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VIEW FULL LIVE VERSION : Defretting an Acoustic-Electric?


owensea777
07-14-2007, 09:59 PM
I'm not dead-set on defretting my Michael Kelley Dragonfly 4-string, but...
Is it possible to do it without any problems? I would never try to defret it myself, but if I took it to a professional, would he be able to do the project, or would he think I'm a dumbass? The fingerboard is rosewood, and I would use strictly flatwounds, if that matters. Thanks for any help

PilbaraBass
07-14-2007, 10:12 PM
defretting any instrument would have the same degree of difficulty...

some woods, such as ebony, are a little more prone to chipping, however, so those become a little more difficult.

tplyons
07-15-2007, 07:11 PM
I defretted my ABG without a hitch. All you need is patience.

Filling the slots is more difficult, but still easy. I got a roll of self adhesive birch shelf edging from the local hardware store for $2.50, wedged it in the slot with some water thick superglue and then levelled the fretboard. In all, the project took me about a day.

202dy
07-15-2007, 08:31 PM
Go to the Setup and Repair board. There is a sticky at the top that details de-fretting (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71144).

owensea777
07-16-2007, 02:32 AM
After searching the whole sticky I've found no answer to my question there. I used the search engine before making a thread, too, and no luck. After reading the whole sticky though, I'm thinking of just doing the project myself.
Tplyons, that's good news. What kind of wood is the fingerboard of your now-fretless ABG?

I figured I better post this one here so as not to piss off everyone in S&R, but if a mod thinks they should move it, please do.