FS/FT: Project Ibanez SR506 Fretless

**TheEmptyCell** · #1 09-30-2009, 08:41 PM

Long story for this one, for the sake of full disclosure.

I bought this bass new in 2005, when they re-released this model. It has Bartolini MK1 pickups and preamp, and is the lighter finish that they no longer make (only lasted a year, I think). Same, soft and easily dented finish as the newer ones.

Over a year ago, my wife and I defretted it, and filled the slots with hardening wood putty. The fingerboard was then sanded down to 320 grit and a dark stain was applied, first to the fretlines to help blend them in. After the stain was applied until the fingerboard was virtually line free, I applied brush-on polyurethane. Some of the spots didn't dry properly (they may have been areas holding some oil, somehow, never diagnosed it) so I sanded it back down to wood.

The fretboard isn't perfectly even. Once you get up to the 17th fretline, you 'fret-out' because the end of the fingerboard isn't level with the rest. I also think that the inlays didn't sand as low as the rest of the fingerboard, so you get some buzz off of them. The bottom of the nut was roughly sanded down to lower the action a bit.

As you can see, a new nut would be in order, though this one is workable.

What you see in the dark, splotchiness is stain. Could be sanded off to give a clean appearance again.

DISCLAIMER: This bass will need work if you want to gig it. It IS playable, however. I had plans to get a sanding block and finish it, but I'm not a very good fretless player. I can get some different pics, but I can't promise they'll be great, or quick.

I'd like to get $200 plus shipping, with the neck removed. Trades: 8-string (octaved) bass (or Warmoth neck and Schaller 471 bridge), Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Bass, umm... run anything by me, I guess.

**RedsFan75** · #2 09-30-2009, 09:11 PM

Hows the weight/balance on this?

It sounds like my kind of project actually...

7StringBassist · #3 09-30-2009, 09:21 PM

looks like it needs to be re sanded and epoxy'd

a little time and a good deal

**TheEmptyCell** · #4 09-30-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedsFan75

Hows the weight/balance on this?

It sounds like my kind of project actually...

Balance is good. I just realized I don't have the top strap button installed, I'll have to dig around for it, but it tends to be a tab bit body-heavy, if anything, which holds it in a comfortable playing position on a strap.

Weight is about 9 pounds on the digital bathroom scale. I played it for a moment, and it does sound nice, great mwah. Strings are D'addario nickel, practically brand new.

alembic5 · #5 09-30-2009, 11:17 PM

Sure wish I had the cash for this one! Been GASing for a fretless the past few weeks since my co-worker let me borrow one of his. Unfortunately baby #3 is on the way, so funds are low! Bump for a killer deal.

**TheEmptyCell** · #6 10-01-2009, 08:40 AM

Thanks for the kind words all. It will make a killer bass, I guarantee that... it was my main bass for over 2 years before I got others and this one went to the wayside. I figured defretting would get it played more, but I'm bad enough at fretless 4, so this just increases the suck by 50%.

M2roger · #7 10-02-2009, 10:13 AM

This could make an interesting project. What is the dark streak in the body? It looks like a curiously well defined stripe.

**TheEmptyCell** · #8 10-02-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2roger

This could make an interesting project. What is the dark streak in the body? It looks like a curiously well defined stripe.

Yes, forgot to mention the stripe. I sanded it down (the thick stripe) and colored it in with a Sharpie. This made covering up marks from popping much easier (apply more Sharpie). It's a little dug-out in the exact spot where popping occurred, as I tried to sand it down.