DWootton90 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) Hi there, first bass and first post! I received my TRBX in the post this morning and have no history with bass or any guitars, excited to start learning! The fretboard has this mark on, I assume it's just the grain of the wood as it feels and looks smooth but is this normal or poor QC? I bought it from a very reputable dealer and really don't want to return it, everything else seems perfect but I want to check. Hopefully I'm just worrying about nothing. Thanks Edited November 8, 2020 by DWootton90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 It's just a knot in the wood used for the fretboard - it shouldn't cause any concern from a functional perspective. I suppose you could call it bad QC and it should have been rejected but I wouldn't worry - it makes your bass unique! Enjoy it and get stuck in. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) Much as I agree with @ped in principle, I would be concerned, especially as it is your first bass and as you improve and begin to suffer from the inevitable GAS you’ll maybe want to sell this bass and get something else, that the knot in the fingerboard may put off prospective buyers. So many of us, despite going into endless detail about all manner of technical details, are hugely swayed by the aesthetics of particular instruments. I wouldn’t buy your bass, even if it were a model I was after, because of how the fingerboard looks, I’d wait for one without the knot, for no other reason that I’d be concerned about resale. Forgive me for playing Devil’s advocate but I think it is a consideration worth bearing in mind. Edited October 19, 2020 by Frank Blank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 If you’re happy with having the knot and it doesn’t affect playability then keep it, me personally I wouldn’t want that at all, if it was all dark it wouldn’t look so bad but it looks like the middle has been filled 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I'd just darken it with a Sharpie, oil the fretboard and get on with life... 😉 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I once had a MIA Jazz that had a knot. It was visible if you could be bothered to look. I could have sent it back and risked getting a replacement that didn't sound or play as well... no chance. I eventually sold it... it didn't bother the guy that bought it off me either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I had a knot in a fingerboard before, it didn't bother me either. In fact, I thought it made the aesthetics more interesting. It had no effect on the functionality so, no problemo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWootton90 Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Doctor J said: I had a knot in a fingerboard before, it didn't bother me either. In fact, I thought it made the aesthetics more interesting. It had no effect on the functionality so, no problemo. Yeah, I actually think it looks quite interesting and adds a bit of character. My only worry is that if I want to sell to upgrade in the future it'll hurt resale value. It's a lot of effort to return it but I've asked the shop what they think of it. Edited October 19, 2020 by DWootton90 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 I wouldn't be worried about this - it won't affect how the bass will play - nice feature IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 This is without doubt one of the nicest necks I've ever played 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 (edited) I wouldn't worry, neither as a hypothetical future second hand buyer if the offer was right and I happened to be on the lookout for that particular model. I am not shallow like that. It's only a quite minor cosmetic, I would't even really call it a flaw, rather peculiar detail, that I actually even think adds a certain unique charm to the fretboard. Edited October 28, 2020 by Baloney Balderdash 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 12 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said: I wouldn't worry, neither as a hypothetical future second hand buyer if the offer was right and I happened to be on the lookout for that particular model. I am not shallow like that. Clearly I am just shallow, I apologise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 3 hours ago, Beedster said: This is without doubt one of the nicest necks I've ever played Looks like tigerstripe ebony... no two the same and each one bleedin' awesome! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 1 minute ago, Frank Blank said: Clearly I am just shallow, I apologise. I am too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I am too I think a lot of us are. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWootton90 Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 1 hour ago, Baloney Balderdash said: I wouldn't worry, neither as a hypothetical future second hand buyer if the offer was right and I happened to be on the lookout for that particular model. I am not shallow like that. It's only a quite minor cosmetic, I would,'t even really call it a flaw, rather peculiar detail, that I actually even think adds a certain unique charm to the fretboard. Still waiting on a response from where I bought it from but you've all swayed me to keep it, agree it adds to the charm and makes it mine. Now time to start learning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, DWootton90 said: Now time to start learning... That’s the main thing DW 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 If anything I'd make more of a feature of it - make it look like an eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 15 hours ago, DWootton90 said: Still waiting on a response from where I bought it from but you've all swayed me to keep it, agree it adds to the charm and makes it mine. Now time to start learning... Don't tell the supplier that. They might offer you a slight refund rather than the hassle of returning it, which would be a nice little bonus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdLib-3 Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 I may be alone in this but I think it makes the fretboard look pretty cool. I'm with @ped on this; it won't affect the sound or playability of your bass so it ain't no thang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokl Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) There will always be natural variation with wood. If they've taken the effort to cut a tree down it feels a shame to discard a perfectly useful piece of lumber for what is an honest and natural aesthetic anomaly. There's no performance impact here, so I'd just crack on and enjoy playing it. I do get that not everybody will feel the same, just my 1/2p Edited October 22, 2020 by Mokl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collin Bass Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 If that knot is smooth and doesn't affect your playing, leave it! It's character! It won't turn anybody off buying it when it's time to trade it in. Those kind of quirks, the kind that don't hurt structure or tonality, are something I always prefer. Don't worry about it. Plus, the more you practice and play as you go along, the more you're going to ACTUALLY ding it up. And even still, that will just be stories and character! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 2 hours ago, Collin Bass said: If that knot is smooth and doesn't affect your playing, leave it! It's character! It won't turn anybody off buying it when it's time to trade it in. It would stop me buying it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 19 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: It would stop me buying it. Me too ☝️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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