signs of age, damage or wear. It does not need re-fretting and from what I can see, it never will. Not in my lifetime anyway...

I remember playing a Gibson Grabber (?) many many years ago - it was a nice blonde maple colour but I thought that over time the whole instrument would tarnish. Nice bass, just not the sound for me and I was worried it would dis-colour in time anyway.

Surely it should be possible for a customer to order whatever they want regarding fingerboard wood, lacquered or not? Rickenbacker can manage it - I'm sure Alembic could do it too and ensure that it stays clean and the lacquer stays intact?

Best regards as always folks!

Roger the Dragon one!

ajdover · « **Reply #27 on:** February 27, 2004, 08:48:33 PM »

I've got to agree with Roger here. Like I noted in a previous post, I've had no problems whatsoever with my 4001, and it's nearly 30 years old. I previously owned two other 4001s (black, natural) in the 70's and early '80s, and I never had a problem with those basses either. Now, I don't play my Rick as much as I do my other basses, but still, I don't see a problem with lacquered fingerboards. On the other hand, I can understand why Susan and others don't want to do it - if it's not taken care of, or done right, it can wear badly and look horrible. This being said, I think Rickenbacker does it right - that's why their instruments look like they do after years of use.

For my part, I like both unlacquered and lacquered fingerboards, so it's not a big deal to me.

Alan

(Message edited by ajdover on February 27, 2004)

rockandroller · « **Reply #28 on:** February 28, 2004, 01:52:28 PM »

didn't Alembic do a bass with a 'special request' finish once? (dragged behind a harley for a couple of miles!)

or is that just a myth?

rogertvr · « **Reply #29 on:** February 29, 2004, 02:02:19 AM »

Good to see you Michael - did you know the e-mail address listed in your profile bounces? I've tried to write to you a couple of times but it just gets returned.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Cheers,

Rog