Ebony or Jatoba, whats the diff, Bob???
— Ebony is the traditional fingerboard wood for upright basses, as it is a very hard wood and resists wear well. Jatoba is a good substitute, and it’s pretty tough, but it’s not as hard as ebony. If you are an aggressive player and/or intend to slap or use rough strings that will abrade the fingerboard, ebony is the better choice. However, unless you are going to be playing six hours a day it will be a while before jatoba becomes a worry. Ebony can also have a slightly brighter response than jatoba, which may be a little warmer — but there are so many other variables involved it’s not something to get too excited about. 3/4!?!?! I want a FULL SIZE BASS!! No. You don’t. Probably 99.5% of the basses on the planet are 3/4 size; it is the most-recognized “regular size” upright bass. The scale length (length of the string that speaks, from the slotted nut at the top at the fingerboard to the bridge) is 41.5 inches, and most other 3/4 size basses are in that same 41-42 inch range. “Full si
