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James Jamerson on a maple neck?

Killspringer

Killspringer

Mar 24, 2011
114
0
#1
I am in a soul band and have been wanting a p bass strung with flats for a while. I was in a shop a few weeks ago and fell in love with this new offering from fender:

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What is people's experience with flatwounds on maple vs rosewood? I've never had a maple fretboard before so I can't say how big the difference is. Think I'd be happy? It's not the exact bass I'm looking for, James Jamerson's flats on a rosewood pbass, but the one in the shop felt amazing for $850
 
#5
I used to have Chromes on my Jazz bass with a one piece maple neck. I guess it was pretty much able to copy the sound of a P-bass with flats. Loved the tone but those strings almost ruined my bass' tuners. The silk wrapped around the strings ends corroded the tuning pegs. Of course it was not only the silk, but I'm pretty sure it was the moisture that accumulated in it.

EDIT: I changed the strings back to XL rounds and I still can get the same kind of tone, but now with more pronounced mids.
 
#8
Blues Bass Man said:
James Jamerson did use a Maple Board P-Bass...I refinshed 1957 Fender Precision Bass he named "Black Beauty' when he first switched to Electric Bass at Motown.
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really? i've never seen a pic or video of this maple board bass. he is always shown with this rose board bass:

http://www.bassland.net/jamerson.jpg

this would be what i would buy if money were no object, but i've played this bass and i'm not sure the difference is worth $750 more for me right now:

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#11
Yes it was very early in his electric bass days. I believe it was stolen and the funk machine was the replacement. There is a picture of him playing it in the sitsom book. Maple with flats? Just do it. Jamerson would approve. :D

Killspringer said:
really? i've never seen a pic or video of this maple board bass. he is always shown with this rose board bass:

http://www.bassland.net/jamerson.jpg

this would be what i would buy if money were no object, but i've played this bass and i'm not sure the difference is worth $750 more for me right now:

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
 
#12
Hmm, I have a composite fret board, I use flatwounds, simply, I love them, the tone is amazing and feel, great. I cant say I notice a fretboard makes a tonal differance after all when you fret a string its the fret that changes the length of the string and so the note, the fret board part you press, wont add anything to the sound, least thats how I think about it.
 
#13
I have to agree with the responses.

I've had flats on various P-style and J-style basses with both rosewood and maple fretboards (Fenders, Ibanez copy, SX copies, Peavey copy).

What made the most difference was the body wood (& finish) and pickup(s) (& wiring).

A well constructed (or rebuilt) bass with the neck and body fitted together well, made of good materials, wired with good electronics, and with a finish that doesn't impede the sound is a fine bass indeed.
 
#18
I think that even those who would say there is a difference between maple and rosewood sonically would tell you that it will not be THAT huge a difference. I thought I read somewhere that Jamerson's first P-bass was a '57-'58 which was stolen (post by Blues Bass Man agrees), and that lead to him purchasing the '62 that is so closely associated with him. A '57-'58 P-bass would have had a maple fretboard.

Imagine if it hadn't been stolen, people would be asking today if they could get that Jamerson tone with flats on a rosewood fretboard! If you like the way the bass looks and plays, get it. Even if it's a little bright with the maple 'board, there is a tone control...dial it back 1/4 of the way and there you go.
 
#20
Eublet said:
Fingerboard material makes so little difference (typically none) that it doesn't matter. I buy based on aesthetics.
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I don't mean to start anything, but I just can't let that statement go by. Its just not true.

Maybe you can't hear or feel a difference, but many people can. I've gone out to Nordstrand. Played more than one bass with a Maple or Rosewood neck. Switched them with the other neck. Everyone involved could easily hear a difference.
I might not make much of a difference in the long run on a gig, but there is a difference.

It would be VERY interesting to hear some examples of songs where Jamerson is playing the Rosewood board bass, (easy) and songs where he uses the Maple board bass. I'll bet you'll hear many of the same notes. (sorry, bad humor)
 

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