Another poll, fretboard wood suggestions needed!!!

[bassman74]

I have a bass on order.

Ash body, Figured Koa top, Maple/Wenge neck, 24 frets.
Nordstrand Big singles/ 3 band preamp.

I found the big singles a little shy in the highs...

so i need your wood suggestions for fretboard, i want the fingerboard to bring a little more highs.

My bass will be oil finished...

Birdseye Maple, Pao Ferro, Brazilian Rosewood, Wenge

thanks for your help!!!

 

[bassplayer7770]

Have you asked for Cliff's suggestion? My first reaction is Maple...

 

[bassman74]

I'm waiting for it's suggestion. I'm just worried about maple stability with oil finish...

 

[bassplayer7770]

I'm waiting for it's suggestion. I'm just worried about maple stability with oil finish...

Is it going to be a fretted bass?

 

[bassman74]

Yes fretted, i should have mentionned it!

 

[Rodent]

unless you're aiming for the "beat-up blues player's Tele fretboard" look, or willing to keep regular upkeep on the oil application, I wouldn't recommend an oil finish on a Maple board

with that top, I'd recommend a Pau Ferro fretboard unless you were open to considering Goncalo Alves


as for the Brazilian Rosewood - are you sure that Cliff is able to ship you a bass with this specific wood? (it's CITES controlled)

all the best,

R

 

[Justin Beck]

I say either wenge or possibly ebony, just cuz it would look crazy good with that top.

Best of luck deciding, but there is no bad choice.

Justin

 

[bassplayer7770]

with that top, I'd recommend a Pau Ferro fretboard unless you were open to considering Goncalo Alves

My bass also has an oil finish and here's a pic of my Pau Ferro 'board. Just thought you might like to see it side-by-side with the pic of your Koa top.

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[bassman74]

Hello Rodent,

i'm glad you came into this thread giving your opinion...

I'm actually going toward Pao ferro and brazilian rosewood...

i like it when the board is contrasting the wood figured top, i'm just not sure pao ferro will be contrasting enough for my taste...

Cliff is actually building a bass with a brazilian rosewood board, so i assume i can get me one...

i don't know anything about Goncalo Alves

 

[bassman74]

This is a very nice pao ferro board, thanks for the picture

 

[Rodent]

Pau Ferro can have some nice figuring, often with darker stripes

Goncalo Alves is similar (wish I had an image of the finished wood for you)

for CITES controlled woods, it's not a matter of obtaining the materials - I'm referencing the limitations on where that wood can be shipped. Example: I can obtain rough lumber and build a neck with Brazilian Rosewood ... but I can't legally ship it to a host of different countries

all the best,

R

 

[spade2you]

I voted for the Brazilian rosewood because both koa and BR are going to be extremely hard to get in the upcoming years.

Here's my koa and BR submission.

 

[HogieWan]

rosewood or the non-poll option of ebony

 

[bassman74]

I agree that the ebony would look fantastic against the koa top...I don't know why but i've always walked away from ebony???

Regarding the brazilian rosewood, i live close to the border so the bass will be shipped within the usa and i'll cross the border to get it... The Canadian border guys don't watch anything like that...So i'm 100% sure there won't be any problem...

For Wenge, which was my first choice because of the growl... I decide to go in different direction because i allready have wenge in the neck blank. I don't remember where but i've read that wenge is taking out some highs and have pronouced mids and lows.

I want more highs because of the big singles, which are shy on the highs IMO

Maple needs a hard finish IMO

It doesn't leave me many choices...

 

[maestrovert]

i'd vote for Ebony as well, if it were one of your poll's options.

 

[Flaked Beans]

I agree that the ebony would look fantastic against the koa top...I don't know why but i've always walked away from ebony???

Regarding the brazilian rosewood, i live close to the border so the bass will be shipped within the usa and i'll cross the border to get it... The Canadian border guys don't watch anything like that...So i'm 100% sure there won't be any problem...

For Wenge, which was my first choice because of the growl... I decide to go in different direction because i allready have wenge in the neck blank. I don't remember where but i've read that wenge is taking out some highs and have pronouced mids and lows.

I want more highs because of the big singles, which are shy on the highs IMO

Maple needs a hard finish IMO

It doesn't leave me many choices...

Ebony is my favorite but in your case i'd say pao ferro all the way!

my Gecko6, swamp ash body, maple/purpleheart neck, pao ferro fingerboard, basslines active..........sounds very bright!
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the gecko inlay is pure ebony

 

[Eric Perry]

My vote goes for Wenge. I think it would look very sharp with that Koa top!

 

[Darkstrike]

Wenge for sure.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Wenge is also very nice!
especially bidrseye wenge

my birdseye wenge:
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regular wenge:
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[flipper_gv]

wenge is pretty no go to get more high end. Ebony or maple for sure.