User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 4/4/2002 7:06:07 PM EDT
[#1]
Can't offer any timely advice, but maybe this will help. I once owned a Fender Jazz fretless that had an original rosewood fretboard and was not a conversion. The nice thing was that the neck was rather thin compared to the 2 X 4 feel of the regular Jazz. I don't know what it's called, but it was nice. It had some dead spots, and for other reasons, I let it go. I almost wish that I had kept that old thing, but I still have my '73 Rick 4001. Anyway, maybe the good folks at Fender can find a nice, thin, new fretless neck for you.
Peace. Out. E A D G -White Horse |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/4/2002 7:27:08 PM EDT
[#2]
I've got a rosewood fretboard on another fretless that I use roundwounds on. Unfortunately, the strings chewed up the fretboard in a few spots. That's why I'm trying this epoxy thing.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/4/2002 7:36:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Jaco Pastorius ... AWESOME!
Although I have stripped, sanded, cut, grinded, CONSTRUCTED, and finished many basses in my lifetime. I came to one conclusion. Im gonna leave that to the professional from now one. I had a (had?? STILL HAVE) a 1973 Fender P Bass that was just gorgeous. Black with a SOLID BRASS Pickguard with a badass bridge and gold plated tuners. It showed its age with wear and tear so I thought I would sand the paint and re paint it. What a friggin mess... I RUINED IT!!! Finally I broke down and brought it to a musical instrument refinishing co and brought the brass pickguard to a metal refinisher... Man it is gorgeous again... do yourself a favor. Bring it to a pro ... spend the bucks. You will be so much happier. BTW... THANKS A LOT! You got me thinking "fretless" now! GEEZ!! [img] [/img] |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/4/2002 7:44:50 PM EDT
[#4]
DrFrige, that's not the advice I am looking for.[:)] But yes, that idea has crossed my mind. I finally decided to just do it myself. It's really not because of money, it's just something I want to try myself. I've already spent $150 on the marine epoxy so actually, I would probably come out cheaper taking it to someone. And if I start to screw it up, that's what I'll do.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/4/2002 11:41:57 PM EDT
[#5]
Luckily, Fender recently (within the last couple of years) has finally started selling new replacement necks, American made. Re-fretting is a job for the pros. It takes time, patience, skill, and the right tools to do a good job. For a really vintage guitar, like a pre-CBS Strat/Tele, a re-fret may be worth it (or if the guitar has sentimental value). But if you're interested mostly in playing, a new neck is the answer (keep the old one though!)
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 7:46:04 AM EDT
[#6]
Gus, I'm not trying to re-fret my bass. I'm trying to de-fret it (make it fretless). Sorry, just realized I didn't make that very clear. The epoxy coating is much harder than the wood fretboard, so roundwound strings can be used without destroying the fretboard.
Good to know that Fender is selling necks thouhg. I just may need a new one before this is all over. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 9:06:21 AM EDT
[#7]
And yes, I know yanking the frets off of a 1973 Fender Jazz Bass isn't the smartest thing to do, but oh well, it's already done. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 10:00:36 AM EDT
[#8]
Quoted: Solution: Buy a fretless bass. Already have one. I realize you are past this point already, but I wouldn't go to all that trouble pulling frets when you can get a factory fretless instrument that is good to go. What you are trying to do is akin to trying to make a shotgun out of a rifle by removing the rifling. Buy a shotgun to begin with! [:)] Well, that's one way to look at it. But actually, I'm trying to get a particular sound that, for some reason, only comes from the older Fender basses. I've played the new fretless basses, but they just aren't the same. Just like the old Music Man basses sound nothing like the new Ernie Ball / Music Man basses. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 10:20:00 AM EDT
[#9]
Sr 15
I tore up a perfectly good bass neck back in high school trying to make it fretless. It sounds like you are on the right track though. I left the gaps in the fingerboard unfilled and the thing just self destructed in about 6 months. The wood swelled up around where the frets had been, I filed/sanded the fretboard back twice, but it didn't seem to help. The neck also curled forward and the truss rod just couldn't correct it. Luckily it was an elCheapo bass... hell it may have disintegrated on its own without my assistance. I think if I were going to attempt this project again, I would remove the entire fretboard and replace it with one from Stewart-MacDonald. Can't sound like Jaco with a Steinberger and a Trace Elliot that's for sure [:)] |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 10:32:05 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted: I tore up a perfectly good bass neck back in high school trying to make it fretless. It sounds like you are on the right track though. I left the gaps in the fingerboard unfilled and the thing just self destructed in about 6 months. The wood swelled up around where the frets had been, I filed/sanded the fretboard back twice, but it didn't seem to help. The neck also curled forward and the truss rod just couldn't correct it. Luckily it was an elCheapo bass... hell it may have disintegrated on its own without my assistance. Man, that sucks. I pulled the frets from my Jazz Bass a couple of years ago and haven't had any problems like that yet. I want to coat the fretboard with epoxy because the sound it has now isn't quite the one I'm after and I'm afraid the roundwound strings will tear up the fret board over time. I think if I were going to attempt this project again, I would remove the entire fretboard and replace it with one from Stewart-MacDonald. I've got a fretless built from Warmoth parts, which turned out awsome. I've never used Stewart-MacDonald though. I think if I was going to try this again, I'd just sand down the frets instead of trying to remove them. Didn't think of that at the time. Can't sound like Jaco with a Steinberger and a Trace Elliot that's for sure [:)] [:)] |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2002 7:27:51 PM EDT
[#11]
btt
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/15/2002 11:23:03 AM EDT
[#12]
flatwound string is the only way you're going to get the sound you're looking for. and also remember that where you pulled the fret is where you will now be fingering and will be prone to wear.
the sound you seek also comes from the finger tips, from both right and left hand not just from the instrument. jaco will sound like jaco on anything he plays. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/15/2002 2:34:16 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted: flatwound string is the only way you're going to get the sound you're looking for. and also remember that where you pulled the fret is where you will now be fingering and will be prone to wear. the sound you seek also comes from the finger tips, from both right and left hand not just from the instrument. jaco will sound like jaco on anything he plays. Flatwounds do not give me the sound I want, which is why I'm using roundwounds. Unfortunately, roundwounds chew up the wood fretboard. That's why I'm trying to protect the fretboard. To me, flatwounds just have a much less bright sound. Also, Jaco used roundwounds. I have to disagree with you about "jaco will sound like jaco on anyting he plays." To me, the sound of his bass is very distinct and it comes from using roundwounds on an epoxied fretboard. The epoxy is much, much harder than the wood fretboard, so the sound is totally different when playing on epoxy. If my epoxy job on my Jazz Bass works out, I'm going to expoy the fretboard on another fretless bass I have. If you're interested, I'll send you a before and after clip so you can see what I'm talking about. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/16/2002 4:59:44 AM EDT
[#14]
You might want to try a Sansamp Bass Driver DI in conjunction with your mods to the bass. I've been playing with one lately and can really get a variety of sounds from it. I'm getting a really good old Geddy Lee sound from a Gibson Thunderbird. Just a thought.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/16/2002 5:45:44 AM EDT
[#15]
I think you are going to get wear on the fretboard no matter what you do. One nice thing about Fenders is the necks bolt-on so its a matter of minutes to replace a badly worn neck with a brand new one.
But, worn instruments have 'character' that is absent in new ones.... |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
