About fretless fretboards

malunirvanafree · #1 01-09-2010, 12:45 PM

I am currently making a bass in my woodshop class the bass is my take on a conklin that i saw, so i will be spraying the body, but i was wondering if i spray laquer on the fretboard or if there is something else i am supposed to use, the woods on the fretboard will be , birdseye maple. fiddleback maple, mulberry, walnut, bubinga and regular maple. hopefully i dont confuse anyone.

Thanks

malunirvana[K]

J. Crawford · #2 01-09-2010, 12:55 PM

If you lacquer the fretboard, the tone and feel will be much different. Lacquer offers protection, and a different tone.

There are lots of boards, including mine, that are left natural.

standupright · #3 01-09-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malunirvanafree

I am currently making a bass in my woodshop class the bass is my take on a conklin that i saw, so i will be spraying the body, but i was wondering if i spray laquer on the fretboard or if there is something else i am supposed to use, the woods on the fretboard will be , birdseye maple. fiddleback maple, mulberry, walnut, bubinga and regular maple. hopefully i dont confuse anyone.

Thanks

malunirvana[K]

i'm confused with this

**line6man** · #4 01-09-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

i'm confused with this

+1.

Also, I wouldn't want any of those woods as a fingerboard. They are way too soft to hold up to stringwear unless you epoxy coat them or something.

vbasscustom · #5 01-09-2010, 04:11 PM

hes replicating a conklin, lots of different woods all melted together i assume.

standupright · #6 01-09-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbasscustom

hes replicating a conklin, lots of different woods all melted together i assume.

i've gotta get me one of those wood melters.

fenderfunker · #7 01-09-2010, 04:55 PM

How is the fretboard comprised of any more than 'one' type of timber? Unless you have inlays, I suppose. I'm confused too.

**line6man** · #8 01-09-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderfunker

How is the fretboard comprised of any more than 'one' type of timber? Unless you have inlays, I suppose. I'm confused too.

Like this:

standupright · #9 01-09-2010, 05:32 PM

is that a rob allen bass?

bassteban · #10 01-09-2010, 05:35 PM

If you guys were all here I'd slap you- if it's fretless it's a FINGERboard. And get off my lawn.

**line6man** · #11 01-09-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

If you guys were all here I'd slap you- if it's fretless it's a FINGERboard. And get off my lawn.

I didn't say anything yet, but yes, it's a fingerboard, not a fretboard!
Bugs the crap out of me!

bassteban · #12 01-09-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

I didn't say anything yet, but yes, it's a fingerboard, not a fretboard!
Bugs the crap out of me!

Never fails to get my panties in a MAJOR bunch.

vbasscustom · #13 01-09-2010, 06:30 PM

mine have been in a bunch all day, and yeah. those wood melters are great. they heat up to like 4000 degrees, celcius cause im canada thats what we do. anyway, they dont even burn the wood. its so handy

Sherwood · #14 01-09-2010, 06:34 PM

One can melt wood in a vacuum. It smells absolutely terrible, though.

mikeyswood · #15 01-09-2010, 07:12 PM

To the OP:

I would avoid lacquer unless you aim to achieve the "gunk and funk" look in a short amount of time. Lacquers will not hold up under duress; see and old Fender.

An epoxide would offer the best protection but will be difficult your first time out. The woods that you have chosen are all great for wear and my only concern would be the Maple picking up both gunk and funk over time. I will direct you to a polyurethane for your first one and encourage you to study the epoxy technique for future uses.

Headless Llama · #16 01-09-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

I didn't say anything yet, but yes, it's a fingerboard, not a fretboard!
Bugs the crap out of me!

Could it be a fretless board

Also how about your fretlessing hand

yeah, it bugs me to.

Headless Llama · #17 01-09-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Like this:

This is my wallpaper. Major Gas for a rob allen.

**line6man** · #18 01-09-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Never fails to get my panties in a MAJOR bunch.

Also, coil split versus coil tap (Only when carelessly misused, newbie confusion is fine.) and input versus output jacks on a bass.
Drives me mad!

fenderfunker · #19 01-09-2010, 08:54 PM

OK! Bassteban, please unbunch those panties. The OP said fretboard, but I stand corrected. FINGERboard it is, on a fretless; Fretboard on a fretted bass. Stop fretting about it. Pardon my ignorance.

tjclem · #20 01-10-2010, 05:46 AM

I may be wrong but it sure looks like the Rob Allen fretboard is only 1 piece of wood......t