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Post subject: refinish fretless neck
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 12:59 pm
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I would like to refinish a fretless neck (Precision w/Indian Rosewood fretboard).
What is a good method to do this? Thank you.


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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:08 pm
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While I can't provide you with the answer you need, I would add my two cents for you to consider before you do this. I'm assuming you mean adding a lacquer or varnish (I'm not really sure of the proper term here) finish.

First, is your motivation for doing this aesthetics or tone? On a fretless, fingerboard characteristics play a much larger role in tone than they do in fretted basses. A simple oil finish allows the wood to more directly influence the tone of the bass. A lacquer or varnish finish will add some snap and brightness to the tone at the expense of some of the earthly woodiness. Clack, either from fingering the strings or plucking them against the end of the board can also increase.

Personally, I prefer round woodiness and I hate clack, so my preference is for a simple oil finish. I use dark Chinese tung oil and 0000 steel wool about twice a year to maintain them. Looks fantastic and plays/sounds great to me.

I do have a couple of finished FLs; my '76 P-bass has a maple board that is finished because maple turns grey with oxidation if not protected. But I don't prefer it that way.

Of course, you also need to consider whether you use rounds or flats, but I can assure you that I had rounds on my '97 CIJ Jazz FL for about a year and I didn't see any substative wear in the wood (it has an oil-finished rosewood board). I prefer flats for tone anyway. I guess my main point is that if you are doing this because you think it will look good, do consider that there are more important implications regarding tone.

The final bit of my two cents is that Indian rosewwod is so conducive to an oil finish; it really soaks up the oil, looks great and allows the wood to speak like wood instead of wood wearing a raincoat. :wink:

Think about it anyway.


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Post subject: Refinish fretless neck
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:45 am
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Thanks for the info, helped a lot. The bass I have is 18 years old (bought new) and need to have the the neck done.


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Post subject: Luthier on EBay sells custom finishing services
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:52 pm
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Yesterday, while looking around on Ebay for a replacement P bass neck, I found a luthier who refinishes your neck for around $60. You can get it done in gloss or satin. He had pics of the work he had done and it looked great.

To me, it is well worth that. I know the amount of effort and special tools involved to spray paint a guitar neck properly, and its something best left to pros. Check out this service on ebay. I think I was searching on a generic phrase like "bass neck" when I found it.

Hope that helps.


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