Spoombung Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Does anyone know where I can get this treatment on a fretless fingerboard in the UK? My fingerboard is very worn and I need to think about a more permanent solution. I have looked at the Bass Gallery website and other websites and they do not seem to offer this service. Any clues/links/contacts/experiences appreciated. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Have you considered trying to do the job yourself? May be something on youtube about how to do it. On leftybassist.com the member called Matt R, based in the USA did this to two jazz bass necks with great results. You might be able to get good advice/ direction from him about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1394286524' post='2389897'] Does anyone know where I can get this treatment on a fretless fingerboard in the UK? My fingerboard is very worn and I need to think about a more permanent solution. I have looked at the Bass Gallery website and other websites and they do not seem to offer this service. Any clues/links/contacts/experiences appreciated. Kev [/quote] If your fingerboard is badly worn you may be just as well biting the bullet and having a new one installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 It's definitely not something I'd attempt myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1394303569' post='2390144'] If your fingerboard is badly worn you may be just as well biting the bullet and having a new one installed. [/quote] It's a Wal - so it would be expensive with a long wait time. I think a sanding and epoxy would be the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1394303725' post='2390148'] It's a Wal - so it would be expensive with a long wait time. I think a sanding and epoxy would be the answer. [/quote] You are best placed to know the best course of action...if it's a Wal it needs to be done to a high standard. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Pretty sure any decent luthier will offer this service. Some good instrument shops have workshops. Phone around for quotes. Someone may know a specialist in the London area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootleg Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Just been in touch with Jon Shucker and he confirmed they offer this service http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/services.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 [quote name='bootleg' timestamp='1394323544' post='2390395'] Just been in touch with Jon Shucker and he confirmed they offer this service [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/services.html"]http://www.shukergui...k/services.html[/url] [/quote] Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Be aware that the sound will change - much brighter and more edge. Nice, but different. On a Wal I'd be thinking new ebony board (not by Wal necessarily) if I loved the sound of that bass. On a side note, in the early days Wal used a wood called something that sounded like parrot sh*t (as Pete called it) some form of South American hardwood similar to the stuff they use for bow making. Looks like rosewood but a lot tougher. A friend has an old ProIIE fretless with this, and it is the best sounding fretless I've ever heard - a real woody growl. I don't think they used it much, as it was hard to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1394367287' post='2390667'] Be aware that the sound will change - much brighter and more edge. Nice, but different. On a Wal I'd be thinking new ebony board (not by Wal necessarily) if I loved the sound of that bass. On a side note, in the early days Wal used a wood called something that sounded like parrot sh*t (as Pete called it) some form of South American hardwood similar to the stuff they use for bow making. Looks like rosewood but a lot tougher. A friend has an old ProIIE fretless with this, and it is the best sounding fretless I've ever heard - a real woody growl. I don't think they used it much, as it was hard to find. [/quote] It's never really had the long sustain 'growl' to the sound that I associate with Wal basses, unfortunately. That's probably why i tend to play it very percussively (lots of short notes and tremelos). It also has several dead spots on the neck - we're talking very dead - like bumpf! I've had the bass for 30 years and in that time it's had several re-sandings by the Wal people. The last one was around 1993 by Pete. I'm pretty sure it's not a particularly hard bit of ebony. Take a look: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Sounds like epoxy would be a good idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1394367287' post='2390667'] Be aware that the sound will change - much brighter and more edge. Nice, but different. On a Wal I'd be thinking new ebony board (not by Wal necessarily) if I loved the sound of that bass. On a side note, in the early days Wal used a wood called something that sounded like parrot sh*t (as Pete called it) some form of South American hardwood similar to the stuff they use for bow making. Looks like rosewood but a lot tougher. A friend has an old ProIIE fretless with this, and it is the best sounding fretless I've ever heard - a real woody growl. I don't think they used it much, as it was hard to find. [/quote] Pau Ferro? Standard on newish MusicMan fretless, my 2011 Ray has it. Not totally wear-proof but somewhere between rosewood and ebony hardness-wise from memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 No, not Pau Ferro. It was parraticolo or something like that..hence the parrot sh*t. Its about as hard as an ebony board, I suspect - but looks dark brown very much like rosewood. He's been playing (only) the same bass for over 25 years and it hasn't got much wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1394398126' post='2391037'] No, not Pau Ferro. It was parraticolo or something like that..hence the parrot sh*t. Its about as hard as an ebony board, I suspect - but looks dark brown very much like rosewood. He's been playing (only) the same bass for over 25 years and it hasn't got much wear. [/quote] Cocobolo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Mine's Dyamond wood, very, very hard. Sounds great though, a bit like phenolic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I had a Steinberger L2 fretless and it's phenolic fingerboard did not stand up to wear and tear at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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