Pics of bound fretboards

I "bind" lots of my fretboards:

 

The essex 75 jazz bass has a creme white binding arounf the frettboard. If you dont know the link check them out at www.rondomusic.com ...I know the essex binding is not a state of the art expensive one, but i think it adds a nice look to the neck.

 

Wish this was mine....

 

Sweet fretboard, Greg! Is that Wenge?

Here's my 75 Reissue Jazz that I've modified heavily:



I haven't been playing it very much, and I keep toying with the idea of selling it, but I don't know if I can bear to part with it.

 

Here's my MIJ '75 reissue before the mods took place. Mods include a J Retro, custom colored p/g, and bridge & p'up covers.

 

I love that look! Gimme a few weeks, an I should be able to post pics of my Nordstrand...

Mike

 

I've never been particularly attracted by bound fretboards but whatever floats your boat.

Is there any structural reason for it or is it just a chance for the luthier to demonstrate their woodworking skills?

Wulf

 

here's the Benavente that Lowell (hippysandwich) ordered last winter

 

bassmonkeee,
Yes its a wenge fretboard with bubinga binding (matches neck laminates). I do it mostly because its fun but in this case the wenge was just a hair too narrow so it got binding... plus it looks good with the amboyna top.

 

I wondered if that was bubinga. I'd have looked extra cool if I had guessed that, too, huh?

I almost forgot my other bass with binding:



My 6 string Athlete AX-6 Acoustic with bound Ebony fretboard.

 

here's one.

<img src="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=1040370">

 

Well, on ebony boards (really prone to seasonal expansion and contraction), a binding can provide some protection from shrinking, and to the degree that the board does shrink, it keeps the fret ends from protruding beyond the edge of the board. Of course, it's also decorative.

At least, that's the way I've always heard to for acoustic guitars, where bindings and ebony boards are used a lot more frequently. Sometimes acoustics will even have bindings made of the same wood as the fretboard and be almost impossible to see, so they're clearly intended to be functional and not showy.

Mike

 

Both of my basses have bound fretboards - but you know what they look like... Rickenbacker 4003 and Fender Geddy Lee Jazz.

--jeff

 

j-radj and speddling:

They are some beautiful bits of wood!

 

kirbywrx,

Yeah...But the one in my post is from the Fodera site ("the beast", Emperor II)... I really wish it was mine. I think that the one in speddling's post is his actual bass...

speddling,

That "..g-thang.." Tune is hip. I really like that Bene-51 that you have.

 

bassmonkee, woodchuck, toad - BEAUTIFUL basses, man! You can probably guess that I'm a big Fender Jazz fan. For my own personal tastes, nothing beats them aesthetically and I love 'em for overall playability and sound, too. A beautiful Jazz will turn my head more than any bass made.

 

Here's the bass that goes along with that bound fretboard picture I posted earlier: (I've since switched the wenge out for masking tape...)