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Problems with black fretless outdoors

J

joegrant413

Dec 6, 2009
317
70
#1
I just came back from an outdoor concert with my praise band. I ran into major problems with my Ibanez black 5 string fretless bass. The first seven fret positions would not play. Suddenly I had to learn on the spot where to play everything from frets 7 to 14. I struggled through it but there were definitely some holes left in the music that were noticeable.

I played in the direct sunlight on a hot day in the St Louis area.

So what in the world do I do next time to avoid this? Was it a problem with it being an Ibanez, or a fretless, or black, or all three?

By the way, I never had any kind of problem like this with this bass. And I've been using it for over 2 years. But always inside until this afternoon.

Thanks,
- Joe
 
#3
My guess is the neck moved due to an acute change in temperature/moisture, causing to strings to be too low at the lower frets.

All basses will do this to some extent. Some are more susceptible than others. The bass needs a "seasonal" setup.
 
#5
The strings would not clear those frets when I played. So it just made an empty plunking sound.

I noticed it at first on the 2nd and 4th frets on the second string. By the end of the set, it spread to other positions.

Thanks,
- Joe
 
#12
fretless necks, when properly set up, require almost NO relief - so, they are almost flat under normal conditions

agreed a man-made material might even be more sensitive to heat extremes than wood

my guess is that the neck actually straightened out more - if you are going into that environment again, try adjusting the truss rod for more 'relief' or bow prior to the gig
 
#13
Yes, it has an ebonol fretboard!

I just checked it now, it has been the case for more than an hour back home.

Still warm to the touch... both strings and body.

Much more playable. Still not fretting cleanly on the 2nd string 2nd fret, but nothing I couldn't work around.

Obviously... I did not see this coming. No doubt I will buy or borrow another bass if I play outdoors again.


Thx,
-- Joe

FWIW, here's a description of the Ibanez SR35 I own...

The Ibanez SR35 5-String Fretless Electric Bass Guitar is an affordable choice for bass players who want to venture into the fretless realm with 5 strings.

This 5-string Ibanez fretless has an agathis body and 5-piece maple neck. The ebonol fingerboard is high density and perfect for a fretless bass.

The SR35 is equipped with Ibanez EFX pickups that are curved on top to produce a perfectly balanced sound between all 5 strings. An Ibanez sweeper style EQ lets you find just the right tone.
Features
5 string fretless
High-density ebonol fretboard
Sound-balanced Ibanez EXF pickups
 
#14
I wonder if the neck isn't too thin for that sort of environmental change?

I had an Ibanez SGR 4 string fretted (SR800 i think?) in the 90's. The neck was so thin that at two hot gigs the neck moved so much it was unplayable. Strings were sitting on the frets...... Lucky I had a second bass. Needless to say, I sold the bass after the second time. I have never had a bass do this before or after that. Never been keen on Ibanez since.
 
#15
I might get a big thick-necked, 4 string fretted SUB after this!

Still love Ibanez necks for playability, so I'll keep my SR35, and my Ibanez S guitar.

BTW, on the bright side, I've played enough to at least have found a few notes in a hurry outside of the usual area. Two years, I would have been completely mute. Or asking one of the other bands to borrow a bass....

Cheers,
 
#16
Last post for now.... can anyone else confirm they've heard of ebonol fretboard problems with temperature or weather changes? I did some googling, and haven't really seen much.

I at least want to get my story straight when I see the band tomorrow....

-- Joe
 
#18
Ebanol is a phenolic resin impregnated paper or linen material that while easy to work with and ok tone wise is VERY hydroscopic. Meaning it ABSORBS water to varying degrees. The big problem is that it absorbs and responds differently than the wood of the neck it's glued to. That in combination with the thin design of the Ibanez bass neck are the factors that contributed to your problem. It is also not impervious to temperature changes either. Check out Invalid Link Removed

I am a user of their products and definitely will never use anything but carbon fiber for my fretless basses. Been where you are! Done with all that!
 
#19
I don't have a fretless, nor an ebonol fretboard, but I do have a Lakland JO 55-60 with a straight fretboard (no relief) and action that is extremely low (it is plekked). My last three gigs have been outside in triple-digit temps and in direct sunshine for the entire gig(s). I did not experience any problems with those temps vs the changing of the fretboard. I honestly do not believe that the temperatures affect the fretboard that much. I do, however accomplish seasonal setups, and had just did so just before these three gigs.
 
#20
I had this happen once with my Modulus Q5 with a graphite neck - outside on an almost 100 degree day playing in a parking lot with just a canopy for shade. ( I would still like to smack my brother for booking that stupid gig)

I figure it just got too hot. Bass cooled down and has been fine ever since but I will never do that again to my beloved Q5 or myself,
 

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