Do you call it a fingerboard or a fretboard?

[Etienned]

Last time I brought my DB for a setup, I was so concentrated to say fingerboard instead of fretboard that I enthusiastically said fretboard with a large smile, safe in the knowledge that I said the opposite than what I usually say.

My brain plays games like this all the time.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by klejst

I say fret board. This is just like is it "Tubes" or "Valves" when referencing to a amp? But of course that depends on where you live or the gear is manufactured from.

Tubes and valves are just the American and English terms for exactly the same thing so of course you can use the terms interchangeably. Fretboards and fingerboards are like motorcycles and bicycles. Todays motorcycles are vastly different beasts of course but if you look at very early motorcycles they were just bicycles with motors. You might call either one a bicycle since both often had pedals and in fact both are abbreviated "bike" even to this day. But you would not call a bicycle a motorcycle, then or now.

So those who say that both are fingerboards and can be called fingerboards have a point. But you shouldn't call an unfretted board a fretboard unless you just intend to appear clueless.

Ken

[line6man]

Originally Posted by brentonkim

i've always just called it the neck. one syllable, so much easier.

This causes a lot of confusion. People say things like "Rosewood neck," when their neck is made of Maple. In any case, if you are calling it a neck, how do you distinguish between the shaft and the fingerboard/fretboard?

[Wookieonbass]

Originally Posted by droppedurpocket

A fretboard has frets. Fingerboard does not.

True. Still, I tend to call them both fingerboard out of habit.

[marquezbass]

fretboard for a fretted bass
fingerboard for a fretless?

[brentonkim]

Originally Posted by line6man

This causes a lot of confusion. People say things like "Rosewood neck," when their neck is made of Maple. In any case, if you are calling it a neck, how do you distinguish between the shaft and the fingerboard/fretboard?

you point at it. haha

[tastybasslines]

And just when I thought things on TB couldn't get anymore compartmentalized...

[line6man]

Originally Posted by brentonkim

you point at it. haha

Doesn't help in internetland, phone calls, or when discussing basses with the blind.

[zortation]

Originally Posted by bootsox

Fingerboard. Fretboard is just a specific type of fingerboard, so why not just eliminate the confusion and call them all the same thing?

This is the best answer yet. Like my Uncle Abner used to say when he took me out horse riding... "A fretboard is still a fingerboard as long as you're fretting with your fingers"

[NYCBass]

I play a fretless so it's a fingerboard.

[brentonkim]

Originally Posted by line6man

Doesn't help in internetland, phone calls, or when discussing basses with the blind.

pffft, we all know blind people play piano.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by brentonkim

pffft, we all know blind people play piano.

I've heard that some deaf people play bass because they can feel it.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by brentonkim

pffft, we all know blind people play piano.

I knew a guy, in the '70s who was a mean pinball game player; he was blind.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by zortation

...my Uncle Abner used to say...

Is this him?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xk6...n#.UOInhhwyz7c

[Freddels]

It depends on whether it's fretted or fretless bass.

[Kenzy]

I use Fingerboard for fretless basses.
I use Fretboard and Fingerboard interchangeably for fretted basses.

[VitalSigns]

Originally Posted by line6man

I've heard that some deaf people play bass because they can feel it.

This woman (whose name I can remember) plays drums and is deaf. She says she can feel the vibrations. She actually preformed at the opening ceremony of the Olympics this year.

[MasterMonkeyMan]

All fretboards are fingerboards but not all fingerboards are fretboards.

I wouldn't fret over it too much. Finger it???? That wood depend on it's gender!!!

Happy New Year all!!!!

[Lambic]

Originally Posted by VitalSigns

This woman (whose name I can remember) plays drums and is deaf. She says she can feel the vibrations. She actually preformed at the opening ceremony of the Olympics this year.

Evelyn Glennie.

[seang15]

So a fretless neck is a fretboard? It's a fingerboard!!