Author Topic: Apply POLESTER RESIN to fretless fingerboard to reduce string abrasion? (Read 386 times)

mothman · « **on:** August 31, 2004, 06:38:28 AM »

I own a 5 string fretless Alembic Bass. For quite some time I've been concerned about the extreme abrasion that round wound strings make in my ebony fingerboard. I've tried flat wound, and other hybrid types of strings, but the sound did not suit me at all.

I was talking with a very highly respected pro player, and he recommended applying POLESTER RESIN to the fingerboard, and said this has solved the problem for him.

I'm going to try this, but will make some test applications first on other woods, because I really don't want to screw up my baby.

Any suggestions? Better Brands of Resin? Thanks in Advance

son_of_magni · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2004, 01:00:05 PM »

Keep in mind this WILL change the sound of the instrument. I think Pedulla uses something called Diamondcoat (something like that)...

bob · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2004, 10:02:05 PM »

Ditto. It is going to change the sound radically (I tried one of those Pedullas years ago). If the sound of flats doesn't agree with you, then my guess is there's a good chance you'll like the difference.

Maybe you'll like it, maybe not, but it seems like - to you - it would be worth trying. Worst case, you could send it back (or elsewhere) to have the fingerboard replaced. And if it works, you won't have to deal with those pesky lemon oil treatments...

haddimudd · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2004, 05:09:34 AM »

Funny, I just posted a comment about a similar issue on my Fender JB upgrade thread:

http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/12355.html?1094039192

I just recently heard about the fact that supposedly Jaco covered his defretted fingerboard with epoxy resin and that's how the Jaco Fender Relic JB is offered. So my conclusion is that if you like the Jaco MWAH sound you may like this change to sound on your fingerboard too. At least that is what I am trying to investigate for my JB upgrade.

Personally, on a fretless I am really more after the Jaco sound rather than the mushy flatwound (upright) sound (but that of course depends on the kind of music you make). I used flatwound when I started playing bass (half a life ago) and I didn't like it at all. Roundwounds with all the clear overtones are what I like best on my fretless basses. So I am sure the epoxy/polyester solution would be a good direction.

My next question of course is: How do I propperly apply a smooth and even layer of epoxy or polyester to the fingerboard?

Hartmut

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2004, 11:36:20 AM »

If you're happy with the way the bass sounds, I wouldn't put any coating on it. True, roundwounds (and all strings) will wear on the board, but they are very thick and can handle many resurfacings before needing replacing. Currently, a fretless fingerboard replacement (without LEDs) runs $450-550.

Of course, anything that isn't harder than the strings will wear, and things that are harder than the strings will wear the strings.

We just made a new fretless Orion bass for Trip (he has that big 8-string Ocean Blue in the Featured Custom archive) with our hard polyester finish in the fingerboard. He's only had it for about a week, but I'll ask him how it's wearing and how the sound is different to his ears.

haddimudd · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2004, 12:43:14 PM »

Yes, I really wonder how an Alembic would profit from the fretboard polyester coating since it sounds great already, at least the one I have. I never looked at the surface coating option for wear reasons since I never felt the wear on my Alembic fretless board affects the tonal quality at all. To me it is rather a tonal issue for lower quality necks such as the fender I am trying to get up to par.

But since there is an Alembic fretless with a polyester fretboard out now of course I am curious to hear how this sounds different compared to the common fretless Alembic.

But then again this is a whole new idea to me anyways which I just recently learned about. Curious to hear more experiences about it...

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2004, 01:59:03 PM »

Ok, I just heard back from Trip. His observations are that the coated board has a much more emphasized second harmonic and it's excellent for harmonic slides. He thinks the unfinished board is more open sounding. He loooooves his new fretless very much - played the first gig with it last night. Got lots of positive reaction from the band and the audience.

He should have this bass at Bass Quake, if anyone will be out here for that event.

kmh364 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2004, 03:40:08 PM »

Mica:

How about posting some pix of Trip Walmsley's new bass for the Pavlovian Alembic masses that drool everytime the new custom Alembic bell is rung?

Pretty please with sugar on top? LOL!

dannobasso · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2004, 07:20:38 PM »

Congrats to Trip on his new bass! Please support him and buy his cd's! A true gentleman who allowed me to try his 8 str. at NAMM when he was working GK. I wonder when the new Atomic Opera will be out?

Oh BTW I had a Kubiki necked Schedua lined fretless (badass, emg's) coated with a Swedish Epoxy. It wore really well but the neck was schiet, so I sold it!
Danno

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2004, 01:21:40 PM »

Here's Trip's new bass:

and a detail of the finerboard finish:

It's very shiny! (Message edited by mica on September 28, 2004)

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 29, 2004, 07:16:54 AM »

Very nice. Thanks for the pix, Mica.

BTW, what would this finish do for the sound and playability of a FRETTED instrument? How much would it cost to do said finish (new order during construction and a finish job on an existing instrument)?

mica · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2004, 10:52:26 AM »

Checked with James on this, neither of us are too crazy about doing this on a fretted bass, at least not with this particular finish.

On an Alembic, you're not going to impact the tone of a fretted instrument with changing the fingerboard wood or even finishing the fingerboard since the sound isn't created by touching the fingerboard but rather the fret.

I don't think there would be any playability impact on a fretted bass. Sure it would feel a little different to the pad of your fretting finger, but the frets are still going to be in the same place as they would be on an unfinished board.

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2004, 04:05:22 PM »

Thanks Mica...I just figured it would look cool a la Rickenbacker.

haddimudd · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2004, 12:25:05 AM »

Does it make a difference whether you'd use polyester or epoxy on the fingerboard?

If you had to finish an entirely unlaquered neck from scratch, would you just go over the whole thing with the same finish or rather treat it like a normal finishing job where you'd protect the fingerboard from the neck finish and later epoxy the neck seperately?