Ebony + Epoxy = good or bad idea?

**RedLeg** · #1 05-02-2009, 07:52 PM

Is an epoxy coated ebony fingerboard overkill? I hate flats! I dig the sound of pedulla, and want the durability of epoxy. I would like to know the TB community's thoughts on this.

It will be done professionally (custom build)

6Steve6Harris6 · #2 05-02-2009, 08:00 PM

I don't think so, no.

As long as it's done properly (by somebody like Thor), I'd go for it.

spade2you · #3 05-02-2009, 08:22 PM

Really, if you're going to epoxy, it doesn't matter what's underneath. I have bird's eye maple on my epoxied bass.

Stickk · #4 05-02-2009, 08:24 PM

Ebony is uber-hard, I wouldn't epoxy it.

nrssab · #5 05-03-2009, 02:25 AM

Zing zing, it will give a very different sound than ebony. Otherwise I don't think it makes a big diference that there is a ebony board underneath.

Jazz Ad · #6 05-03-2009, 02:39 AM

Ebony is just as durable as epoxy if not more. No reason to use flats.
Do it for the looks, if you like a shiny board with a lot of finger stains, not if you want durability.
On a side note, ebony is a very oily wood with closed pores. I don't know how well it reacts to epoxy.

vene-nemesis · #7 05-03-2009, 02:41 AM

I would research further on this, if im not mistaken ebony is very hard or imposible to coat with epoxy, it doesnt bond very well, thats why i believe pedulla uses polyester to harden their ebony boards.

Jim Nazium · #8 05-03-2009, 05:40 AM

Or you could just buy a Pedulla ...
love that sound.

**RedLeg** · #9 05-03-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

Or you could just buy a Pedulla ...
love that sound.

I could but my wife would divorce me because of this

DaveAceofBass · #10 05-03-2009, 08:40 AM

You didn't say whether or not you have a fretless or fretted bass--I'm assuming you mean fretless. I'd definitely go for it. I have a finished board on my Linc fretless (I think it's either acrylic or satin polyester), and I know Sukop uses epoxy on his fretless boards too. Linc also finished his fretted boards like a Rickenbacker. I'm not crazy about the thick finish, but I had to have the board replaced on my 5-string when the truss rod broke, and it now has an oiled ebony fingerboard. In some ways I think the satin finish might have been better and have considered having it finished again, but I'm keeping it oiled for the time being. My fretted Kinal DK5 has an oiled ebony board. The finished fingerboard gives you a snappier tone--depends what you want though, and the neck woods play a role. A wenge neck wouldn't benefit from a finished fingerboard, IMO...but maple might be debatable. Go for it, especially if you have a fretless....I'd probably leave it unfinished if it's a fretted.

By the way, I voted yes assuming you mean a fretless. Don't do the epoxy if it's fretted.

MysticMichael · #11 05-03-2009, 07:19 PM

About two and half years ago, I had an epoxy job done on a fretless bass with an ebony fingerboard. H.G. Thor did the work, and it turned out very nicely indeed.

From what I gather ebony is a rather oily wood, so the board must be skillfully prepared prior to application of the epoxy, to make sure it will adhere to the surface well. Thor uses some kind of acetone solution (I think) to strip the wood of its essential oils, prior to the epoxying process.

Yes, ebony is a very hard wood. But it's not as hard as epoxy. I know of very few woods that are...

MM

HogieWan · #12 05-04-2009, 06:41 AM

My suggestion is to try some different strings first. I'd recommend some tapewounds. I thought they would be very mellow, but apparently they are rounds with flat nylon tape around them. They keep a lot of the roundwound tone, though. I have a set of LaBella tapes that I'm about to pull off my fretless if you want them.

spade2you · #13 05-04-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Yes, ebony is a very hard wood. But it's not as hard as epoxy. I know of very few woods that are...

I think Dymondwood might be stronger than even epoxy, but I'm only basing my opinions on how my Conklin hasn't worn a bit and I managed to wear the polyester just enough that I had to raise my action a tad for a couple wear spots.

Slabobian Mesh · #14 05-04-2009, 07:54 AM

My first post here at Talkbass, but this is a topic I feel strongly about. In my opinion, if epoxy is what you are looking for, than HG Thor is the premier vendor. With a two year waiting list, he must be doing something right. And as a very satisfied customer, I couldn’t be more pleased with his workmanship and the sound that my bass produces (check out my sound clip, Randy Tougas, on his sounds page). But, epoxy does have a characteristic of its own. If you are looking for that “Jaco” vibe with harmonics galore, then get on the HG Thor’s waiting list. If you are looking for a woody upright sound then you would probably be better served stringing your bass with flats on a bare board. Good luck in your quest, and I hope you end up with the sound you are looking for.

spade2you · #15 05-04-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slabobian Mesh

My first post here at Talkbass, but this is a topic I feel strongly about. In my opinion, if epoxy is what you are looking for, than HG Thor is the premier vendor. With a two year waiting list, he must be doing something right. And as a very satisfied customer, I couldn’t be more pleased with his workmanship and the sound that my bass produces (check out my sound clip, Randy Tougas, on his sounds page). But, epoxy does have a characteristic of its own. If you are looking for that “Jaco” vibe with harmonics galore, then get on the HG Thor’s waiting list. If you are looking for a woody upright sound then you would probably be better served stringing your bass with flats on a bare board. Good luck in your quest, and I hope you end up with the sound you are looking for.

Not to bash Thor, but if you're not looking to wait 2 years, Michael Dolan's crew does a nice job.

Agreed about the tone, although a good pickup/pre-amp config can give a decent amount of variety. My CB has Classic Bart PJ pickups and pre-amp. Despite the roundwounds and polyester finish, my CB can cop a decent Jamerson vibe. Still, my Rob Allens with the piezo and tapes are the deepest basses in my arsenal.

wilsonn · #16 05-04-2009, 08:53 AM

what does MD charge?

spade2you · #17 05-04-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonn

what does MD charge?

I wanna say $200-300, but depends on if it's unfinished, needs leveling, etc. Then you'd need to factor in shipping based on if you're sending in a neck or full bass.

Hoover · #18 05-04-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HogieWan

I'd recommend some tapewounds. I thought they would be very mellow, but apparently they are rounds with flat nylon tape around them. They keep a lot of the roundwound tone, though.

That's weird, I've used LaBella 760N tapewound strings on two of my fretless basses, and while I love the sound, to my ear they sound absolutely nothing like roundwound strings. (Though I suppose they sound more like roundwounds than like flatwounds, but that's just relative.) If OP is looking for that classic Fretless Bass With Epoxy Fingerboard ZING/TWANG a la Jaco et al I don't think tapewound strings are the answer.

And to reiterate what's already been said: Epoxy is a fine idea. Ebony is a fine idea. But Epoxy on an Ebony board seems like a waste of perfectly good Ebony.

HogieWan · #19 05-05-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

That's weird, I've used LaBella 760N tapewound strings on two of my fretless basses, and while I love the sound, to my ear they sound absolutely nothing like roundwound strings. (Though I suppose they sound more like roundwounds than like flatwounds, but that's just relative.)

not saying they sound anything like rounds on epoxy, but they give more of a roundwound tone while protecting the board. I've used the tapes with a pick into and SVT for a very grindish tone.

DaveAceofBass · #20 06-26-2009, 10:28 AM

If it's a roundwound sound you want without tearing up the fingerboard, try a set of Ken Smith Compressors or GHS Pressurewounds. You'll thank me later.