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Review: Maple Fretless Neck

C

chuck norriss

Inactive
Jan 20, 2011
8,710
924
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#1
At $80 shipped, I couldn't resist.
http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/NewNat...ole-diameter-1750mmfree-shipping-_p_1018.html

It's light. It has a truss rod. It's hard as a rock--I broke three screws trying to screw in my tuners. Maybe the screws were crap. Anyway you ought to drill first.
It's pretty straight. I have small curve in mine--something I'll have to adjust. The nut is a little high but I'll scoop the slots out w/ a carving knife.
It's completely glossy. Nice wood grain. Flats haven't damaged the finish yet. I don't intend to put rounds on it.
It took 2 weeks to arrive from China. Shipping's free.
 
#2
Yeah I know, I'm missing a string.
 

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#6
I should add the size &feel of the precision-style neck is similar to a contemporary P. Not a baseball bat, more to grab than a J. It's a fast neck as they say. I'm pleased with it & lately especially on fretless I prefer a P neck.
Someone buy the J version.
 
#8
VitalSigns said:
So maybe this is a dumb question, but why are necks usually rosewood instead of maple?
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It has been said rosewood is darker in sound. It's also been disproven here so whatever. This neck is bright in sound. Very bright. I can slap on it & it sounds like a fretted neck. Using flats.
I got lucky w the grain.
 

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#9
Maple fretless is a rare and awesome site. I'd love a 70's P with an unlined maple neck.

Maple isn't as popular on fretless because it requires a finish otherwise it starts to look really bad (just look at a vintage maple fingerboard with the clear worn off; looks dirty).
 
#13
TheEmptyCell said:
Maple isn't as popular on fretless because it requires a finish otherwise it starts to look really bad (just look at a vintage maple fingerboard with the clear worn off; looks dirty).
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The main reason for a finish on maple is because it is hygroscopic. So a finish is necessary to keep the wood stable against changes in humidity that cause swelling, warpage, etc. Not so with rosewood since the natural oils in the wood inhibit moisture uptake and loss. This happens at the cellular level of the wood, in particular in the cell walls. As humidity increases, the cell walls gain thickness as they absorb water - like a macaroni noodle. And similarly, as the moisture content drops, the cell walls get thinner. The natural oils in woods like rosewood guard the cell walls from gaining or losing moisture. That's why rosewood was so often used for an unfinished fingerboard.

Leo Fender was brilliant at finding the most economical way to produce his instruments. And where most builders were using rosewood or ebony for fingerboards, he knew there was an abundant supply of maple and it was a LOT cheaper. But he also knew it wasn't as stable if left unfinished. So he finished them, but he did it after the frets were installed because that was the most economical way to do it. Smart fella, that Leo.
 
#14
Both slabs.
Reggie & build.
I noticed their ebay price went up to $100 but site is still $80.
I managed to get the neck straight & intonation where I like it. Very fast low action. E--D resonate very well. G needs to be raised a half turn.
That is all.
 

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#15
TheEmptyCell said:
Maple fretless is a rare and awesome site. I'd love a 70's P with an unlined maple neck.

...
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Agreed! My first bass was almost an early '70s natural P-Bass with fretless Maple neck. I found a fretted one in another town and bought it instead (it turned out to be an awful bass).

I wish EYPARTS would offer an unlined 5 string fretless neck with a Maple fingerboard (or any 5-string necks for that matter)!!!
 

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