Defret a bass with zero fret?

Aarix · #1 02-15-2008, 08:37 AM

Is this possible? I have a bass that I love, but really would rather it be fretless (Cort Elrick RB5). But it has a zero in front of the nut:

Is it possible to do a defret? How would that work?

I was thinking the zero could come out, and get replaced by something less metallic, and lower. Like a nylon fret or something.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Darkstrike · #2 02-15-2008, 08:48 AM

Derlin would work

Aarix · #3 02-15-2008, 11:08 AM

Any idea where you can get or how you could use delrin?

dbcandle · #4 02-15-2008, 12:07 PM

Doesn't the zero-fret take the place of the nut, with the nut being nothing more than a "string spacer"?

I wouldn't think it's a problem.

Darkstrike · #5 02-15-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbcandle

Doesn't the zero-fret take the place of the nut, with the nut being nothing more than a "string spacer"?

I wouldn't think it's a problem.

He wants lower action than the fret allows, and aless metallic sound to match the board more.

Derlin is a self lubricating white plastic, called Slipstone in guitar supplier sites, Graphite would work too.

Also a TB'er IIRC, has derlin frets in a bass.

Slowgypsy · #6 02-15-2008, 12:34 PM

FWIW... the correct name is Delrin. It's a plastic polymer material used mostly in industry as a bearing material. Not meaning to rain on your parade, but the idea that changing the material of a zero fret to effect the sound of an instrument is somewhat voodoo science. I'm sure I'll get flamed over this one but science is science... the difference in tone is perhaps measureable with laboratory instruments, but otherwise.....
There have been lots and lots of studies over whether or not a nut (in this case a zero fret) has any bearing on tone, and the consensus is the amount of coloring added to an open note by the material of a nut or zero fret is as close to zero as you can get. After a note is fretted there is no more impact. I didn't make that one up, it's been written about often.

agfrag · #7 02-15-2008, 12:41 PM

I'd leave it in. The replacement would (well, should) be just as high (well you could mess with it I guess) as the fret, and in the exact same place so you don't mess up your note intonation going up the neck. I.e., so you don't end up with a 34 1/16 inch bass vs. a 34 inch. Some might say that that is a moot point on a fretless, but if you are going to replace the frets with markers, they may as well be in the right place.

Koeda · #8 02-15-2008, 02:14 PM

Just need to lower the zero fret. Have a couple Kramer Fretless lumies and they both have the zero fret. Have tried bone, plastic and graphtech nuts on fretless. Could really tell much dif imho. Used a sharpening stone and then polished it up with some wet dry sand paper to bring down one of them. Just my 2 cents,
David

Aarix · #9 02-15-2008, 07:27 PM

I'd really like something softer. It seems obvious that the open string tone of metal on metal would be worlds different than the fingered tone.

But maybe grinding it down is the way to go. Any tool suggestions for that? Cheap fret files?

birdxofxprey · #10 02-15-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aarix

It seems obvious that the open string tone of metal on metal would be worlds different than the fingered tone.

- this would be true no matter what the material. if you want a uniform fretless tone, you'll have to play without using open strings. leave the zero-fret in place and see if you like it. if not, then you can file it, etc., to adjust the height. -

my 2 cents