Bass Wood
One distinct difference between electric bass guitars and their standard counterparts is the option to have the guitar fretless. Some electric bass guitars have frets in much the same way as a standard guitar, with each fret a semitone apart from its neighbours. However, there is such a thing as a fretless bass guitar, and trying to work out how such an instrument might work presents an interesting exercise in creative thinking.
The answer is actually fairly simple – rather than pushing the string down against the raised fret, the string is pushed a little further and right up against the wood of the fret board itself. In many ways it is easy to imagine an electric bass guitar working in much the same way as a double bass – which of course has no frets, and is played by pressing the strings down against the fret board, or neck. In fact, in much the same way as an electric bass guitar can be compared to a double bass in playing style, the same can be said for the sound quality. A double bass produces a kind of ‘mwaah’ sound as the string buzzes against the wood of the neck. This same effect can be heard on an electric bass guitar, and the sound of the two instruments is very similarly in tone and voice.
Some of the early fretless bass guitars were created by performers simply buying inexpensive guitars and prising off the frets, but today fretless bass guitars are available quite easily, and they have been manufactured in number since the early 1960s.
The fact that a fretless bass guitar has no defined note points means that players can include a wide range of effects and sounds, such as glissando – the gliding of notes, vibrato and also include notes between notes. Normally the finest change in note is from one semitone to the next – one fret to the next, but without these frets performers can play the notes in between – micro notes or quarter notes, creating any number of effects and sounds that add an unusual quality to music.
Often to help performers fret lines are drawn on the neck so that it is at least possible to see where the notes are, rather than having to rely entirely on habit and judgement. Alternative methods include notches on the neck that can be felt, markings on the neck and other such ways to aid the performer.
As well as aiding the performer it is necessary to aid the instrument, as the pressure of the metal strings against the wooden neck can cause harm and damage. For this reason either or both of two options are used. One method is to use flat wound strings, so that the string lies flat rather than curved and abrasive, and the other method is to use an epoxy resin on the neck to increase its durability and strength.
Most fretless bass guitars have the standard four strings, although there are five and even six string fretless guitars available. For the demanding player it is possible to purchase boutique, or custom made fretless guitars which have an even higher number of strings.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for electric guitars, fretless guitars, bass guitars, sheet music, guitar tab.
Victor Wooten – Norwegian Wood Bass Solo
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★★★★★hand-made solid wood professional Song master carved scroll Bass-Upright3/4 $4,950.00 |
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★★★★★hand-made solid wood professional Song master carved scroll Bass-Upright3/4 $4,950.00 |
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Suhr Standard CarveTop 1pc Copperhead Maple Basswood Roasted 5A BE Maple #3687 $4,589.00 |
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Wood carving Original by IVAN WHILLOCK “Powerful Madonna” statue basswood 18″ $3,995.00 |
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CUSTOM WOOD FRAMED BEATLES ORIG PAINTING & REPLICA OF PAUL McCARTNEY’S BASS $3,500.00 |
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Vintage Leblanc Bb Wood Bass Clarinet – Made In France $2,995.00 |
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EXTREMELY RARE WARWICK INFINITY ZEBRA WOOD SET NECK BASS GUITAR + ROCK CASE $2,647.67 |
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Buffet Crampon BC1180-5-0 Wood Bass Clarinet, Nickel Keys, “FS w/BIN” $2,700.00 |
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Moeck 4599 Rottenburgh Bass Recorder Maple Wood NEW $2,448.50 |
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Mollenhauer 4507 Kynseker Bass Maple Wood Recorder NEW $2,053.33 |
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★★★★★best solid wood white/unfinished 3/4 upright bass $1,999.00 |
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★★★★★best solid wood white/unfinished 3/4 upright bass body+ bass dragon neck $1,999.00 |
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Custom Hand Made 5-String Koa Wood, Neck-Through Bass. Dual Active EMG pick-ups. $1,950.00 |
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CONN GRENADILLA WOOD BASS CLARINET! $2,000.00 |
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Advanced Bass Clarinet Bb Key composite wood Body Nickel Plated $1,690.00 |
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ANTON SCHROETTER HANDMADE UPRIGHT STANDUP BASS GERMANY MITTENWALD BEAUTIFUL WOOD $1,699.99 |
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NOBLET GRENADILLA WOOD BASS CLARINET! $1,800.00 |
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SPECTOR bass EURO 5LX EX birds eyes- REAL exotic wood ! likeNEW ! $1,685.00 |
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Solid Wood, Carved String Bass $1,400.00 |
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NEW SPECTOR EUROPE SERIES REBOP 5DLXEX EXOTIC WOOD 5 STRING ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR $1,599.00 |
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CIRCA 1979 / 1980 LUDWIG 26″ CLASSIC CHROME-O-WOOD BASS DRUM for SET LOT# K217 $1,495.00 |
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CIRCA 1979 / 1980 LUDWIG CLASSIC CHROME-O-WOOD 26″ BASS DRUM for SET LOT# K216 $1,495.00 |
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Mollenhauer 5506 Denner Bass Pear Wood Recorder NEW $1,421.05 |
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Conn Bass Clarinet Wood $1,500.00 |
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Spector 5DLX 5 String Europe Bass Guitar Black Stain Zebra Wood ON SALE $1,375.99 |
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Spector Rebop 4 Deluxe 4 String Electric Bass Guitar – Gloss Zebra Wood $1,334.99 |
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Spector 4DLX-EX 4 String Bass Guitar Black Zebra Wood ON SALE $1,289.14 |
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Spector 4DLX-EX 4 String Bass Guitar Natural Zebra Wood ON SALE $1,263.34 |
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EVH Wolfgang Special HT Electric Guitar Basswood Birdseye Maple FB Black $1,099.00 |
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BC RICH Greg Weeks Signature Eagle 4 String Bass Guitar – Beautiful Koa Wood $1,049.00 |
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Midwest Products BALSA and Basswood Complete Dealer Display Balsawood Hobby wood $995.00 |
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Wood carving Original by IVAN WHILLOCK “Mr & Mrs Claus” basswood oil paint $995.00 |
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** 3 1/2″ Basswood Shutter** IN STOCK 72 x 83** $950.00 |
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2005 Fender USA American Bass Red Guitar w/ Maple Neck & Rose Wood Finger Board $899.95 |
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Tama Starclassic Kit: Birch with Bubinga, Basswood, or Phillipine Mahogany $899.99 |
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PALATINO 1/2 STUDENT FLAMED WOODS UPRIGHT STANDUP BASS $899.99 |
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PALATINO 1/4 STUDENT FLAMED WOODS UPRIGHT STANDUP BASS $889.99 |
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** 3 1/2″ Basswood Shutter** IN STOCK 72 x 71** $825.00 |
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Custom Exotic Wood Canary & Padauk 4 String 34 Scale Bass 2 Humbuckers on Splits $750.00 |
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** 3 1/2″ Basswood Shutter** IN STOCK 72 x 60** $725.00 |
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Floyd Rose ISOT3T-BK Light Weight Bass Wood Transparent Black Guitar $700.00 |
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G&L Tribute L2000 Black Maple Basswood Bass $699.99 |
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Mapex Horizon Birch/Basswood 7-Piece Shell Pk Yellow $699.00 |
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Mapex Horizon Birch/ Basswood Lacquer 7-Piece Shell Pack Rattan Yellow $699.00 |
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Mapex Horizon Birch/ Basswood 7-Piece Shell Pk Cherry $699.00 |
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** 3 1/2″ Basswood Shutter** IN STOCK 60 x 71** $695.00 |
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★★★★★ 3/4 Electric Parted Upright Double Bass Finish silent Solid wood $489.00 |
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★★★★★ 3/4 Electric Parted Upright Double Bass Finish silent Solid wood $489.00 |
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★★★★★ 3/4 Electric Parted Upright Double Bass Finish silent Solid wood #4 $489.00 |
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TUNE Hatsun TWB43 WG 4 String Bass – Wenge wood top! BRAND NEW! Amazing Bass! $629.00 |
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Floyd Rose ISOT2TBL Guitar Trans Blue Lightweight Basswood Body with Quilted Map $679.00 |
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Floyd Rose ISOT2-WHITE Light Weight Bass Wood Guitar $679.00 |
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HARMONIUM~9 SCALE CHANGER~TEAK WOOD~3¾ OCTAVE~THREE SET OF REED~BASS/MALE/FEMALE $669.00 |
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SCALE CHANGER HARMONIUM~TEAK WOOD~3¾ OCTAVES~THREE SET OF REEDS BASS/MALE/FEMALE $669.00 |
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New 3/4 Upright Double Bass Electric Parted silent Solid wood ebnoy Parts #4 $469.00 |
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★★★★★ 3/4 Electric Parted Upright Double Bass Finish silent Solid wood #4 $469.00 |
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NEW KALA UBASS-ASAC-FS ALL SOLID ACACIA WOOD ELECTRIC UKULELE BASS & HARD CASE $650.00 |
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Italia Imola 4-String Bass Redburst w/Wood Pickguard $659.00 |
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Basswood Goose Egg $2.25 Basswood goose egg. 3″ high. 2″ diameter… |
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Kitchen Supply Basswood Pizza Peel with Curved End $11.99 Compact, easy-to-maneuver size makes this pizza peel ideal for smaller ovens and junior chefs. Use it to transport pizza from the baking stone to the tabletop, remove bread or foccacia from the oven or serve cheeses and appetizers. Handmade in the USA following traditional Italian designs. Mini: 14″L x 9″W. Regular: 24″L x 14″W…. |
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APetProject Bamboo Fish Cutting Board $12.95 Thin and lightweight cutting board made of durable, eco-friendly bamboo. This silhouette shaped cutting board is also great for serving cheeses and small appetizers. One of eight pet shaped cutting boards from APetProject. Collect them all! Care Instructions: This product is not suitable for the dishwasher. To clean, simply wash in warm, soapy water and towel dry. Do not allow bamboo products to s… |
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Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 (Two-Disc Super Jewel Case) $18.83 Over the summer of 2010, Eric Clapton gathered a veritable Who’s Who of the world’s most talented guitar players at the third Crossroads Guitar Festival, an 11-hour celebration of the six string that attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 27,000 music fans to Chicago’s Toyota Park. All profits from this daylong display of guitar virtuosity benefited The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment a… |
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The Best of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac $4.43 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Help! (Standard Edition) $25.39 After the worldwide success of A Hard Day’s Night, the Beatles and director Richard Lester reunited for a follow-up film, Eight Arms to Hold You. Well, that wasn’t the final title; a pleading Lennon-McCartney tune provided the catchier handle: Help! A loose semispoof of the globe-trotting James Bond pictures, Help! has always been considered a somewhat disorganized comedown from its predecessor; b… |
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This Side of Paradise $1.99 … |
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The Beatles – Help! [VHS] $9.75 After the worldwide success of A Hard Day’s Night, the Beatles and director Richard Lester reunited for a follow-up film, Eight Arms to Hold You. Well, that wasn’t the final title; a pleading Lennon-McCartney tune provided the catchier handle: Help! A loose semispoof of the globe-trotting James Bond pictures, Help! has always been considered a somewhat disorganized comedown from its predecessor; b… |
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Safe-er-grip Customized Real Wood 18-inch Wide Window Blinds $39.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blinds. These blinds feature a sanded finish and kiln-dried bass wood. |
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Safe-er-grip Customized Real Wood 17-inch Wide Window Blinds $39.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blinds. These blinds feature a sanded finish and kiln-dried bass wood. |
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Safe-er-grip Customized Real Wood 16-inch Wide Window Blinds $44.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blinds. These blinds feature a sanded finish and kiln-dried bass wood. |
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Safe-er-grip Customized Real Wood 15-inch Window Blinds $46.49 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blinds. These blinds feature a sanded finish and kiln-dried bass wood. |
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Safe-er-grip Customized Real Wood 19-inch Wide Window Blinds $46.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blinds. These blinds feature a sanded finish and kiln-dried bass wood. |
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Customized 33-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $71.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real-wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatment is made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish with special multi-coat application of paint or stain |
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Customized 27-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $61.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatments made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish and stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Golden Oak Real Wood Blinds (66 in. x 64 in.) $44.09 Update your home decor with real wood blinds Blinds feature 2-inch slats made from basswoodWindow shades are available with a golden oak finish |
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Customized 36-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $71.99 Add a little style and privacy to any room with these customized window blindsWindow treatment is made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish with special multi-coat application of paint or stain |
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Customized 29-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $64.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatments made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish and stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 75-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $149.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 25-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $59.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 60-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $113.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 70-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $165.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 28-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $64.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatments made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish and stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 45-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $83.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 32-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $72.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatments made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish and stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 31-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $75.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real-wood horizontal window blindsWood blinds are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to smooth finish and then paint or stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 40-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $80.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real-wood horizontal window blindsBlinds made from the fines grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to smooth finish and then given a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 26-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $64.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous real wood horizontal window blindsWindow treatments made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodBlinds have been sanded to a smooth finish and stained with a special multi-coat application |
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Customized 50-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $90.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 55-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $98.49 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |
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Customized 65-inch Real Wood Window Blinds $120.99 Update your home decor with gorgeous, real-wood horizontal window blindsShades are made from the finest grade kiln-dried basswoodWindow treatments have been sanded to a smooth finish |