is black walnut a usable wood for a fingerboard? warmoth is saying it is not for some reason. my school has some huge slabs of walnut that i could make an entier bass out of one unbroken peice.

Of course its suitable! why not? if i'm missing something someone tell me

Possible, but not the best choice. There are more inexpensive, more dense woods that would make a better choice. Basically, it just boils down to availability. Black Walnut is relatively uncommon in my area.

Black walnut would not be my first choice for a fret board, but would be serviceable none the less. If you have a light enough touch anything will do. The problems with softer woods run from early wear to frets that loosen in the kerf. Hard close grained woods are preferred for this task, and I mean hard in the sense of "hard" not "hardwood". Balsa is a "hardwood".

Greg N

I wouldn't use it, personally. Softer woods also compress around the fret tang under pressure. It's such a structurally/functionally important part of the bass. You can get jatoba or purpleheart for cheap, use some of that.

ok. was looking for a nice alternative fingerboard. don't have the cash for ebony of rose wood. maple is awsome, just don't want to do all my fb in maple. what are some accetable fingerboard woods?

what are some acceptable fingerboard woods?

Jatoba and purpleheart have already been mentioned...

As an aside, rosewood isn't expensive, per se... at least the East Indian stuff isn't too bad... but here are a few alternatives (can't speak for cost on all of these, although I've used several bloodwood fingerboards, and haven't found it to be too spendy):

Pau Ferro
Wenge
Bloodwood
Cocobolo
Bocote

fender had an elite range in the 80's where they replaced maple with walnut. they had some 1pc walnut necks. i wouldnt use it as its not that hard, but it can be used.

iVe seen purpleheard used as fretboards a few times and I think that is a cheap wood there so you wouldnt have any problem getting a piece large enough for a fretboard.

Jatoba and purpleheart have already been mentioned...

As an aside, rosewood isn't expensive, per se... at least the East Indian stuff isn't too bad... but here are a few alternatives (can't speak for cost on all of these, although I've used several bloodwood fingerboards, and haven't found it to be too spendy):

Pau Ferro
Wenge
Bloodwood
Cocobolo
Bocote

big fan of the bloodwood:)

big fan of the bloodwood:)

Yeah, I have a ton of that stuff hanging around... well, not actuall a ton, but 2 or 3 good long boards at least 8" wide... Probably around 18 board feet... also 6 or 8 fingerboard blanks. So, one may notice a trend in my next several "stock" instruments... ;)

Funny that woods like bloodwood and purpleheart are exported from Perú and its close to a big ZERO the chances that I have to find those at Lima. :mad:

Funny that woods like bloodwood and purpleheart are exported from Perú and its close to a big ZERO the chances that I have to find those at Lima. :mad:

Well that sucks.

I too am a big fan of Bloodwood. Swamp Ash bodies with hard Maple necks and bloodwood fingerboards are one of my favorite combos.

Yeah, I have a ton of that stuff hanging around... well, not actuall a ton, but 2 or 3 good long boards at least 8" wide... Probably around 18 board feet... also 6 or 8 fingerboard blanks. So, one may notice a trend in my next several "stock" instruments... ;)

cool. i will be checking around ebay, but if i don't find something i like, would you be interested in selling a bloodwood board? think i might do a 32" scale with block inlays of pearl, abolone, black ebony, or some nice figured maple

Well that sucks.

I too am a big fan of Bloodwood. Swamp Ash bodies with hard Maple necks and bloodwood fingerboards are one of my favorite combos.

yummy!

Funny that woods like bloodwood and purpleheart are exported from Perú and its close to a big ZERO the chances that I have to find those at Lima. :mad:

Grab your ax and head for the hills!

Greg N

Are there any alternatives to ebony and rosewood that are local and more abundant, but still hard enough to be fretless?

Possible, but not the best choice. There are more inexpensive, more dense woods that would make a better choice. Basically, it just boils down to availability. Black Walnut is relatively uncommon in my area.

growing up in western PA...black walnut is everywhere there...it's not an availability thing...there are many much scarcer woods being employed for fingerboards.

for a good domestic wood fingerboard, look at what steve wishnevsky is doing (learn from wish? what???)...yes...use black locust...that stuff is TOUGH!

Are there any alternatives to ebony and rosewood that are local and more abundant, but still hard enough to be fretless?There was thread a while back that dealt with trying to build using North American domestic woods only. Fretboards were discussed. A search on "domestic fretboard" or "domestic fingerboard" will hopefully turn it up.

try doing a search on"walnut fingerboard" I found it used on mandolins,banjos,dulcimers,& acoustic guitars.I have used it on 2 bass guitars,with no problems yet (2 years).All I can say is glue them down & finish the fingerboard.

I used Walnut for my 6 string fretless bass, finished with poly. Still holding up fine.

I'm in the process of building another 6 stringer but fretted this time, also with walnut fingerboard/fretboard... I think with a little ca glue in the fret slots just before pressing will harden the wood up enough, only time will tell.

Ipe wood is sold through lumber yards and is used for building outdoor decks. it is super hard and comes in a good size 3/4" thick x 3" wide. You could probably pick a nice quatersawn piece and the yard may even have a 3' piece lying around. This would make a nice FB and it would be cheap/local. If you know any carpenters ask them for scrap/cut offs. If you use walnut for a fretted neck try Super Gluing the frets in that may help hold them in place.

as aka nameless said, poly it. most any board is doable with a thick enough poly finish, and almost every poly fretless I've played sounded vey good. cant compete with wenge or ziricote.. but little can, IMO

Is purpleheart or bloodwood a good choice for fretless?
They're both domestic, aren't they?

:D

Both are from South America.

:D

Both are from South America.

domestic for a Brazilian ;)

Is purpleheart or bloodwood a good choice for fretless?
They're both domestic, aren't they?

i hopeso, cuase i want my neck one to be a fretless with a bloodwood fingerboard. hey, would i need to put a finish on the board? my plan is to start with the board being flat, and radiousing it if i don't like it.