I had a natural poplar with maple fretboard made, but because the color of the slabs did not match very well, I eventually decided to have Pat Wilkins paint it Capri Orange. I still like all natural with maple fret board.
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Natural Ash basses are boring
- Thread starter Ruknrole
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Yes, paint is everything. It makes bass/guitar so much more than just wood and strings.
Like flippant sardonicism makes us so much more than animals.
We're better because we aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners.
Natural Ash basses can be beautiful, depends on the shade of the piece of ash, the figuring (or lack thereof), and the overall design of the bass to begin with.
But hey, some don't like the toned down or plain look, and that's ok. Some prefer the hot-rod car look with the Candy Apple Red gloss and other bright, showy colors. Not my thing. Variety is great though, isn't it?
But hey, some don't like the toned down or plain look, and that's ok. Some prefer the hot-rod car look with the Candy Apple Red gloss and other bright, showy colors. Not my thing. Variety is great though, isn't it?
I get why some people don't get turned on by the natural ash/maple look but I've always liked it. I wanted to see more of the ash on my M5V so I removed the black pickguard.
That’s ok, you thinking it’s boring means more for the rest of us!
Same here, my jazz setup was just like yours.
I don't have a before because mine was refin'd in the 70s.
But it looks much better even 50 years later....057912
I voted boring as a general rule, but there are exceptions to rules.
Yours is nice, my T-40 is nice because the previous owner put a high gloss on.
But without it, even my T-40 would be boring in my opinion.
Some people are posting pics here that are exceptions,
but the one the OP posted is the rule.
People are also posting pics that don't fit the OP's criteria...057912
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This is my latest purchase. Not ash, but western cedar. I wasn’t a big fan of natural finishes on basses till I bought this Crackercaster Debutante 5.
IMO, Yeah kinda boring, but elegant in its simplicity! but that said Simple=boring! But all it takes is for someone amazing to start playing one then...! every one will have one!
Actually I agree!
But after playing and hearing a 2016 Fender Elite 4 that just happen to have the natural finish and maple board, I REALLY didn't care what the cosmetics were.
Bought the bass on the spot!
(FYI: This was my first new bass I've had, and I've been at this for 50+ years.)
GREAT neck, "to my hands", Great sound, "to my ears"!
Isn't that what should be the the scale to judge a bass by?????
There are some beautiful natural blonds in this thread; well played, OP! 
It made me do a little bass guitar finish inventory; I have but one with opaque paint (black), two 3-color sunburst, two dark stain, one natural blond. And my DB, of course, is dark stained. I don't dislike painted basses, but over 40-odd years of playing I've only ever owned a couple.
It made me do a little bass guitar finish inventory; I have but one with opaque paint (black), two 3-color sunburst, two dark stain, one natural blond. And my DB, of course, is dark stained. I don't dislike painted basses, but over 40-odd years of playing I've only ever owned a couple.
It might not be super interesting to look at, but this 2000 American Series P has been very good to me. It also gets bonus points for being a rare instrument that I bought new!
Nothing wrong with a pretty piece of ash now and again
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