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a little bird...... the question i would ask rob is are the grooves cut deep to accept frets or are they just for the lines?? A phenolic (sometimes called Richlite) fingerboard can definitely be fretted, but it behaves differently from traditional woods like rosewood or maple. Phenolic is a dense, synthetic composite material, so there are a few considerations: Key Points Durability: Phenolic is extremely tough and stable. It resists wear better than most woods, which is why it’s often used on fretless basses. This toughness also means it can hold frets securely once installed. Workability: Cutting fret slots and shaping the radius is possible, but you need sharp tools and patience. The material is harder on saw blades and files than wood. Fretting Process: Frets can be tapped or pressed in, but some luthiers recommend using glue (like hide glue or CA) to ensure they stay seated, since phenolic doesn’t compress around the tang the way wood does. Existing Lines: If your bass already has fret lines cut into the phenolic board (common on fretless instruments with “lined” fingerboards), those grooves can be used as guides for installing actual frets. The challenge is whether the slots are the correct depth and width for fret tangs. If they’re shallow or narrow, they’ll need to be recut. Tone & Feel: Fretted phenolic fingerboards tend to sound bright and articulate, with a snappy attack compared to wood. Some players love this clarity, while others find it less warm. Risks & Considerations If the fret slots aren’t properly prepared, frets may not seat well and could pop out. Phenolic dust can be irritating when sanding or cutting, so protective gear is recommended. Once fretted, the instrument loses the smooth fretless feel that phenolic boards are prized for, so it’s worth considering whether you’d prefer to keep it fretless. If your lined phenolic fingerboard already has grooves in the right places, it’s not an “issue” to fret it—it’s more about ensuring the slots are cut to proper dimensions and using the right installation technique. Would you like me to walk you through the specific steps a luthier would take to convert a lined fretless phenolic board into a fretted one?

I've released an album this week on vinyl and CD using ElasticStage. Sound clips can be heard on their website. Available now at https://elasticstage.com/ianedmundson/releases/a-glittering-career-in-music-album

Powersoft

Another satisfied Ishibashi customer here - in Ireland, but the customs and taxes charges and processes are very similar to the UK. Ishibashi went above and beyond, even when An Post didn’t…

Would these be the same 3 blonde BV ladies as a previous occasion?

Looks wonderful and what a fantastic cause and event. I remember a video with Lee Sklar talking about how Phil Collins would make them spend months drilling the set so it sounded super tight but still felt fresh. Bet this will be the same.

That's nuts. Have you tried the UK distributor, strings and things?

Remembering back to the 80s/90s when I used to have to push everything to get an adequate sound, I enjoy having plenty more power than I need so I never have to worry and know my rig is well away from its limit.

What was the year you bought it?

Not sure what came over me but I contacted Ernie Ball for some pickup screws for my Stingray 4 I know, I know, I could've just checked on here etc but alas, I found myself at the checkout and I didn't like what I saw The huge cost is obviously the shipping - now I remember why I haven't bought anything from the US in a while

Yup, Fiebings Leather Dye. Black. Mask off your nut/binding, make sure the fingerboard is finish/varnish-free and clean (I'd already been using lemon oil, the board wasn't grimy). Oh, wear gloves. Apply the dye with a Q-Tip, and do smallish areas, let the dye set up for about 30 seconds and wipe off any excess. I was a little concerned about the inlay dots on the neck as it's almost impossible to go round them...i was easily able to clean off the dye on top of the dots with a Q-Tip dipped in some methylated spirit. Obviously I was concerned. Christ, it was a £4.5k bass. The results were very much what I wanted and there's been little dulling of the board since I did it. Good luck!

Aye... sorry, everyone. Being in an Eagles tribute band will do that to you. I need that bridge pickup for some of the tunes. That's a 2017 American Standard, and it's blummin' lovely! OK - that's four days of rehearsals over... I'm knackered, but so far, so good. It's a great batch of songs, but inevitably the trickiest tune of the lot has had a late-in-the-day key change. As a non-reader, it keeps things spicy. We're in to the Arena tomorrow night to check lines & monitors, and have a couple of run-throughs before a day of full production rehearsals on Saturday. There's 13 in the band: Drummer (founder member of Lindisfarne), Keys (Ex-Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton), Keys / Violin / MD (Ex-Sting), Guitar #1 (Ex-Tygers of Pan Tang), Guitar #2 (Ex Arctic Monkeys / Last Shadow Puppets), 4x Brass (Including The 1975's sax player), 3x BVs (including the lady who sang 'I'll Do Anything for Love' with Meat Loaf) ...and little 'ol me. I'm on double-duty - I'm also responsible for the content on the video screens, which is nice as I get to make sure the visuals closely match the music. I'm looking forward to it all coming together. There was a segment about the show on the One Show on the BBC this evening if anyone's interested. Here's some more pics!

Mine is a constant noise but if i'm busy or thinking about things i never really notice it. Did notice it when i bought the Volvo car which was a lot more quiet than the Toyota 3L diesel pick up i had for 8 yrs. Something i did find when i'm in a quiet space even bed and i notice it is to put my little finger just in my ear to the point i can hear the change in noise. That distract my brain for a minute and when i remove the finger its as if the ringing type noise has gone. Can't imagine how bad you have it by the sounds of it. With regards riding bikes it was back in 80's and at high motorway speeds too. Not so much these days riding an old 2003 Harley but i put earplugs in if motorway driving but its ok local rides at less than 50mph. Probably gonna sell the bike this year as just not using it much these days. Dave

Definitely out!

My Rivolta Duocato arrived today. Unfortunately I had practice tonight so I had very little time with it before I left. I was slightly worried ordering it as although it ticks every box for my needs, I'd never heard of Rivolta and never seen or heard anything they've made. There's no reviews as this is the first batch of twelve made. Well the gamble paid off, I'm a fussy bugger but it is beautiful and flawless. Lovely woods, aged cream bound headstock, fretboard and f hole, double bound body with checker binding to the front, slim neck, lightweight, set up nicely, even arrived in tune from the U.S. It sounds great, although the volume control is a touch on the on/off side but that's not a big deal. I'll get some pictures up over the weekend. I'm one very happy bunny!