Parts Bass - do I get maple or rosewood fretboard?
Comments
Are you keeping the body as is or a dark colour?
I would go maple with black block markers a la Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Third way - ebony.
Flamed maple would look tasty, though.
Flamed maple would look tasty, though.
Maple, no inlays.
I think I'd go maple with black dots.
Maple with black blocks is my first choice, anything with no inlays second
Which do you prefer to play?
Doesn't matter what it looks like, Shirley? ;)
Doesn't matter what it looks like, Shirley? ;)
It doesn't matter really, but as all the parts I've got have been picked expertly (ahem) for balance / low weight I can now get to the bottom of the priority list, being colour.Kurtis said:Which do you prefer to play?
Doesn't matter what it looks like, Shirley? ;)
I have no preference. The backs of the necks are always maple and with thick bass strings the fingers never touch the actual board anyway.
I had intended to get an unfinished body and then paint it, maybe Candy Apple Red like Duck Dunn's favourite bass, but when this body arrived the stain has been done quite well.wibble said:Are you keeping the body as is or a dark colour?I would go maple with black block markers a la Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Also, paulownia is apparently a right pain in the arse to paint properly, so a stain is the more usual choice for that wood.
So with that in mind I think I'll keep it as is.
Ebony gets expensive these days, unfortunately, as does flame maple.Funkfingers said:Third way - ebony.
Flamed maple would look tasty, though.
Richlite then.fretmeister said:It doesn't matter really, but as all the parts I've got have been picked expertly (ahem) for balance / low weight I can now get to the bottom of the priority list, being colour.Kurtis said:Which do you prefer to play?
Doesn't matter what it looks like, Shirley? ;)
I have no preference. The backs of the necks are always maple and with thick bass strings the fingers never touch the actual board anyway.
Maple with black blocks.
I have a Jazz like that and everyone always compliments how it looks.
I have a Jazz like that and everyone always compliments how it looks.
I had a look at some Warmoth ones as they have a sale on - but once shipping and vat etc are added a brand new official Fender Mex replacement is the same price with either maple or pau ferro boards.
Rosewood seems to cost a fair bit more, and for some reason Fender UK don't list rosewood on any replacement neck options.
Ebay is full of £70 necks from China but I have no idea of the quality.
Rosewood seems to cost a fair bit more, and for some reason Fender UK don't list rosewood on any replacement neck options.
Ebay is full of £70 necks from China but I have no idea of the quality.
You ever used the Kisekae virtual guitar designer?
https://tctwp.com/kisekae/
Click on the IMAGE (not the word) of the guitar you're designing. On the next page there's a big button to start.
Works best on laptop and possibly tablet. Bit finicky on mobile but YMMV.
Once you're in the designer window, click on the "Switch Part" button on the left side to customise the different parts of the guitar.
https://tctwp.com/kisekae/
Click on the IMAGE (not the word) of the guitar you're designing. On the next page there's a big button to start.
Works best on laptop and possibly tablet. Bit finicky on mobile but YMMV.
Once you're in the designer window, click on the "Switch Part" button on the left side to customise the different parts of the guitar.
Maple all day
If you want to treat yourself on the tuner front the Graph Tech Ratios are very nice. The low E is a breeze to tune.
Mr. Lee's numero uno Fender bass has white MOTO block inlays and white binding.wibble said:I would go maple with black block markers a la Geddy Lee Jazz bass
Some of his back-up stage instruments have the black plastic.
Anyone know of a compatible neck with 21 frets? Probably an overhang?
Sometimes that high E is really useful.
Sometimes that high E is really useful.
This.Mr. Lee's numero uno Fender bass has white MOTO block inlays and white binding.
The horrible split pickguard has to go too. I would probably pick black pearl, but a decent plain BWB 3-ply would be fine too.
Funkfingers said:Mr. Lee's numero uno Fender bass has white MOTO block inlays and white binding.wibble said:I would go maple with black block markers a la Geddy Lee Jazz bassSome of his back-up stage instruments have the black plastic.
I had the previous CIJ sig model with the black block markers
+1OilCityPickups said:Maple all day
I think I might order from Warmoth so I can get 21 frets.
Probably do it after Christmas to avoid seasonal shipping issues.
Probably do it after Christmas to avoid seasonal shipping issues.
It'll be worth looking for discounted stock stuff from warmoth, especially in Jan.
I got a nice unfinished maple Tele neck for about $280 earlier this year. Obviously that's the price before shipping/tax and cost of finishing it, but I saved at least 100 over the standard price and custom-built to the same spec would have been more on top. Now I think about it my favourite bass neck was via this route too. Satin finish wasn't ideal but polished up easy enough at home. This one had a middle-ground nut width between vintage P and J specs, which is super comfy.
https://warmoth.com/bass-necks/j-bass?number_of_frets=90
Otherwise keeping a couple of reverb searches saved for "Warmoth Bass neck' and "Musikraft bass neck" can throw up some used bargains
I got a nice unfinished maple Tele neck for about $280 earlier this year. Obviously that's the price before shipping/tax and cost of finishing it, but I saved at least 100 over the standard price and custom-built to the same spec would have been more on top. Now I think about it my favourite bass neck was via this route too. Satin finish wasn't ideal but polished up easy enough at home. This one had a middle-ground nut width between vintage P and J specs, which is super comfy.
https://warmoth.com/bass-necks/j-bass?number_of_frets=90
Otherwise keeping a couple of reverb searches saved for "Warmoth Bass neck' and "Musikraft bass neck" can throw up some used bargains
Does Warmoth only take credit cards? No paypal?
Ignore that.fretmeister said:Does Warmoth only take credit cards? No paypal?
Shipping and vat etc would take it to about £420 and I don't want to spend that much.
So I've found a deal on a genuine Fender player series Jazz neck for about £260. Maple board with dots. I can always put block stickers on if I want.
Now I need a neck plate / screws, tuners and pots. I've got my usual favourite Aguilar 60s wind pickup for it already. I might use .1uF caps so it can get really dark as I will be using steel roundwounds on this.
Maybe a BWB 'plate. Or maybe a mirror one.
BWB! For sure.fretmeister said:Ignore that.fretmeister said:Does Warmoth only take credit cards? No paypal?
Shipping and vat etc would take it to about £420 and I don't want to spend that much.
So I've found a deal on a genuine Fender player series Jazz neck for about £260. Maple board with dots. I can always put block stickers on if I want.
Now I need a neck plate / screws, tuners and pots. I've got my usual favourite Aguilar 60s wind pickup for it already. I might use .1uF caps so it can get really dark as I will be using steel roundwounds on this.
Maybe a BWB 'plate. Or maybe a mirror one.
I like BWB on a black bass with a maple board (my Sandberg Jazz is like that) but I'm wondering about a mirror one to get a lit of a Phil Lynott vibe even without the rosewood 'board.
I think I have all the parts now aside from tuning heads which I'm expecting tomorrow.
Looking forward to having a week off to get it assembled.
I think I have all the parts now aside from tuning heads which I'm expecting tomorrow.
Looking forward to having a week off to get it assembled.
I've just got this very lightweight body. I have most of the other parts I need too, but not a neck.
I will be getting a jazz profile neck as I don't get on with the width of P bass necks.
So the question is - maple or rosewood?
Then, dot inlays, or maybe black blocks on a maple board?
What do you think?