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Double Bass Neck/Fingerboard not separate

B

bkilrain

Oct 26, 2014
2
0
44
#1
Ugh... I'm dreading to read what folks will respond with but here's my story:

I live in Korea and found myself desperate for a new bass but without the funds to back up a proper purchase. I don't know if there is a good luthier in Korea... Maybe in Seoul but I live in Busan which is a good 5 hour drive away. Anyways... I looked at basses around Busan and could really only afford a Korean-made plywood bass as anything imported is ridiculously expensive. It's a starter bass for sure... but, apart from action on the G string (which can be fixed with a proper setup down the line) I'm very happy with it.

I just recently noticed, however, that it seems like the neck and fingerboard are one solid piece of wood. I've searched all over but haven't found any mention of this type of construction. It must be some cost saving production method from the Korean bass factory.

So - has anyone seen something like this or heard of something like this? What kind of stuff should I be looking out for it I end up having this bass for a few years?
 
#2
I do not see how the construction you describe could save costs. It may be the glue seam between the neck and fingerboard is so well concealed you cannot see it. Is the fingerboard dyed or stained black? If not, and if the unit *is* one piece, then the grain on the fingerboard should match the grain on the back of the neck.
 
#3
These basses often have wood softer than ebony coated with some black epoxy resin. Then I think more clear resin is applied over the neck and the fingerboard making it look like it's one piece. If you need that board shaped, be ready for some heavy scraping and maybe not enough board to really shape well. Helped a luthier do that to one of my student's basses recently just to see if it's possible. Barely.
 
#5
Ok... so I looked at it again and I think you guys are right. The reason I thought it was one solid piece of wood was because there is a blemish in the finish that I mistook to be from the wood grain. It was on the G side of the fingerboard and continued to the neck... But it looks like the finish brushed up against something while it was still wet. Thanks everyone!

P.S. If anyone has the skinny on finding a decent luthier in Korea, please let me know. :D
 
#6
My Steve Harris Precision most definitely has a one piece maple neck/fingerboard, I found your post trying to search for opinions on one piece necks, it seems its pretty unusual because so far I cant find any other basses that have this!
 
#9
Well it's just that you're in the Double Bass forum... :woot:...

My early '80s Tokai P Bass had a beautiful one piece neck... The original OLP basses did too... I don't think you see it that often on *bass guitars * because having a separate fingerboard facilitates installation of the truss rod.

But seriously you'll have better luck starting a thread on the BG side.:thumbsup:
 

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