Bass Fingerboard (installation on an existing bass)

[Bass Wielder]

Hey, 

I looking for someone to do a fretted 5 fingerboard for me on a bass I’m  hoping to salvage.

Having tried some of the (too busy) ‘name luthiers’ from an existing list here on bass chat, I decided to give a fellow bass chatter a shot. 
Any help to find a capable one would be greatly appreciated.

The story in a nutshell…..

It’s a bass built by my now deceased friend that I inherited and I think it is  potentially a great instrument. And of course it would mean a great deal to get it up to professional standards.

It plays and sounds good but the space between the strings and the body (whatever that’s called), is far too low for a player like me. Can’t get the fingers below for slap etc…

The idea is to replace the existing fingerboard with one that is either the right thickness or shimmed up to…

I’ll attach a pic or two for visual reference.

Cross fingers that I’ll get some joy  amongst the talented bunch we have on BC🫡🤞🏽

 

 

Edited November 15, 2024 by Bass Wielder

[Hellzero]

Calling @Andyjr1515 !

[Andyjr1515]

36 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Calling @Andyjr1515 !

 

You are very kind, @Hellzero. 

 

And, @Bass Wielder, I would normally JUMP at the chance - that looks a lovely bass indeed        

But, with regret, I am going to have to pass on this one.  The pesky hand arthritis is throwing its toys out of the pram at the moment and I've had to drop all fretboard & fret work (in fact, just at the moment, almost all building and fettling stuff).  Hopefully another Basschatter will be able to step in (worth looking through the 'Basschatters willing/able to help other Basschatters' section on the forum) because I reckon we would all like to see this bass back in action 

 

Andy

[Bass Wielder]

Thanks guys👍🏾🤞🏽🙏🏾

….and to stoke up the fire…here’s the rear view! Love the feel of the neck!!!!!😍

[Bass Wielder]

57 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said:

 

You are very kind, @Hellzero. 

 

And, @Bass Wielder, I would normally JUMP at the chance - that looks a lovely bass indeed        

But, with regret, I am going to have to pass on this one.  The pesky hand arthritis is throwing its toys out of the pram at the moment and I've had to drop all fretboard & fret work (in fact, just at the moment, almost all building and fettling stuff).  Hopefully another Basschatter will be able to step in (worth looking through the 'Basschatters willing/able to help other Basschatters' section on the forum) because I reckon we would all like to see this bass back in action 

 

Andy

No probs…understood!

[tauzero]

37 minutes ago, Bass Wielder said:

Thanks guys👍🏾🤞🏽🙏🏾

….and to stoke up the fire…here’s the rear view! Love the feel of the neck!!!!!😍

 

Do those screws hold the wings on?

[Richard R]

 

I read this as that the action is too low for you to play slap,  and that you want to raise the fretboard as part of the fix.

Does that mean you're going to raise the bridge so you can get your plucking fingers under the strings, and then raise the fretboard  correspondingly so the action there is still low?

Won't that mean the strings bounce and buzz on the frets all the time as they are now vibrating vertically?

 

Sorry if I'm being thick here, I don't play slap and I'm just trying to understand the problem. I'm also not a luthier so I can't help practically either, sorry. ☹️

[Acebassmusic]

Would making a recess in between the end of the neck and the neck pickup work? It would be a lot less work than a new fretboard? I'm thinking of a wider version of the JayDee slap cut......🤷‍♂️

 

[Bass Wielder]

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Do those screws hold the wings on?

Yep! And he made a second pair of wings with different wood.

Genius!!

[Bass Wielder]

2 hours ago, Acebassmusic said:

Would making a recess in between the end of the neck and the neck pickup work? It would be a lot less work than a new fretboard? I'm thinking of a wider version of the JayDee slap cut......🤷‍♂️

 

I thought of that….but not sure.

Its a neck through and quite a slim body so could be compromising the ‘joint’ area by removing wood.🤔

[Bass Wielder]

10 hours ago, Bass Wielder said:

I thought of that….but not sure.

Its a neck through and quite a slim body so could be compromising the ‘joint’ area by removing wood.🤔

Looks like this may be possible! 
Still would need someone to do this routing….🤔

[tauzero]

11 hours ago, Bass Wielder said:

I thought of that….but not sure.

Its a neck through and quite a slim body so could be compromising the ‘joint’ area by removing wood.🤔

 

Peavey also did this with the Grind - the groove didn't extend across the whole width.

 

[Bass Wielder]

6 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Peavey also did this with the Grind - the groove didn't extend across the whole width.

 

Wowza! Forgot about that. Well remembered!!!🏆

Does make sense💡
Inspired me to look into getting that done!! Definitely an easier (safer?) option…but who….? Hmmmmmm🕵🏽‍♂️

[Hellzero]

Worth checking the early 90's Yamaha TRB Slap Cut series too. 😉

[Bass Wielder]

I see what you mean guys…

[Bass Wielder]

So maybe just the ‘blue’ section and perhaps the green????

[tauzero]

Rather than the entire blue section, just the part up to just under the G string, including the front of the wing. But as I don't play slap, I may be missing your requirements, I'm just going by what Peavey did.

[Bass Wielder]

I hear ya….true. Don’t take off more than necessary.🧷

[Doctor J]

Those frets look quite low, perhaps installing something like 6105 wire would bring things up a smidge? I would heartily recommend not excavating some of that blue section until you've exhausted all other options.

[Bass Wielder]

Spoke to a good mate of mine who said much the same about removing any wood. DON’T⛔️⚠️‼️
It looks like a fingerboard job to be honest……

[Hellzero]

Or a new approach to your slap technique @Bass Wielder ...

[Bass Wielder]

3 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Or a new approach to your slap technique @Bass Wielder ...

Too late for that! Come on now😅