Fretless maple Jazz or P-bass necks?

[alhbass]

Hello. Through an exchange I've just become the proud owner of a lovely new 2009 US Jazz bass. It seems great, but I've been considering going fretless for a while (hence my thread elsewhere in this section requesting advice...). And - I've always liked Maple fingerboards on P-basses, so am now wondering whether to a) change the neck on my new Jazz, or b) sell it and buy a Jazz (or P) with a maple neck...

So - my question (betraying my lack of knowledge) is - Can you get necks with maple fretless fingerboards for either Jazz or Precision? I don't seem to see any around, but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough... Or maybe there's some good technical reason why fretless necks are best in Rosewood?

As ever, I'd be most grateful for your advice...

Thanks.

Edited February 1, 2010 by alhbass

[lemmywinks]

Warmoth will do one:
[url="http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/StandardNecks.aspx"]http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/StandardNecks.aspx[/url]

$180 plus shipping and tax though. Dollar is still about 62p AFAIK
Fantastic quality on their stuff, it's worth every penny

Rosewood is considered a bit soft for fretless although i loved it on my old bitsa. Ebony and Pau Ferro are thought of as more suitable

[alhbass]

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='731753' date='Feb 1 2010, 02:28 PM']Warmoth will do one:
[url="http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/StandardNecks.aspx"]http://www.warmoth.com/Bass/Necks/StandardNecks.aspx[/url]

$180 plus shipping and tax though. Dollar is still about 62p AFAIK
Fantastic quality on their stuff, it's worth every penny

Rosewood is considered a bit soft for fretless although i loved it on my old bitsa. Ebony and Pau Ferro are thought of as more suitable[/quote]

Thanks very much for that.

Anyone able to advise me about what the different tone characteristics of the various woods are generally thought to be then? What is it about Ebony and Pau Ferro that make it more suitable? And why is maple the cheapest option? Is it thought to be no good, or is it just a cheaper wood? I liked the brightness and aggression of the maple fingerboarded P-basses I tried - rosewood is generally thought to give a warmer, richer sound isn't it?

I've almost no experience with fretlesses, but if I decide to go that way, I'd be looking for a sharp, edgy sound, with lots of clatter and growly "fret"buzz (what do you call fretbuzz on a fretless? Boardbuzz?), rather than anything too smooth, rich and mellow.

[lemmywinks]

Might be worth playing a few first to see what type of board gives you that sound?
The Pau Ferro one i had was very hard and durable but i didn't like it as much as the rosewood, even though that churned up easily with rounds on

I've never tried a maple-boarded fretless so couldn't commet, i assume it'll mark up quite easily though?

I quite like ebanol as a cheap compromise, looks great, is pretty hardwearing and gives a good mwah-type sound

I bought a cheap Jaco-copy for my first fretless and loved it, maybe try a Squier VMJ or a de-fretted Jazz?

[henry norton]

Be careful!!! Fender did produce fretless maple necks for a while in the 70s (there were some ultra rare Music Man's done the same way too) but they were finished with a very thick, heavy coat of polyester lacquer to stop string wear. Also I've only ever seen them on Precisions - never Jazz basses. Warmoth can probably make you a blank, fretless maple neck but any finish they put on it ($85 or so), won't be tough enough on its own.

I epoxy coated my maple fretless and it's wearing really well but it's not something you can get straight off the shelf.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=68623&pid=730980&st=20&#entry730980"]fretless maple neck build[/url]

If you're happy to put in some legwork (or some handywork) a maple fretless plays like no other (and looks dead cool too )