Which way to position fingerboard

[PrimitiveMan]

Having a cool jazz bass built and wondering opinions on which way to position this board. I know this is totally subjective but curious what others think. I'm leaning towards the left side of the photo towards the nut

These is ebony, just with prominent striping (looks cool and is more environmentally friendly supposedly).

For context it is a swamp ash body in dark purple like this (actually used this exact auto paint)

The neck wood is wenge if that matters

So what do you think would look best and why?

 

[Barticus]

I like the other direction, you would retain more of the cool looking light swash on the left and it would flow towards the nut. I have a piece of Macassar Ebony that I did a similar thing with, letting it flow towards the nut.



Cool color too. It reminds me of this one.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I like the other direction, you would retain more of the cool looking light swash on the left and it would flow towards the nut. I have a piece of Macassar Ebony that I did a similar thing with, letting it flow towards the nut.

View attachment 7293692

Cool color too. It reminds me of this one.
View attachment 7293690View attachment 7293691

That orientation does look nice too!

I should mention the headstock will be unfinished.

I'm really torn, could go either way

 

[Bruce Johnson]

That orientation does look nice too!

I should mention the headstock will be unfinished.

I'm really torn, could go either way

Like you said, it's a visual design call, nothing about structure or that icky engineering stuff. I use Macassar ebony fingerboards on almost all of the basses I build, and a lot of it has wild striping. Here's one I'm finishing up right now:

My general rules of the visual design for stripey fingerboards:

• Angle the fingerboard blank to get the stripes going straight down the neck, as much as possible.
• If possible, flip the board so that any curvature in the stripes is bending upwards, towards the bass side.
• Put the most dense, straight part of the stripes toward the heel, and the less dense curvy part toward the headstock

My thinking is to make the stripes look like flames shooting out of the neck pocket. Strong and straight shooting out, then curving up. Flames that curve downward look kind of weird.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Like you said, it's a visual design call, nothing about structure or that icky engineering stuff. I use Macassar ebony fingerboards on almost all of the basses I build, and a lot of it has wild striping. Here's one I'm finishing up right now:

View attachment 7293701

My general rules of the visual design for stripey fingerboards:

• Angle the fingerboard blank to get the stripes going straight down the neck, as much as possible.
• If possible, flip the board so that any curvature in the stripes is bending upwards, towards the bass side.
• Put the most dense, straight part of the stripes toward the heel, and the less dense curvy part toward the headstock

My thinking is to make the stripes look like flames shooting out of the neck pocket. Strong and straight shooting out, then curving up. Flames that curve downward look kind of weird.

Thanks for your thoughts! Sounds like your guidelines would go with the nut on the left side. That's the way I'm leaning

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Thanks for your thoughts! Sounds like your guidelines would go with the nut on the left side. That's the way I'm leaning

Yes, if it were mine, I'd reverse it left-to-right in the picture. Put the straight flames at the heel, the knot at the 3rd fret, and the flame bending up toward the bass side tuners.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Yes, if it were mine, I'd reverse it left-to-right in the picture. Put the straight flames at the heel, the knot at the 3rd fret, and the flame bending up toward the bass side tuners.

I'm going to see it in person Friday and maybe do a mock up, as the body is already done and painted

 

[1n3]

Aside from left-right, there's top-bottom, and, if it's oversized, angle of cut. A cardboard template with a fingerboard sized/shaped hole would be useful for visualization.

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

In a case like this I like the light tones on the lighter strings, and the darker tones on the heavier strings. Did it that way on a couple of customs.

 

[Gervais Cote]

The body side of the fretboard being wider than the headstock side, I would put the left side of your picture toward the body to benefit from the color contrast of the wood.

 

[rudy4444]

I have a preference, but it has nothing to do with looks.

I'd orient it so the mostly dark end was toward the nut. Visually it's a coin toss, but the darker part of the ebony will resist wear better over the life of the bass. The darker heartwood is denser than the lighter sapwood areas of the board.
I'd place the sapwood portion on the higher end of the scale where frets are closer together and there's less actual contact with the board.

Normally this isn't a consideration, but boards with large sections of sapwood might be better oriented to minimize contact with those lighter sections.

 

[MechaSparky]

Put the pretty part (left side) where it can be seen and enjoyed more, and let the straighter grain side be the business end.

 

[billiard]

I would put the side with the tightest grain towards the nut

 

[rickwrench]

Whenever I use fingerboards or fretboards with contrasting colors, I primarily think about side dot visibility. I don't want the dots to be invisible, they need to contrast. The idea to use a template/mask is a good. You can mark off dot locations and move it around a bit to avoid any visual conflicts.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Appreciate everyone's input, gives a lot to think about. I will discuss with the luthier when I stop by tomorrow.

This bass is being built by Dan Ransom (built basses for Alembic and Modulus, as well as others), he is a true pro so I'm sure he'll have his opinion as well.

 

[2thAche]

I know the norm is to have the more contrasting parts at the heel, but my first thought with that wood was that it would be visually appealing to have the L side at the nut.

 

[MechaSparky]

I know the norm is to have the more contrasting parts at the heel, but my first thought with that wood was that it would be visually appealing to have the L side at the nut.

Will look great either way, that's for sure.

 

[monsterthompson]

Is there a truss cover/hole at the headstock? I could see using the left for the nut if there was a flow into the TRC. Otherwise I’d likely go right side for the nut.

 

[Ostie]

Nut on the right.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Is there a truss cover/hole at the headstock? I could see using the left for the nut if there was a flow into the TRC. Otherwise I’d likely go right side for the nut.

No truss cover, just standard truss at headstock access