Fretless necks

Elchupacabra · #1 03-06-2009, 06:03 PM

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I had a question about fretless necks. I've recently been considering purchasing one for my J-Bass, but I love roundwounds and would hate to give up using them. I recently saw a video of Tony Franklin talking about his P-Bass, and he mentioned that the ebony fretboard allows him to use roundwounds without it being destroyed. I've never heard this before, so I wanted to ask you guys about this.

El Beardo · #2 03-06-2009, 06:08 PM

Ebony fingerboards are a bit harder than say rosewood for example, making it more suitable for roundwound strings. However I've played a used Gary Willis Ibanez(fretless ebony fingerboard) and it was kind of chewed up from roundwounds but not bad enough to effect how it played.

**line6man** · #3 03-06-2009, 06:47 PM

Roundwounds WILL destroy your fingerboard, even if its Ebony.
Ebony will last alot longer than rosewood, but give it time and it will still wear out.
The only other option is an epoxy coating to protect the fingerboard.

If you like roundwound strings, play them...
You will need to sand the fingerboard down every-so-often, but its much better to do that for the beautiful roundwound sound that you like than to settle for the dead sound of flatwounds on an instrument that *in theory* would last forever without fingerboard damage.
Use your instrument the way you want it, and be happy with it.
If the strings destroy the fingerboard, sand it or epoxy it.

My last Warmoth neck was epoxy coated, but for the build i am working on right now, i choose to go for a raw Pau Ferro fingerboard. I am just going to deal with the string wear and enjoy my neck until it's time to have it sanded.

wilsonn · #4 03-06-2009, 07:18 PM

^+1 I have a rosewood fretless board and playing rounds. I am on Thor's waiting list for an epoxy, but in the meantime I'm just enjoying the bass. Yes, there's a little wear, but it would take lots of playing to impact playability. And that can be dealt with by sanding. You could sand several times before a new fingerboard would be needed.

And all you guys on Thor's list ahead of me: you don't really want epoxy. Drop off the list so I don't have to wait two years.

Neal

Elchupacabra · #5 03-06-2009, 09:41 PM

How about halfwounds? I've never played them before, but how would they affect the fretboard (ebony)?

Mr. Ray · #6 03-06-2009, 09:54 PM

It would take you a very long time to wear thru an ebony board.

Elchupacabra · #7 03-13-2009, 08:06 PM

Also, what are some good neck brands out there besides Warmoth?

Mr. Ray · #8 03-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elchupacabra

Also, what are some good neck brands out there besides Warmoth?

Allparts and Warmoth are the only ones I have ever had experience with. The Warmoth fingerboards are thicker and the necks are heavier because they have steel rods inside. I have a Warmoth 24 fret ebony fretless neck.The Allparts are more of a traditional build. You can customize any wood combinations with Warmoth.

JFN · #9 03-13-2009, 08:46 PM

I have a Tony Franklin fretless with flats on it. I would not describe the sound as dead. I can get harmonics and a nice tone with the J pup soloed.

Arpeggiator · #10 03-13-2009, 08:52 PM

Correct me if i am wrong but i have heard diamond wood is excellent for fretless boards due to its hardness, i do know however its not easy to find.

vejesse · #11 03-14-2009, 07:33 AM

Having played on and dressed/sanded epoxy coated fingerboards and phenolic boards I would say go with a wooden fingerboard. Epoxy coated wood kind of sucks to play on. It's has an unnatural feel. Go ahead and play roundwounds on a wooden fingerboard if that's the sound you want, then after a year or two have the fingerboard dressed. Replacement necks aren't that expensive and after your fingerboard wears out you can buy a new neck or have a new fingerboard put on the neck.

By the way, flatwound strings WILL wear a fingerboard and an epoxy coated board WILL wear as well. Go with the wood.

JTE · #12 03-14-2009, 02:01 PM

My ebony fingerboard is now about 13 years old. I use stainless rounds (DR Hi-Beams mostly) and I buff the fingerboard about once a year with a hardware sponge. The original untreated rosewood board lasted 7 years before it wore enough to warrant replacement.

Don't worry about the wear, get the sound you want and deal with the expense. That's sort of like not playing your bass because the strings won't last if you actually play it. No matter how precious the bass is, ultimately it's a tool for expression, not the point of expression itself.

jte