rosewood fingerboard

daddy-o496 · #1 11-19-2009, 04:43 AM

Does anyone know where I can get a real nice rosewood fingerboard for a 3/4 double bass? I have tried all of my usual suspects. Thanx, daddy-o496(Vic).

AMJBASS · #2 11-19-2009, 06:08 AM

While I don't have a lead on rosewood fingerboards, I wonder why you would want to go this route? Rosewood works well for electric basses/guitars, but it is a little soft for Double Bass. Ebony is still(and probably always will be) the premier choice for sound/durability.

**joinercape** · #3 11-23-2009, 01:24 PM

I agree, I had a rosewood board on my old Kay, don't know if it was original but it was OLD, it grooved easily and had to be planed every few years. Go with ebony, even a cheap (reletively speaking) ebony board will be better. Maybe with gut strings rosewood would hold up OK, don't know about that. But do it once, do it right.....

Fletcher Lanning · #4 11-23-2009, 01:43 PM

With a name like daddy-o, I might put in a guess that he plays Rockabilly of some sort; in which case many slappers prefer rosewood. The slap hits and resonates a little stronger on softer wood, hence non-ebony fingerboard.

**joinercape** · #5 11-23-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flanning

With a name like daddy-o, I might put in a guess that he plays Rockabilly of some sort; in which case many slappers prefer rosewood. The slap hits and resonates a little stronger on softer wood, hence non-ebony fingerboard.

I guess that makes sense....but I had to replace the rosewood board on my fretless Fender Jazz after a year also, the grooves drove me nuts. The ebony board has been going strong now for almost three years. But for the record, a great local player here has an old flatback upright with a rosewood board, and his has been fine for the twenty-odd years he has been playing it. Each to their own. Maybe my technique needs work....

Wallyphonic · #6 11-23-2009, 11:55 PM

I asked the same question on this forum back in July. The only suggestion I got was for the "exotic hardwood" boards from engelhardt which are light colored and kind of thin. I'm still looking for an actual rosewood board, new or used.

MR PC · #7 11-24-2009, 12:37 AM

Many Azola basses have very nice rosewood boards. Though I don't think that the folks at Azola Basses will sell you a rosewood board, you could call them and ask about a source. It may be that they carve/machine the boards themselves.

http://www.azola.com/sys-tmpl/newmodels/

Fletcher Lanning · #8 11-24-2009, 01:47 AM

Near most major cities you should be able to find supplier who can special order exotic woods. Find any local woodworker\furniture maker\luthier\etc. and ask them who they buy from. It might even be the better way to go, as you never know what you're getting online.