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As much as I love maple fretboards...

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by HubbardsFate, Jul 21, 2019.


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  1. Jul 21, 2019 #1
    HubbardsFate

    HubbardsFate

    Oct 18, 2006
    ...and I do...once upon a time I didn't, but maple is now my PREFERENCE (even plain-jane maple...don't even get me started on birdseye or flame :drool:)...I find FRETLESS maple fretboards to look really, really weird...:cautious:

    I want to delve into fretless at some point...if it happens, I can pretty much guarantee that whichever bass I end up getting will sport either an ebony, rosewood, or pau ferro 'board.

    I'm sure a fretless maple sounds fine, but I will unabashedly admit that I have to find the bass appealing in the aesthetics department as well, and yeah, fretless maple fretboards just look strange to me. o_O
     
    gebass6, RyanOh, LowActionHero and 4 others like this.
  5. Jul 21, 2019 #2
    Wisebass

    Wisebass

    Jan 12, 2017
    Lost in Space
    Hi HubbardsFate :)

    jacobass.jpg

    When you don 't like a fretboard, just look somewhere else :D or..

    jaco-pastorius-650-430 - Copie.jpg

    may the bass be with you

    Wise(b)ass
     
    sludgetail, mellowgerman, P. Aaron and 10 others like this.
  10. Jul 21, 2019 #3
    Geri O

    Geri O Endorsing Artist, Mike Lull Guitars and Basses Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 6, 2013
    Florence, MS
    I insist on maple fingerboards for all go my fretted instruments and I go to great lengths to have basses with maple fingerboards (not really, but that sounded pretty cool in my head...:roflmao:).

    Having said that, I haven't thought twice about anything but a rosewood or ebony or anything non-maple for the fingerboard on any fretless I've ever owned. Non-maple just seems right for fretless basses.
     
    Ampslut, SmokinJoe992 and B-Mac like this.
  14. Jul 21, 2019 #4
    Dr. Cheese

    Dr. Cheese Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 3, 2004
    Metro St. Louis



    Maple fretlesses are cool. I especially like how Christian McBride sounds on his.
     
    basslifter, aproud1, deernaes and 11 others like this.
  18. Jul 21, 2019 #5
    electracoyote

    electracoyote Supporting Member

    Jan 2, 2009
    Purple Mountain Majesties
    Stanley Sheldon, classic Frampton Comes Alive! era. I think it looks great.

    [​IMG]
     
    rllefebv, RyanOh, P. Aaron and 11 others like this.
  22. Jul 21, 2019 #6
    electracoyote

    electracoyote Supporting Member

    Jan 2, 2009
    Purple Mountain Majesties
    I learned fretless on an SX Precision copy fretless...maple board. Lots of mwah, that bass got me way down the road.
     
    Old P Bass Guy, Wisebass and Dr. Cheese like this.
  26. Jul 21, 2019 #7
    Dr. Cheese

    Dr. Cheese Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 3, 2004
    Metro St. Louis
    Fretless SX basses are great. I picked up a fretless SX Jazz for $100 that I wish I still had, and I still have this shortscale fretless SX:

     
    BOOG, The Nameless, electracoyote and 1 other person like this.
  31. Jul 21, 2019 #8
    Wisebass

    Wisebass

    Jan 12, 2017
    Lost in Space
    hi guys :)

    Sting! :laugh:



    sorry I could not resist! :roflmao:

    greetings

    Wise
     
    MonetBass, BazzaBass, The Nameless and 2 others like this.
  35. Jul 21, 2019 #9
    Wisebass

    Wisebass

    Jan 12, 2017
    Lost in Space


    that' s better!

    Wise
     
    RyanOh, maxschrek and Dr. Cheese like this.
  39. Jul 21, 2019 #10
    Dr. Cheese

    Dr. Cheese Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 3, 2004
    Metro St. Louis
    Much better!:bassist:
     
    Wisebass likes this.
  43. Jul 21, 2019 #11
    Low8

    Low8 Supporting Member

    Mar 30, 2014
    ... but it's not as sweet as that kimono!

     
    DrMole and electracoyote like this.
  47. Jul 21, 2019 #12
    TolerancEJ

    TolerancEJ

    May 27, 2010
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    [​IMG]
     
    GHOST AT, rhs1856, DrMole and 6 others like this.
  51. Jul 21, 2019 #13
    Lance Bunyon

    Lance Bunyon

    Jul 17, 2018
    I'm in awe of Fender maple fretless boards with no dots (side dots only). Gorgeousness!
     
    deckstirparnell, Ghastly and TheDirtyLowDown like this.
  55. Jul 21, 2019 #14
    electracoyote

    electracoyote Supporting Member

    Jan 2, 2009
    Purple Mountain Majesties
    It was kind of the thing at the time.

    [​IMG]

    upload_2019-7-21_15-34-24.jpeg

    upload_2019-7-21_15-34-52.jpeg
     
    DrMole, The Nameless and Wisebass like this.
  59. Jul 21, 2019 #15
    Low8

    Low8 Supporting Member

    Mar 30, 2014
    Qlanq, howlin, Rezdog and 1 other person like this.
  64. Jul 21, 2019 #16
    Low8

    Low8 Supporting Member

    Mar 30, 2014
    "On the Saturn V... Mr. Stewart Copeland, ladies and gentlemen!"

     
    Flooflox likes this.
  68. Jul 21, 2019 #17
    Abner

    Abner

    Jan 2, 2011
    Mississauga
    I've said it before... get one of each. :)

    Fretless.jpg

    The maple Roadster has become my number 1. (Although with Ernie Ball Stainless flats — .110 to .055 — rather than the black tapewounds in the pic.)
     
    rllefebv, Toptube, P. Aaron and 6 others like this.
  72. Jul 21, 2019 #18
    TheDirtyLowDown

    TheDirtyLowDown

    Mar 8, 2014
    Here's a chance for me to share one of my favorite fretless bass performances/solos of all time:
    Christian McBride with Pat Metheny and Antonio Sanchez. He's playing a Rudy Pensa bass with
    a beautiful (to my eyes) unlined maple fingerboard. Enjoy the tune, regardless of your
    aesthetic preferences :)
     
    Green Knight, BEADG63, roogbass and 6 others like this.
  76. Jul 21, 2019 #19
    AndyPanda

    AndyPanda

    May 11, 2014
    Alameda, California
    I certainly do love an unlined, ebony fingerboard ... but I have a Frankenbass fretless with maple and black lines and I love it!
    FrankenFretless.jpg
     
    BassmanM, basslifter, gregmon79 and 4 others like this.
  80. Jul 21, 2019 #20
    Lardass5000

    Lardass5000 Supporting Member

    Mar 21, 2016
    Kentucky
    Wow! Great fretless playing. Such good harmony and cool improvisation. I like it. Thank you.
     
    TheDirtyLowDown likes this.
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