Who Loves Block Inlay Fretboards ?

[xposaune]

Love the birdseye maple blocks on my Lakland

 

[koppinjo]

I love them when they’re pearloid…the solid black always looked cheap to me, even though that’s what my favorite p bass has right now

 

[morrisonhendrix]

I love them and have to have them on my basses.

 

[fretlessman71]

Geddy Lee claims that there's a difference in tone between the pearloid and black blocks. Anyone know anything about this?

We interrupt this showcase to give my post a BUMP......

 

[wes stephenson]

Here are my main & stunt basses, both have block inlays.

Does it mean that I love block inlays? No, honestly, I couldn't care less They just came that way.

View attachment 4907586

Awesome basses, man! Is the one with a Squire neck a parts bass? What’s the body? Also, what pre is in your Ultra? I hope you don’t mind me asking.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I do !

l-r - 66 CS Journeyman - Fender USA Geddy Lee - Fender USA AVRI Jazz Bass - Fender 1974 Jazz Bass - Fender USA AVRI Jazz Bass - Sadowsky NYC Jazz Bass !

All great instruments. View attachment 4907371

 

[wes stephenson]

Block inlays. Most definitely (and lollypops on top)

 

[Mildew Jones]

Lovelovelove them, I really want to buy the newer Fender neck with the pearloid dark block inlays, but my meager interweb sleuthing skills have not located a way to do that. Anyone here know if Fender offers the newer blocked necks for sale separately?
MJ
and Happy Holidays, all

 

[TheKillersFan]

We interrupt this showcase to give my post a BUMP......

See post #97

 

[KenD]

Not block inlays. I prefer the ones where your name is inlaid down the fingerboard

 

[TheKillersFan]

After seeing all these gorgeous pics I’ve decided to post some better ones myself. I should also add that having block inlays is a strict requirement for me.

not pictured: my USA and CIJ Geddys and a parts bass

 

[Steve Cooke]

I do

 

[JC BASS 91]

I definitely love block inlays, but really prefer them to be mother-of-pearl on an ebony fretboard or black blocks on maple. Just my preference, mind you.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Awesome basses, man! Is the one with a Squire neck a parts bass? What’s the body? Also, what pre is in your Ultra? I hope you don’t mind me asking.

Squier is completely stock, it is a Squier Classic Vibe 70's Jazz 5.

Ultra electronics are completely stock. I changed the bridge (Hipshot), two knobs and the pick guard.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Squire is completely stock, it is a Squier Classic Vibe 70's Jazz 5.

Ultra electronics are completely stock. I changed the bridge (Hipshot), two knobs and the pick guard.

That body flaming is WILD for a stock Squier! You lucked out!

 

[Rib 13]

i love blocks on Jazz basses
but i love dots on P basses

call me weird

nice collection you got there

 

[mb94952]

 

[KevinDBassist]

 

[Joeynone]

My Frankenjazz with a status neck, fralin pickups and hipshot hardware

 

[57pbass]

Not to throw a wrench in the inlay party, but I just listened to the most recent episode of the Scott's Bass Lessons podcast where Scott is talking about having a custom FBass made for him. Apparently, Marcel at FBass says block inlays hamper the tone. I believe the story was, when they make a run of 10 basses and one of them is a standout, it never has block inlays. They also mention that Marcel says neck construction is the most important part of fundamental tone, and the theory is that removing large chunks of the fingerboard cuts down on resonance and stability.

I have not tested/verified this for myself, but it's interesting the think about. I've always loved the look, but that little nugget of wisdom has made me think twice.

While this seems perfectly logical I can’t imagine builders that offer this design would knowingly do so if it had such a negative impact. There are ways to compensate for the cutouts for the blocks. Maybe they do sound different but better is purely subjective.