Which wood is the fingerboard on my 1982 L2000e

[rsmith3691]

I always thought my 1982 L2000e, serial # B0077** had a rosewood fingerboard, however, upon seeing a 1982 price list, maple and ebony were the only choices. Upon removing the neck (dated 2/2/1982), there is a big E hand written there, as well as the initials LC. So, should I assume, after having this bass for 35 years, that it has an ebony fingerboard? Thanks in advance. Montgomery

[Craig]

I always thought my 1982 L2000e, serial # B0077** had a rosewood fingerboard, however, upon seeing a 1982 price list, maple and ebony were the only choices. Upon removing the neck (dated 2/2/1982), there is a big E hand written there, as well as the initials LC. So, should I assume, after having this bass for 35 years, that it has an ebony fingerboard? Thanks in advance. Montgomery

To answer your question, we need some photos.
To post photos, see this post and look for the link to the Tutorial: Posting photos: Welcome! Read This First.

Looking forward to seeing your L-2000.

[yowhatsshakin]

I always thought my 1982 L2000e, serial # B0077** had a rosewood fingerboard, however, upon seeing a 1982 price list, maple and ebony were the only choices. Upon removing the neck (dated 2/2/1982), there is a big E hand written there, as well as the initials LC. So, should I assume, after having this bass for 35 years, that it has an ebony fingerboard? Thanks in advance. Montgomery

Hi Montgomery,

You are right about the "official" choices included for the L-2000 on any 1982 price list. But that is not the whole story. On the last page of both the January 1, 1982 and November 1, 1982 you will find (replacement) necks that could be ordered. Now look under the "Bass w/o hardware" column and presto, there is your bass neck with rosewood board with catalog number NB 230. It was even available in fretless form as NB 230-F. I cannot imagine G&L would not create one with hardware if a customer would specify the desire for a rosewood fingerboard.

I did not know this until recently when my friend Thijs van Milligen pointed out his L-2000 bass from about the same era as yours had a factory original rosewood fingerboard.

- Jos

[derick]

I always thought my 1982 L2000e, serial # B0077** had a rosewood fingerboard, however, upon seeing a 1982 price list, maple and ebony were the only choices. Upon removing the neck (dated 2/2/1982), there is a big E hand written there, as well as the initials LC. So, should I assume, after having this bass for 35 years, that it has an ebony fingerboard? Thanks in advance. Montgomery

There are several examples of rosewood boards from this period, and also off-list options. I can't believe that all the rosewood boards were replacement necks.

The initials LC could have been Leo Crabtree, or perhaps Lloyd Chewning. If the handwriting is loopy, I'm saying it's probably Crabtree.

Note that this opinion is worth exactly what you have paid for it.

[bassman]

I have a rosewood board on my '82 L2000. I thought it was ebony but it has too much red in the grain.
The truss rod stopped being effective so I put a maple neck on it.
It is still a great bass. It the one in my avatar.