My 'Neck' of the 'Woods'!

[Michael Wilson]

In other words, you use what you feel is the best woods for your basses, even if someone wanted maple as a custom order? There has to be some positives around MF. Fender has been using MF for many years with positive reviews, for that matter almost every builder that i know of uses maple for FBs. But i do understand that your following loves your choices, myself included, but i still would like to keep my ebony FB and have a maple FB made on a BT6 version. That will allow me to sell my Fender Jazz /w MF and replace it with a new custom order Smith BT6/w MF.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Michael Wilson

In other words, you use what you feel is the best woods for your basses, even if someone wanted maple as a custom order? There has to be some positives around MF. Fender has been using MF for many years with positive reviews, for that matter almost every builder that i know of uses maple for FBs. But i do understand that your following loves your choices, myself included, but i still would like to keep my ebony FB and have a maple FB made on a BT6 version. That will allow me to sell my Fender Jazz /w MF and replace it with a new custom order Smith BT6/w MF.

A Fender is a Fender and a Smith is a Smith. A Smith with a maple fb will not become a Fender and nor will a Fender with an Ebony fb become a Smith.

I can save a bit of money doing what Fender does making a Neck of Maple and putting frets right into the Neck without having to make and glue on a separate fingerboard. But, I do what I do.. Sorry..

[Bryan L Williams]

Mr. Smith,

After much searching, I have not been able to find out how you finish your Ebony fingerboards. Do you use some type of oil?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

Mr. Smith,

After much searching, I have not been able to find out how you finish your Ebony fingerboards. Do you use some type of oil?

There is no finish on the boards. Just fine sanded and then oiled. I would not call the oiling a real finish as Ebony is oily in itself. It just helps keep it lubricated to a degree.

I once read that the key to a good finish is in the sanding. Polishing wood up to the look of glass makes a world of difference.

[Ben Rose]

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

Just curious. Why would you want to do this?

[Ben Rose]

Thanks, Ken.

Originally Posted by Tim Bishop

Just curious. Why would you want to do this?

Because brown is the new black? Some of my favorite sounding KS clips on youtube have a morado fb, but oh how I lurvs the look of a 5 peice body. I won't know for sure until I try some.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

Can the morado fingerboard be ordered on higher end models like the GN or TN series?

Years ago it was what we used most mainly for the lack of good quality reliable ebony. Once we found a reliable supply, we started making them both ways with either FB before switching to Ebony as the standard for those models. All you have to do is Ask and we will make it with Morado.

[Bryan L Williams]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

There is no finish on the boards. Just fine sanded and then oiled. I would not call the oiling a real finish as Ebony is oily in itself. It just helps keep it lubricated to a degree.

What type of oil do you prefer to use on the Ebony boards?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bryan L Williams

What type of oil do you prefer to use on the Ebony boards?

Non solvent type mineral oil. Use as needed..

[Anton Hasias]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Non solvent type mineral oil. Use as needed..

I use on my fretted and fretless Smith basses, on the ebony fretboard, the "Smith classic wax polish" and the result was much better than only the lemon oil.

Best regards