Cocobolo fretboard??

LightGroove · #1 08-28-2009, 09:11 PM

Hey now,

Getting back in the Roscoe world

The bass I'm purchasing is swamp ash with a quilted top and cocobolo fretboard.Also has Roscoe barts and an aggie obp3 pre.

Not familiar with cocobolo and wondered what I could expect or compare it to. Also any thoughts on what I can expect from this combo.

Thanks

bassteban · #2 08-28-2009, 09:42 PM

I had a fretless Stambaugh 4 w/a cocobolo fingerboard; it had a freegin GREAT sound(sold it as I didn't play 4s much at the time

I totally regret the sale..). I can't say what coco does to the tone, though Chris(the builder)doesn't think finger/fretboard material has a huge impact on tone. That said, 9 times out of 10 I've liked rosewood or mac ebony-boarded basses. I've recently picked up 2 maple-board basses though, including a fretless- love them both.

JOME77 · #3 08-29-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

Hey now,

Getting back in the Roscoe world

The bass I'm purchasing is swamp ash with a quilted top and cocobolo fretboard.Also has Roscoe barts and an aggie obp3 pre.

Not familiar with cocobolo and wondered what I could expect or compare it to. Also any thoughts on what I can expect from this combo.

Thanks

Everything figures into the equation of the overall tone but IMO the Roscoe fingerboard probably has the least effect on the tone due to the fact that it's not a real thick FB. That being said, I do believe that it adds greatly to the stability of the neck. I've had 3 Roscoe's with the cocobolo fingerboard and all 3 have been very stable. And I love the look of cocobolo on the fingerboard.
Based on your spec's, that should be a fairly aggressive sounding Roscoe. The ash is very "in your face" sounding and the Aggie is an aggressive sounding pre. The Roscoe Bart's will darken/compress the overall tone some but I think that it'll all blend to produce a nice overall tone. If you want to open it up a bit you can always add some Bart CB's or Nord's.
Post some pic's when it arrives!

Gard · #4 08-29-2009, 07:37 AM

^ what he said.

(...Joe, you anglin' for my gig man?

)

To my ears, the fingerboard seems to affect the attack of the note more than anything else, the actual "body" of the tone comes more from the rest of the bass. I find cocobolo fingerboards to be similar in attack to ebony, sort of deep/snappy sounding - and it's much more stable than ebony too!

**Ryan L.** · #5 08-29-2009, 08:14 AM

If I had seen a picture of cocobolo like that 4 string that just got completed had on it, I'd have gone with it over the wenge that mine will have. I had no idea it could be so beautiful as a fretboard wood (with the sapwood in it like that one has).

Oh well. Wenge is "tried and true" for me.

LightGroove · #6 08-29-2009, 08:23 AM

This bass was originally owned by ghiadub by way of bass and beyond...

LightGroove · #7 08-29-2009, 08:28 AM

2 more from the current owner....Cocobolo closeup

**JxBass** · #8 08-29-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

The bass I'm purchasing is swamp ash with a quilted top and cocobolo fretboard.

Not familiar with cocobolo and wondered what I could expect or compare it to. Also any thoughts on what I can expect from this combo.

Rob Allen uses a cocobolo fingerboard (and bridge) on the standard 4-string model of his highly-regarded MB-2 basses. Rob is an artist and true lover of wood, he wouldn't use cocobolo if he didn't value its beauty and tonal character.

**Freddels** · #9 06-17-2010, 12:47 PM

I love my LG3000 with the Cocobolo board. I am thinking about a fretless and Cocobolo definitely comes to mind for the fb. How will it stand up as a fretless with roundwound strings?

JOME77 · #10 06-18-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I love my LG3000 with the Cocobolo board. I am thinking about a fretless and Cocobolo definitely comes to mind for the fb. How will it stand up as a fretless with roundwound strings?

It's really beautiful and sounds awesome on a fretted but don't even think about it Fred! Nothing beats the tone and durability of diamondwood.

In answer to you question though ...Here's what one well known bass builder says:

Part of the Rosewood family, Coco Bolo makes an excellent fretless fingerboard. It's not quite as hard as Ebony, but you still shouldn't have to replace your fingerboard for many years. Our fingerboards are supplied as unfinished, and some people are sensitive to the oils in Coco Bolo. Coco Bolo is not suitable for those with sensitive skin. Like any unfinished fingerboard, Coco Bolo needs to be oiled once or twice a year to replace the heavy turpines and other large molecules that evaporate over time.
spacer As with all Rosewood fingerboards, Coco Bolo wears well and has a very slightly tacky touch. It's a good middle ground between Ebony and Pau Ferro. It offers a fair amount of growl without much effort, but retains access to more melodic sounds.
spacer

**Freddels** · #11 06-18-2010, 08:00 PM

The diamondwood just isn't as pretty. I could always bring it over to Mike Pedulla and have him coat it.

Maybe Macasser Ebony with plenty of brown streaks would be an option.

JOME77 · #12 06-18-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

The diamondwood just isn't as pretty. I could always bring it over to Mike Pedulla and have him coat it.

Maybe Macasser Ebony with plenty of brown streaks would be an option.

Oh, then you've obviously not seen BEM diamondwood!

**Freddels** · #13 06-18-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Oh, then you've obviously not seen BEM diamondwood!

The pic of the one I saw just looked plain light brown. Maybe it was the lighting. The rainbow looks interesting.

Darkstrike · #14 06-18-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Oh, then you've obviously not seen BEM diamondwood!

BEM diamond is awesome.

I like my regular diamondwood, but its mostly black.

JOME77 · #15 06-19-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

BEM diamond is awesome.

I like my regular diamondwood, but its mostly black.

I've seen some black diamondwood that looks awesome too. It can have some real neat patterns in it too.

I guess that I could be the exception, but I've always really loved the way that the black diamondwood looked. Of course I've always thought that just a plain black ebony board looked very classy on a bass.

Darkstrike · #16 06-19-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

I've seen some black diamondwood that looks awesome too. It can have some real neat patterns in it too.

I guess that I could be the exception, but I've always really loved the way that the black diamondwood looked. Of course I've always thought that just a plain black ebony board looked very classy on a bass.

I hear ya, and I agree, it can look really cool.

And yup, nothing quite like a blank black slab of ebony to say class.

LilRay · #17 06-19-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Oh, then you've obviously not seen BEM diamondwood!

I have

Looks awesome too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I hear ya, and I agree, it can look really cool.

And yup, nothing quite like a blank black slab of ebony to say class.

I wonder if the shop got ahold of some of the rainbow stuff, what tops/colors would work well?

I bet a "Standard" ash body in Natural with Rainbow Diamondwood would be jaw dropping.

Especially with the Rainbow Brite Strings Gard had on his Century

God Bless, Ray

Darkstrike · #18 06-19-2010, 08:08 AM

Hmm, that new white with the grain showing would be incredible, with rainbow diamondwood.

**Freddels** · #19 06-19-2010, 10:34 AM

I read some threads in the Luthier's section and there are many good posts about Cocobolo for fretless. Hmmm.