Opinion: Which neck/fingerboard combo?

teej · #1 04-11-2005, 11:53 PM

I'm building a 4-string jazz bass. I know it's not very original, but I'm not going for originality here -- it's about age long desires.

I'm quite fond of the color "British Racing Green," but I can't decide on the neck or the hardware. Right now, I'm thinking chrome hardware and a maple neck with an ebony fingerboard, possibly lined fretless. Any other suggestions?

JSPguitars · #2 04-12-2005, 01:44 AM

maple neck with black block inlays?? Maybe toy around with gold hardware vs. chrome?

paintandsk8 · #3 04-12-2005, 08:28 AM

I always thought that gold complimented green rather well.

teej · #4 04-12-2005, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPguitars

maple neck with black block inlays?? Maybe toy around with gold hardware vs. chrome?

I've also considered gold. I really like the color, especially on darker natural wood colors (especially walnut). Oh, and I forgot to mention the pickguard -- white pearl at this point.

Bassic83 · #5 04-12-2005, 10:58 AM

You might not think so, but I saw a Jazz with a real dark blue finish, pearl P/G, and all gold hardware, and it was stunning...

jongor · #6 04-12-2005, 11:05 AM

No face dots is cool......you can't see them when playing anyway.

teej · #7 04-12-2005, 11:53 AM

Face dots will depend on if I go fretless (lined) or not. If I do, then no markers. I may not do any markers at all -- the lines only.

teej · #8 04-12-2005, 11:34 PM

After looking at some pictures, I'm really liking the maple neck with a maple fingerboard. I'm also liking gold tuners on maple. The only problem is that AllParts sells a Hipshot "B" bridge with string-thru, but they don't sell it in gold. And I looked on Hipshots website and I couldn't find such a bridge. They've got B bridges without ST, but not with.

Frank Martin · #9 04-13-2005, 05:38 AM

There's the age-long debate of string-through-body or not... Most say that stringing through has no effect on the sound.

Oh and green + gold + pearl + maple = ewww IMHO
but with blue + gold + pearl + maple it would look very cool. I've seen that combo on many guitars, and they looked cool.

teej · #10 04-13-2005, 09:28 AM

Quote:

There's the age-long debate of string-through-body or not... Most say that stringing through has no effect on the sound.

I've never played an instrument w/ string-thru. I just like it because it's a little innovative and different that your traditional string setups.

Quote:

Oh and green + gold + pearl + maple = ewww IMHO
but with blue + gold + pearl + maple it would look very cool. I've seen that combo on many guitars, and they looked cool.

Hmmm.... I'm pretty set on the green color. I went to the local guitar shop a few days ago to get ideas on the color and I didn't like the the dark blue jazz they had. Don't get me wrong, there are blue/dark blue basses that I think look killer, but the blue jazz just wasn't doing anything for me.

Frank Martin · #11 04-13-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teej

Hmmm.... I'm pretty set on the green color. I went to the local guitar shop a few days ago to get ideas on the color and I didn't like the the dark blue jazz they had. Don't get me wrong, there are blue/dark blue basses that I think look killer, but the blue jazz just wasn't doing anything for me.

Well, yeah, in the end it has to do something for you, not me

Tim__x · #12 04-13-2005, 02:32 PM

My personal choice would be a natural finish with a maple/ebony or maple/rosewood neck, but if you really want a green bass, I say go with the maple/maple neck.

teej · #13 04-13-2005, 03:18 PM

Well I'm only doing the solid finish because the body will be made from a 2-piece alder blank and I don't want the seam to show through. But if it were one-piece, I'd definitely go natural.

Tim__x · #14 04-13-2005, 03:30 PM

Ah, that is a good pretty reason to go with a solid finish.

teej · #15 04-13-2005, 03:36 PM

I looked and looked for a 1-piece blank, but I'm wanted to keep the cost at a minimum. However, I still have my tax return, which I'll be using for a build. Claro walnut w/ lightly flamed maple top maybe. That will definitely be natural.