Zebra neck?

[Al Heeley]

I have enough zebrano wood left for a bass neck using a zeb/walnut/zeb sandwich construction.
Is Zebra wood seen as a suitable wood for a bass neck or is it too irregular/open pored?

 

[T2W]

I dont know about the open pores being a problem, Ash and mahogany are used for necks without a problem, I have never tried a Zebra neck and I dont think I would want to, since its so freakin heavy. Son of magni Link Removed uses it once in a while though...

 

[elros]

When planning my current Warmoth project I asked them (Warmoth) about zebrano wood for the neck.... they said it was a very bad idea.

We do not use Zebrawood for any of our necks. I doubt it would take the glue used for the tiltback very well.

 

[Son of Magni]

When planning my current Warmoth project I asked them (Warmoth) about zebrano wood for the neck.... they said it was a very bad idea.

Well first off, I've never had a problem gluing Zebrawood, and I doubt anyone else here has. So I don't know what they're talking about with that. I mean, it's not like you're gluing cocobolo...

But anyways, I like Zebrano as a neck wood. It's hard and stiff. Yes it's heavy, so it's good to mix it with something light and Walnut is a great choice.

It's not the easiest wood to work with. It's pretty straight grained, but splintery. You need sharp tools and it will dull them quickly.

I happen to like open grain woods on necks. Open grain with an oil finish gives you a neck will never stick to your grungy old sweaty hand And the little bit of texture you will feel is actually kind of pleasant.

 

[Al Heeley]

Thx for the replies. I had no problems gluing it when I used Zebra wood for the body of my recent neck-thru. Not entirely sure what they mean by the tiltback, unless they mean a separate angled headstock, which I will not have, it will all be one-piece carved. Be nice to use up the light mahogany I have left too, a walnut/Zeb/Mahogany laminated neck. I can see a plan coming together.
After building a bubinga bodied P-bass, I have no problem with the weight of Zebra wood.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeah I have a Frenz bass that has a flat sawn strip of Zebra down the middle of the neck on a neck thru. The other neck wood is Wenge so the weight is tough but the neck likes staying where it is.
I've built several basses with Zebra bodies and none have come unglued yet.
Good Luck,
Dirk

 

[treebranch13]

Dirk,
how did your frend's bass sound with that wood combo?

 

[elros]

Thx for the replies. I had no problems gluing it when I used Zebra wood for the body of my recent neck-thru. Not entirely sure what they mean by the tiltback, unless they mean a separate angled headstock,

Yes, the Warmoth neck I was getting has an angeled headstock, with what I think is called a Invalid Link Removed. Perhaps that's the reason why... I don't know.
I chose Bubinga for that neck.

 

[Cerb]

Dirk,
how did your frend's bass sound with that wood combo?

No, no, no. Not friend's.

Frenz:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]




Beautiful bass, by the way. It came up while I was searching Google for a picture of a Frenz to complete this post. Only after clicking it did I realize that it is yours.

 

[DanielM]

I have a Lado guitar which has a Zebra/Maple/Zebra neckthrough neck and it's really stable and really nice. I would have no reservations about using Zebra in a neck.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Yes Treebranch it is Frenz not friends.
It sounds great and the 1st picture in this thread is not the bass I was talking about. But I will attach the bass in question. To be honest I don't believe the Zebra in the neck has much to do with sound but that's a whole different issue.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I don't know if I would ever get rid of these 2 basses at any cost.
I used to have 4 at one point, he is a highly underrated/unknown builder. If you get chance to grab one do it!
Dirk

 

[eleonn]

Dirk.. any possibility to post a pic of the back of both basses?

 

[Thonk]

My very first build had a zebar/purpleheart/cherry/PH/ZB 5 pc thur neck

Aswell as zerba bodywings a zebra fretboard and a maple burl top!

Yep i really made things hard for myself on that one

yes its quite heavy but the tone is great,id love to work with ZB again but its pretty hard to find in good sizes here in the UK and im damed if im paying air for it now that USPS has canned surface...heres a few pic's

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Hello Eleonn,
I don't have any back of the neck pictures right now. I could take pictures but that would really be hiijacking this thread, especially the headless bass has no Zebra wood at all.
If you really want me to do that, send me a PM or start a Frenz thread perhaps
Nice bass by the way Thonk! I wish my first was that adventurous.
Dirk

 

[Al Heeley]

Thats a marvellous bass, Thonk. Not sure where you're situated but John Boddys in Boroughbridge is where I go for my wood, and last month they had zebrawood coming out their ears, like it grows on trees or something. I had to buy some.