Odd / Dumb Neck Question: No Truss Rod?

[jcorneli]

I'm starting the plan stages of an experimental bass build and I hope to benefit from the accumulated knowledge and experience of some of the advanced luthiers on this board. What I am contemplating is a build with continuous neck/fingerboard that runs to the bridge and the saddles.

Think of similar features on Pagelli and some Ritter models.

Pagelli:

Ritter:

I have an Indonesian ebony 4/4 size fingerboard blank - cut for an upright bass - that I'd like to use for this. It's solid black, and I'd hate cutting into it. Done right, it's thick enough to make the whole neck and fretboard of a single piece, with shaping on the back and re-radiusing the front.

Here's my stupid question:
What are the drawbacks of using this as a fretted neck, without cutting and adding a truss rod?
Is it viable to build this way, and get a decent set-up?

I've seen what Basslab does for fretted, carbon-fiber necks and their trussless design. Pagelli is fretless, and has fewer such problems, I suppose.

I'm assuming that I'd use a zero-fret, and have good, individually adjustable saddles to manage string height/action. The ebony is not in danger of bowing - 'tho one could imaging minor humidity changes.

My alternative is to flatten the face of the ebony, for the length of the fretted area, channel a conventional truss, and face it with a matching black fingerboard. Less elegant an monumental - but not inconceivable.

Thanks for any and all points of view. I value a "pros and cons" response. Even from Wishbass modders.

 

[reverendrally]

I didn't vote, because it's more complex than that. Look, it is a valid option. Wishbass and uprights have no trussrods. It can be done for sure.

You're enemy without a trussrod is two things;
1. Creep - that is over time the neck might bow.
2. Seasonal changes - humidity and heat cause expansion and contraction that will cause the instrument to be effected depending on your climate. In some cases, if you set the action low in humid weather, it will bottom out in dry weather or vice versa.

I use trussrods for both these reasons and because, it allows me to fine tune the instruments action and relief. I'm sure it has some effect on the tone, you just have to ask if the effect is measurable and worth getting upset about. Mr Wishnevsky thinks it is, but doesn't seem to worry about things that I think are a lot more upsetting. I guess it's up to you, but personally, even on my 7th build now, I wouldn't do it.

Trussrods are good technology, like EFI on a smallblock chevy. They've turned farm tractors into swisswatches.

 

[jcorneli]

Thanks, Rev, for your thoughts and input. All you points are well taken - especially about building a "farm tractor".

Still, I wonder if this slab of Ebony would budge with a rod... Maybe it is just the fingerboard that would flex? Could that be?

Is this why we don't see so many ebony necks? Like... any at all?

 

[reverendrally]

Ebony flex? Yep Does on my upright and it has a chunky fingerboard extention in the upper register.

A slab for a neck? Nope. $$$$ worth of ebony + hard to work due to it's hardness.

 

[Hopkins]

Do a skunk stripe if you want to use the solid blank. I personally wouldn't build a neck with out a truss rod, there is no reason to not have the ability to adjust your action.

Personally I think Ebony lends itself much better to fingerboards, not a whole neck. It has a tendency to check, and it is extremely heavy.