FRETLESS: Ebony or Rosewood or other?

[MONKEYMAN]

Hi, Wondering if anyone can give me a little background & history on the types of fingerboards used on Stingray fretless's.

Was Rosewood the standard wood used in the late '70's fretless? Was Ebony an option? Which was the more common wood used.

When did they stop using Ebony on a fretless?

What is Pau Ferro?

Thanks,

MM

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Pau Ferro is a very strong South American timber similar in strength to ebony, very good for fingerboards

but hey you can read more here: Pao Ferro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Opinions of Fretless boards PLEASE

Please post your opinions regarding Rosewood versus Ebony fingerboards for a Fretless Stingray. I am interested in the sound and playability aspects from pro-players.

ALSO -Opinions out there about string gauges and brands/model#'s for Fretless.

Thanks!!

MM

 

[Duarte]

Please post your opinions regarding Rosewood versus Ebony fingerboards for a Fretless Stingray.

Well, you did ask what Pau Ferro was...

This is a pretty good guide to woods... Warmoth Custom Guitar Parts - Bass Neck Woods Personally, I woudn't buy a fretless bass with a rosewood board, it won't last. Also, Ebony apparently has more highs and can make the bass sound snappier which I suppose is a good thing for a fretless - clear definition. It also lasts a hell of a lot longer when using roundwounds. I also much prefer the feel of fretless ebony boards.

Pau Ferro, which is the standard now, is a very good fingerboard wood. It's beautiful and lasts and is incredibly smooth.

 

[sitonmybass]

I had four basses with ebony fretboards, one being fretless. I recently sold it along with one of the ebony fretted models leaving me with two fretted ebony fingerboard basses. I like ebony quite a bit, I find it to be sonically pleasing as well as visually attractive and easy to maintain. I've had no experience with pau ferro but I do hope to have an EBMM fretless 5 someday.

 

[Manfloozy]

Ebony is very durable, much more so then rosewood. Rosewood will sound warmer and darker but roundwounds will eat it up. I believe rosewood was used more commonly for fretless in the 70's then it is now. Currently the standard is Pau Ferro or Ebony.

Bot PF and ebony are great.

Flatwounds or tapewounds will be kinder to a fretless fingerboard, and sound great, but ebony can take on rounds just fine too. Never tried rounds on a PF fretless though.

One disclaimer though, I am by no means a pro player... Just someone who loves his fretless Balls.

 

[MrMusashi]

im sure oli@bass will chime in, since he has fretless basses with different fingerboard woods

my fretless has pau ferro and its just what it claims to be.. iron wood
no signs of wear even if i use rounds

MrM

 

[oli@bass]

I've had a 30th Anniversary (pau ferro board) and currently have an '88 (pau ferro), a '07 Dargie (pau ferro) and a '09 Ebony edition (ebony). Each of these StingRays has a very different natural sound and vibe. It's not only the fretboard alone, but the whole package including body wood, neck finish and fretboard wood. I don't have a real preference regarding feel, but ebony looks exceptionally sharp and it adds a bit of edge and sparkle to the sound which I really like. Interesting enough, although I was totally crazy about getting a ebnoy fretless, I found that the ebony board on the fretted does stand out even more soundwise.

Regarding durability I don't have real data. I did have rounds on them, which left tiny marks (more like tiny polished lines), but switched to flatwound strings on all my fretless basses because I prefer the sound and lack of noise when sliding. When I got the '88 it had deep groves in the fretboard and was very uneven. So I brought it to a luthier and it plays like new ever since.

Bottom line: For pau ferro or ebony, you don't have to worry about durability. And even if you manage to play the board down a bit, there's enough fingerboard wood on those EBMM necks that you can easily have it levelled by skilled luthier and it feels like new.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Fretless string gauges anyone?

First off - BIG THANKS to all of you who have posted opinions - any information/real world experience is greatly appreciated.

I wonder if any of you could chime in on Fretless string brands and gauges.

At the moment I am looking at getting Rotosound Swing RS66LC 40 to 95. I have a rosewood fingerboard '98 unlined Stingray. I've been considering a lighter set - the 35 to 90 - but fear the strings may be too 'flabby' and not give enough resistance.

Any opinions about the D'Addarrio half-rounds - or half rounds by any other manufacturer - versus regular roundwounds? Comments regarding nickel or steel or other alloys?

Strings are awfully expensive to experiment with - as I'm sure you ALL know - hence the reason I'm asking these questions.

Sonically I like a sound somewhere between Pino & Jaco.

Thanks!!

 

[maddog]

Regular Slinkys on this naughty girl:

 

[Caca de Kick]

Hi, Wondering if anyone can give me a little background & history on the types of fingerboards used on Stingray fretless's.

The preEB StingRays used rosewood fingerboards, that's all. If you find one with and ebony board, then it's a replacement board a repairman installed.

EBMM uses Pau Ferro

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The preEB StingRays used rosewood fingerboards...

EBMM uses Pau Ferro

Mike, the fretless Pre-EBs were rosewood up to 1979 but changed to ebony c.1980.

 

[gafman]

[/IMG]
Here is a pic of my '95 Ray which has an unlined Pau Ferro board and Labella tapewounds. This is how I received her a couple of years ago and I really like the tone. It still has some zing but I have no fear of the board getting worn. The board does have some wear (string rub) which appears to be from the previous owner using roundwounds for a time. Having said that, I plan to try some EB roundwounds to really hear her sing.

 

[projectapollo]

I am using EB Flat Group 4's (lightest guage) on my Bongo Fretless and like them alot. Manfloozy turned me onto the more expensive TI Flats which are really nice. But Ed Friedman had commented here that the Group 4s were similar to the TI Flats, so I tried a set of those and like them. I got the Group 4's on Amazon for only $22.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Thanks Gav,