wateroftyne Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 Hi all Some of you might have stumbled across [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=46215&st=0"]this thread[/url] where I agonised over selling my fretless '71 P to buy a Tony Franklin P instead, as I preferred the tone of the ebony board over rosewood. Well, I reached a decision... sell the Franklin and get a replacement ebony neck for the '71. So, over to Howard, BC's very own Bass Doc, who sourced one from Allparts. It arrived yesterday after a couple of weeks. I'm impressed. It's very, very nice indeed. The first thing that struck me was the HUGE slab of ebony on it... it's far thicker than I expected. Very cool. There's a 'lip' at the heel where the board overlaps the pickguard. Howard offered to remove it if I want for authenticity's sake, but I might just leave it there. It's not doing any harm. The neck profile is FAB... standard B width, but very, very chunky front-to-back. Again, Howard could reshape it if I want but as it is it's much better suited to my strangely large hands than the much shallower Franklin. So, Howard created a bone nut for it, swapped the hardware over and gave it a set-up. It feels so focussed, vibrant and lively compared to the rosewood... just as I hoped. It's incredibly even and there's no major dead spots. Result! I have a couple of gigs coming up.. I'll use it then to check everything's OK, then it's going back to Bass Doc to have a lovely authentic 70s amber lacquer applied. Can't wait! Rest assured the factory neck is now officially retired, and will be well looked after... Here's the new'un: Quote
thisnameistaken Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 That looks really tasty. I might have to insist on an ebony board on my next fretless (only ever had one - on my old Godin - and it was lush). Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 Nice. Reminds me of the brandoni neck with ebony board on my [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51295"]fretless bitzer P[/url] just upgraded with lollipops. I made that nut from an ivory-coloured chopstick. Quote
The Bass Doc Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='509801' date='Jun 10 2009, 01:23 AM']I made that nut from an ivory-coloured chopstick. [/quote] Velly nice. Quote
paul h Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='509725' date='Jun 9 2009, 11:15 PM'][/quote] The action seems a bit on the low side. Quote
wateroftyne Posted June 10, 2009 Author Posted June 10, 2009 Well spotted! They were carrying the weight of the camera... Quote
Pentode Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 That, is lovely! Ebony, IMO, looks as good as it sounds. Andy Viccars (top, top man!) put an ebony board on my Dean fretless (deep red flamed maple top) and it's just the dogs danglers Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='509725' date='Jun 9 2009, 11:15 PM'][/quote] Any plans to slap a decal on that? I was originally going to leave mine blank, but it looked a bit bare. Quote
wateroftyne Posted June 10, 2009 Author Posted June 10, 2009 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='509862' date='Jun 10 2009, 08:29 AM']Any plans to slap a decal on that? I was originally going to leave mine blank, but it looked a bit bare.[/quote] Umm.. I don't know. It's Fender licenced, I s'pose... Quote
paul h Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 Get a "Fender - Replacement" decal made up. Fills the gap and stays honest. Quote
wateroftyne Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 Well, it's finished! It took a little longer than planned, because summer - and its pesky holidays - got in the way, but it was worth the wait! Howard 'The Bass Doc' has done a sterling job, and it came in right on budget. The tint is very similar to my '71 neck (which is now going into retirement). It has a nice chunky profile, and is much livelier than the original rosewood board. I decided to have a (mostly but not-quite accurate) TV Logo put on it which raises any number of moral issues. I wrestled with my conscience, but... meh. It's Fender licensed, and I have the original neck, so it's not really cheating. It's all about conservation, innit. Quote
Musicman20 Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='543994' date='Jul 18 2009, 02:27 PM']Well, it's finished! It took a little longer than planned, because summer - and its pesky holidays - got in the way, but it was worth the wait! Howard 'The Bass Doc' has done a sterling job, and it came in right on budget. The tint is very similar to my '71 neck (which is now going into retirement). It has a nice chunky profile, and is much livelier than the original rosewood board. I decided to have a (mostly but not-quite accurate) TV Logo put on it which raises any number of moral issues. I wrestled with my conscience, but... meh. I have the original neck, so it's not really cheating. It's all about conservation, innit. [/quote] Wow....I always check our your Fender P pics....incredible basses. Now this looks even more amazing. I have never played a fretless, and I feel I am missing out. At some point I will try and have a play with one. Quote
xilddx Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 Oooh, that looks beautiful! I don't even dig sunburst but i'm coming round I'm after a Warwick fretless because I know it will feel like an old friend to me and sound how I need it to sound. But, by god, your P-Bass makes me feel like I want to ditch the old friend for a new bitch Quote
GreeneKing Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 That's stunning it really is. Did DW do the finishing? Peter Quote
wateroftyne Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='GreeneKing' post='544077' date='Jul 18 2009, 03:51 PM']That's stunning it really is. Did DW do the finishing? Peter[/quote] Cheers, Peter! This one was done by Howard - AKA BC's very own 'The Bass Doc'. Quote
wateroftyne Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='silddx' post='544037' date='Jul 18 2009, 03:05 PM']Oooh, that looks beautiful! I don't even dig sunburst but i'm coming round [/quote] Cool.. I'll get the kettle on. Quote
xilddx Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='544093' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:16 PM']Cool.. I'll get the kettle on. [/quote] Yorkshire tea, strong, milk, no sugar please. I'll bring the millionnaire's flapjack Quote
EssentialTension Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='543994' date='Jul 18 2009, 02:27 PM'][/quote] And how do you get your grass to be so green? Or is it my monitor? Quote
wateroftyne Posted July 18, 2009 Author Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='544129' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:58 PM']And how do you get your grass to be so green? Or is it my monitor?[/quote] I use a compound - ground pygmy bones and dried walrus blood. Quote
Born 2B Mild Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='544129' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:58 PM']And how do you get your grass to be so green?[/quote] It's because it's on the other side. Quote
EssentialTension Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='544135' date='Jul 18 2009, 05:05 PM']I use a compound - ground pygmy bones and dried walrus blood.[/quote] Ah, there's nothing you can't get at Homebase these days. Quote
GreeneKing Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='544129' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:58 PM']And how do you get your grass to be so green? Or is it my monitor?[/quote] We have something abundant up North called rain Quote
EssentialTension Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 [quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='544139' date='Jul 18 2009, 05:09 PM']It's because it's on the other side.[/quote] Quote
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