cant get my frets out!!!(fretless project)

BrandonBass · #1 12-06-2010, 06:13 AM

I read articles regarding defretting and they recommend putting lemon oil on the fretboard to soften the wood and then use a soldering iron to heat up the frets then pull them out.

Ive been heating the fret for the past 5mins with an iron and using a plier to pluck it out, and i have to say the frets seemed unmovable! is this normal?

BrandonBass · #2 12-06-2010, 07:14 AM

ok problem solved. nail clippers ftw!

sevenyearsdown · #3 12-06-2010, 07:22 AM

also helps to take the neck relief out by adjusting the truss. You'll have an easier time with a "flat" neck.

JLS · #4 12-06-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

ok problem solved. nail clippers ftw!

My dedicated fretpulling tool, for decades, has been a modified nailclipper, invented by Paul Dwyer at St. Louis Music Supply, in the early 1970's.

202dy · #5 12-06-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

My dedicated fretpulling tool, for decades, has been a modified nailclipper, invented by Paul Dwyer at St. Louis Music Supply, in the early 1970's.

Interesting. This is not a tool that is in the mainstream.

How is it modified? How does it compare to ground bladed end nippers (advantages/disadvantages)?

Please post image.

Craig_S · #6 12-06-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

Interesting. This is not a tool that is in the mainstream.

How is it modified? How does it compare to ground bladed end nippers (advantages/disadvantages)?

Please post image.

I'd like to see it, too.

JLS · #7 12-06-2010, 01:03 PM

Modified toenail clipper. corners ground off. Walk underneath a fret, it's out. I always heat frets w/ a soldering iron, when pulling them, significantly less chipping. I've never used anything else.

Labi · #8 12-06-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

Modified toenail clipper. corners ground off. Walk underneath a fret, it's out. I always heat frets w/ a soldering iron, when pulling them, significantly less chipping. I've never used anything else.

Wow, freticure

202dy · #9 12-06-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

Modified toenail clipper. corners ground off. Walk underneath a fret, it's out. I always heat frets w/ a soldering iron, when pulling them, significantly less chipping. I've never used anything else.

Cool tool. The jaws are ground flat. That was the real question. Obviously works well. What about finger fatigue?

A long time ago I used an old Gibson style speed hammer. Then I picked up a small, cheap end nipper at a flea market and ground the jaws sharp and flat. One dollar twenty years ago, still going strong.

All work on the same principle and keep chipping to a minimum.

JLS · #10 12-06-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

Cool tool. The jaws are ground flat. That was the real question. Obviously works well. What about finger fatigue?

A long time ago I used an old Gibson style speed hammer. Then I picked up a small, cheap end nipper at a flea market and ground the jaws sharp and flat. One dollar twenty years ago, still going strong.

All work on the same principle and keep chipping to a minimum.

The jaws were pretty flat to begin with, curved fingernail clippers wouldn't work. Finger fatigue? Never thought about it.

I'll often go down one side of the fingerboard with a 3/8" chisel that I ground into a convex curve, specifically for getting under, and lifting fret ends, before I do anything else, in a refret. One tap is all it takes, and I don't need to rock the puller from side to side at all. Again, heating the fret is a must.

Older Fenders, with the slid-sideways frets, are a whole 'nother can o' worms...

Lesfunk · #11 12-06-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labi

Wow, freticure

well done sir.

BrandonBass · #12 12-06-2010, 05:42 PM

I just did so, and it didnt seem that 'smooth'. I applied 3layers of lacquer already and i can still feel the grains...may i know how to make the fretboard smoother?

FunkMetalBass · #13 12-06-2010, 05:52 PM

Keep adding coats - it'll get there. Just a light sand between every few coats to keep it smooth. Spray finishes are useful for applying thin, even coats. Brush on finishes will inherently be a bit thicker.

Truthfully, the grains wont be very noticeable to your strings or fingers.

Turnaround · #14 12-06-2010, 07:35 PM

I've had toenail clippers in my toolkit for removing frets for many years, but I came to dislike them. They work but I didn't like the spring-open jaws - for that matter I don't like the springs on most pliers, nippers etc., so I remove them.

BrandonBass · #15 12-07-2010, 03:56 AM

I defretted my bass, lacquered it and did a decent job...and i couldnt wait to caress it, so I did just that. plugged it in, played. Realise action is too low, lowered the saddles....okay. seems to be about the right distance between strings and fretboard....BUT

MY STRINGS ARE HITTING THE PICKUP !. Okay, nevermind, thought to myself ill just take out the foam and lower the pickup. Did just that. But i still got 2 problems.

1. the D string would buzz pretty bad when i pluck on the 2nd and 3rd fret.

2. My E string cant go low enough for the 'mwah' since thats about as far as the saddles can do.

pnut166 · #16 12-07-2010, 04:03 AM

Not an expert on fretless, feel free to correct me. 1.) Raise saddle. 2.) File nut / saddle ?

Labi · #17 12-07-2010, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

I defretted my bass, lacquered it and did a decent job...and i couldnt wait to caress it, so I did just that. plugged it in, played. Realise action is too low, lowered the saddles....okay. seems to be about the right distance between strings and fretboard....BUT

MY STRINGS ARE HITTING THE PICKUP !. Okay, nevermind, thought to myself ill just take out the foam and lower the pickup. Did just that. But i still got 2 problems.

1. the D string would buzz pretty bad when i pluck on the 2nd and 3rd fret.

2. My E string cant go low enough for the 'mwah' since thats about as far as the saddles can do.

Did you put the same strings you had before defreting? If you put lighter gauge strings you will need to adjust the truss rod. Actually, in any case seems like you need to adjust the truss rod.

BrandonBass · #18 12-07-2010, 04:12 AM

If I raise the saddle, i wont be able to get my desired low action. Yet, the same low action was causing my to hit the PUs, which i lowered eventually...

And yes, I did put the same set of strings in, should I add or remove relief???

Meddle · #19 12-07-2010, 07:50 AM

Hitting the pickups is far too low, and too close to the pickups unless you have a heavy technique.

The Mwah is a sort of gold dust thing, its a combination of so many things. Try player closer to the neck or even over the end of the neck. Also lower the action at nut as well, it can be surprisingly close to the fretboard!

Mwah is created by the string slightly touching a lot of the neck between your finger and the bridge. Its not created automatically by the lowest action possible but by a combination of neck relief, action and playing style. I imagine fresh roundwounds would help as well.

JLS · #20 12-07-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

I defretted my bass, lacquered it and did a decent job...and i couldnt wait to caress it, so I did just that. plugged it in, played. Realise action is too low, lowered the saddles....okay. seems to be about the right distance between strings and fretboard....BUT

MY STRINGS ARE HITTING THE PICKUP !. Okay, nevermind, thought to myself ill just take out the foam and lower the pickup. Did just that. But i still got 2 problems.

1. the D string would buzz pretty bad when i pluck on the 2nd and 3rd fret.

2. My E string cant go low enough for the 'mwah' since thats about as far as the saddles can do.

Was there a shim in the neck pocket, that you forgot to replace?