Bob said it was OK, then Val was kind enough to be my model.  
 
Too wide? I thought you wanted a 6 inch wide fingerboard with no taper

i laff so hard and for so long, i start to get a head ache.

Val looks like he's about to start playing it!

Is that for the fingerboard?  That is just plain wacky looking (you know, in a good way).
 
You're not keeping the swirly macassar?  I almost had a heart attack when I saw that; it was so cool.
 
Brad

The macassar is not big enough for my finger board. Had to find another piece. David

That camatillo is pretty cool looking, I just thought that the macassar would be more contrast to the bird's eye maple.
 
Camatillo looks all melty, though, which is really cool.
 
I do have to say that your headstock is totally awesome.
 
Brad

I've never played a dual-course bass with the big strings on top.  Why do people build them this way?  I know that you're going to get more attack on the big strings, so is that the reason?  Most 8-strings and my 12-string have the small (octave) strings above the big ones, but Rickenbacker 8's were strung as this one, and I think some of JAE's 8's were as well...
 
And yes, your headstock is totally awesome.
 
Thanks,
John

Hello John,
 
generally, if you play with a pick, you 'll want the big strings on the bottom, but if you play with fingers you're likely to want it the other way around, because otherwise you may just hit the low string and miss the high string completely.  
 
Valentino

Oh.  Makes sense.  Thanks for the explanation.  I play with my fingers mostly, even though the big strings are on the bottom.  I suppose I flay a lot and that's why I can still bash them all.  Now that my curiosity's piqued, I suppose I'm going to *need* to play this bad boy when it's finished.  First I need to befriend David...  
 
David, old buddy....
 
John

......Yessss?
 
 
~David

Another contender:  

 In the stack, you can see how the sapwood gets smaller the deeper you cut in the board.    

 Here's the first slice with the best chance of getting sapwood. Still, I think we can only catch it on one side because in this picture:  

 With a 6-string fingerboard template as a reference, it can miss it entirely. Now, the 12-string is a little wider, but not so much that both sides can catch the sapwood.

All very nice and different from each other. I will need some hints / guidance as to what you think works best. At this moment, like'm both. Is it possible that the color may be a little off and thus, attract  the wrong choices....especially with the picture post above? (Help me, Spock, Help me)  Does the camatillo have yellow in it?  Does the catalox contain purple and brown in it? Can we expect the purple to go brown in time?  Is the sap wood like a maple color or a light pale manila? Is it standard practice to oil these kinds of fingerboards and how will that effect the color of the board?  Will my redwood be more similar in color to Paul's Burl Redwood Bass or more like a redish maple? I was planning a satin finish on the body....if that helps. The answers to these questions will certainly enhance my ability you make a choice.
 
What next??  ~David

After Valentino spoke with you, he and Chip prepared these for you:  

 

The Camatillo is the one. Let the fun begin.