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Is maple fingerboard good idea for fretless??
- Thread starter Lorenzop
- Start date
I've owned and played maple, rosewood, and ebony.
I don't think I'd get anything but ebony from here on out - unless, of course, whatever catches my eye next is something else...
i just love the feel and the tone with an ebony board - it really works with the piezo bridge, too.
Try 'em all if you can and see what works for you, although it may be hard to find a maple in your local shop.
If you've got a suitable victim already - I say go for it!
I don't think you will regret it.
Good luck!
I don't think I'd get anything but ebony from here on out - unless, of course, whatever catches my eye next is something else...
i just love the feel and the tone with an ebony board - it really works with the piezo bridge, too.
Try 'em all if you can and see what works for you, although it may be hard to find a maple in your local shop.
If you've got a suitable victim already - I say go for it!
I don't think you will regret it.
Good luck!
It seems odd that maple is rare for fretless, but it makes sense. It's harder than rosewood and a bit brighter. With nickle strings, wear should be minimal.
I agree with steve about ebony. It's the most solid sounding wood, though, as strange as it may seem to some, I think "ebonol" (essentially a synthetic fiberglass material used to make bowling balls) sounds amazing for fretless. The Squier deluxe uses it and it sounds awesome, especially considering the price.
I agree with steve about ebony. It's the most solid sounding wood, though, as strange as it may seem to some, I think "ebonol" (essentially a synthetic fiberglass material used to make bowling balls) sounds amazing for fretless. The Squier deluxe uses it and it sounds awesome, especially considering the price.
Wow. Using round wounds?
I've has my maple fretless for twenty years and never went through the finish.
No need for epoxy. It won't make you sound and play like Jaco and it affects the resale value of your bass.
If epoxy was really needed, I'm sure Sadowsky, F-bass, Mike Lull, Fodera would be lathering up necks big time. But they don't.
I must be a lucky guy to have not had any finish problems with my 1975 maple necked fretless precision. That bass is 38 years old and the neck has never been been refinished.
If epoxy was really needed, I'm sure Sadowsky, F-bass, Mike Lull, Fodera would be lathering up necks big time. But they don't.
I must be a lucky guy to have not had any finish problems with my 1975 maple necked fretless precision. That bass is 38 years old and the neck has never been been refinished.
Ebony does have a little more 'zing' to it, but in the end...it's all good (and I've used/owned most everything, including graphite) 
mark egan's first fretless was maple.
and then there were a lot of maple p-bass fretlesses from fender as stock. th guy in frampton's band used one, so did boz burell. i'm sure there a ton more.
i like the sound.
for what it's worth, about fodera and epoxy, vinny *insisted* that they epoxy a maple fretless they made for me in 2009.
and then there were a lot of maple p-bass fretlesses from fender as stock. th guy in frampton's band used one, so did boz burell. i'm sure there a ton more.
i like the sound.
for what it's worth, about fodera and epoxy, vinny *insisted* that they epoxy a maple fretless they made for me in 2009.
Yeah, Sting just points and tone comes right out of his fingers.
John Deacon in Queen had a fretless P bass with a maple fingerboard. Mind you he only used it for a couple of songs in the acoustic part of their set in the mid to late 70's.
