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Help identify this bass!

mcfrankson

mcfrankson

Jan 9, 2008
123
168
#1
So years ago a teacher of mine had this old ibanez bass, and it had an interchangeable finger board. It was kept on by magnets and you could swap between a fretted and fretless neck. I've been researching this bass and been trying to find it but have since had no luck. Any one got any idea? :help:
 
#2
You were playing an Ibanez bass with an after market mod called "Switchboards".

There was a company that offered this mod that looks like it went out of business, likely about 15 or so years ago, if not more.

You are the first that I have ever heard of using one! Neat idea, but my concern was that by not having the fingerboard as a secured structural member in the neck assembly, the neck wood itself would be more sensitive to humidity changes, resulting in twisting and bowing. Who knows...

Cocobass
 
#3
mcfrankson said:
So years ago a teacher of mine had this old ibanez bass, and it had an interchangeable finger board. It was kept on by magnets and you could swap between a fretted and fretless neck. I've been researching this bass and been trying to find it but have since had no luck. Any one got any idea? :help:
Click to expand...

someone else had this idea, too!? ****!
 
#4
mcfrankson said:
So years ago a teacher of mine had this old ibanez bass, and it had an interchangeable finger board. It was kept on by magnets and you could swap between a fretted and fretless neck. I've been researching this bass and been trying to find it but have since had no luck. Any one got any idea? :help:
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the system you're talking about is the Novatone system. The fretboards were held in place with a giant magnetic strip. There were about 5 different fretboards, one was fretted, another fretless, I think one had an aluminium fretboard, and maybe one that had some exotic middle Eastern scale on it with micro tunings.

I always thought it was a cool idea, but it didn't catch on too well. Installing the system required major surgery on the neck that was receving it, which I guess turned some people off.

EDIT: Just did a quick search, and it's been covered on the Forum a few times. This thread has some good photos.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615185&highlight=novatone
 

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