Options Fingerboards

[JPT]

Before ordering your instrument at Custom Shop you should consider what type of wood you prefer to use for the fretboard of your instrument. My fretless Thumb basses sound much warmer and deeper since they are equipped with Coromandel and Pallisander fretboards. The following article might be helpful:

All the best,
Jeroen

 

[odominguez]

great info man. Thank You.

 

[EcoMatt]

Good read indeed,

cheers

 

[Thumbfreak]

Hi Jeroen, first I would like to thank you for your presence, it's great to have a musician of your class on this forum !

I would like to know your opinion on fretless bass strings, what kind of strings do you use ?

Are the nickel strings less abrasive than the stainless on fretless fingerboard ? What about the EMP strings ? Have you ever experienced them on a freteless bass ?Are they supposed to be smoother than std stainless ?

I'm owner of a fretless Thumb NT 5 (1998) with bubinga-wenge neck, and I have to say that I don't need a warmer sound. Nowadays, the bass wears nickel strings and the sound is warm enough. Both Eq (bass and amp) are set flat.

I think Ebony fingerboard gives a nasty growl. But when the strings will have eaten all the fingerboard, I will perhaps try something else, depends on what type of strings will be used with.

 

[Thumbfreak]

Thank you for your quick answer !

Can you tell us about this wrong playing technique that damages the fretless bord, in few words ? or about the right technique to play fretless bass ?

Warwick EMP strings are ok for me. I play them on a fretted Thumb, they keep their brightness for a very long time. Not exactly the same sound felling than the black label that are my favorites but I ordered EMP for quasi the price of the black label (www saitenkatalog.de), I wanted to give them a try. Next set will be put on the fretless.

Bye