Supercreep
Lizard People
I mean, how hard can this be? It's not a lacquered neck, and I cant find a fretless replacement. Can I install a warmoth neck and just tap new holes for the screws?
danw
cheap bastard
Famous last words, man.
Seriously, though, either option seems viable to me, it just depends on how much trouble you want to go to. I wouldn't de-fret an instrument with a lot of value, but it would be a fun experiment on a beater. Just pull the frets out, fill the gaps with hardwood, and bring everything down flat. That way you've already got lines, too. It could be more trouble than you think, though, because I'm thinking a fretless fretboard has to be _really_ straight/flat to not buzz anywhere and still have reasonable action. How are your woodworking skills?
Getting a new neck seems ok, too, as long as the specs match up. I'd be tempted to pay the extra 15 bucks and drill my own neck holes. This looks like it could get expensive in a hurry, though.
JTC111
Active member
G
goldtopchas
New member
Do you have experience with this sort of thing? You don't want to de-fret a neck, unless you want to just for the hell of it. It IS a tough thing to do and get good results. When you pull the frets, you will more than likely get "break-out". Little bits of wood that get torn out of the area next to the fret slot. ( The frets have barbs down in the slot to hold them in.) It will be all jagged and have to be repaired and sanded down quite a bit to get it smooth again. New frets hide most of this damage. Then there is the matter of surfacing the fretboard so it is level. You might think "It's already pretty straight." But, when the frets are installed it back bows the neck slightly, therefore when they are pulled it will bow forward. This has to be compensated for and is even more difficult and time consuming than doing a fret level. It has to be really precise to get good playability. You have to fill the slots with something too. Wood dust and glue, some sort of plastic binding or wood strips cut to a precise width.( the slots are only about .024" -.030" wide.) Oh, and you'll need to re-slot the nut lower too, which is also a tricky thing to get just right.
If you want to try for fun, by all means have at it. But realise that you may be dropping it in the trash afterwards and buying a new one anyway. And you wouldn't have the option of bolting it back on as an alternative to the fretless. Honestly, I would just buy a suitable fretless neck.
If you want to try for fun, by all means have at it. But realise that you may be dropping it in the trash afterwards and buying a new one anyway. And you wouldn't have the option of bolting it back on as an alternative to the fretless. Honestly, I would just buy a suitable fretless neck.
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
JTC111
Active member
If in doubt, hack apart a cheap rondo?
I wish they'd put the fret lines on their better models though.
Supercreep
Lizard People
crazydoc
Master Baiter
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-LX200BF-Fretless-Series-II-Bass-?sku=512226
I have one of these - no complaints.
I have one of these - no complaints.
Why?JTC111 said:
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
To answer the original question, I traded for a Fender MIM fretless Jazz and it was good...so good that it converted me to fretless (but now I play a fretless Precision).
There is a long thread about defretting a talkbass.com, and I don't know that I'd care to do it. I've gotten to where I don't have any beaters around, and I like it that way. No clutter, just guitars and basses that I can (and do) gig with.
The other option mentioned in the OP is a Warmoth, but you can get an entire fretless Squier for less than a Warmoth unfretted neck. They are good quality, but by putting it on a low-value instrument, you're mostly making sure you'll never get your money back. The rule is simple: buy a $120 instrument, sell it for $75. Buy a $120 instrument, put $300 into it, and sell it for $75.
I'd rather put the money into something that will be worth at least 2-3 hundred after you get tired of it.
There is a long thread about defretting a talkbass.com, and I don't know that I'd care to do it. I've gotten to where I don't have any beaters around, and I like it that way. No clutter, just guitars and basses that I can (and do) gig with.
The other option mentioned in the OP is a Warmoth, but you can get an entire fretless Squier for less than a Warmoth unfretted neck. They are good quality, but by putting it on a low-value instrument, you're mostly making sure you'll never get your money back. The rule is simple: buy a $120 instrument, sell it for $75. Buy a $120 instrument, put $300 into it, and sell it for $75.
I'd rather put the money into something that will be worth at least 2-3 hundred after you get tired of it.
JTC111
Active member
Umm...so I can play it.
Gear_Junky
New member
+1 for Rondo (SX basses).
I had 2 MIM Fender Jazzes (fretted and fretless) and I recently ordered an SX bass from Rondo (fretted) as gift. It was as good or better quality than the MIM's.
We also went to Sam Ash and picked up a MIA P-Bass and again, a feeling of vindication (for saving the money).
The bass (A P/J model) sounds great stock, but with some upgraded pickups would be excellent.
An SX bass would possibly be cheaper than buying a neck (unless maybe you get an SX neck from Rondo).
Check out Rondo, you'll be hooked. Don't be deceived by their prices.
I had 2 MIM Fender Jazzes (fretted and fretless) and I recently ordered an SX bass from Rondo (fretted) as gift. It was as good or better quality than the MIM's.
We also went to Sam Ash and picked up a MIA P-Bass and again, a feeling of vindication (for saving the money).
The bass (A P/J model) sounds great stock, but with some upgraded pickups would be excellent.
An SX bass would possibly be cheaper than buying a neck (unless maybe you get an SX neck from Rondo).
Check out Rondo, you'll be hooked. Don't be deceived by their prices.
Nightfire
Aspiring Idiot
I dont know about their bases, but Rondo guitars have been getting rave reviews for a few years already. Give them a try, Ive been very impressed with their SX guitars.
Mike
Mike
S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
I know this is way off topic, but "fretless Precision" always sounds like such a oxymoron to me. I mean, the original Fender Precision bass was a "precision" bass because it HAD frets- that was what gave it it's precision. Just seems to me that if you build it without frets, it is not a "precision" bass anymore.
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
'cause most of us are hacks and we won't be able to find the right notes without visual aids!
(I would have sold my fretless long ago if it didn't have lines.)
JTC111
Active member
'cause most of us are hacks and we won't be able to find the right notes without visual aids!
Exactly. Does he think I have some special mind control power over where my fingers go? I need the damn lines.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
=sigh= At this point in history, the Precision bass is a thoroughly mature piece of kit, and to call my bass a fretless Precision does no violence to anyone. It does identify its make, model, configuration and its single distinguishing characteristic.
In fact, I have my dream bass: the awesome tone of a P, and the ease of playing of a fretless.
(Although I did make up a headstock decal in Photoshop that says "Fender Imprecision" --just never felt the need to actually put it on.
)
zazz
hmmmm
those squire jaco pastorius are very good bang for the buck !!
Roguetitan
New member
Light
New member
To do it right? Well, we charge just as much to defret a bass as to refret it. That should give you an idea.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
crazydoc
Master Baiter
'cause most of us are hacks and we won't be able to find the right notes without visual aids!
How can you look at the fingerboard and read the words to the song you're singing at the same time? I had to learn to play by feel.Exactly. Does he think I have some special mind control power over where my fingers go? I need the damn lines.
