Defretting ?

[alnico51]

I do these all the time, But I use thin maple veneer on the slots (Or think plastic binding material)

As mentioned above no screw drivers, use Fret Pullers you can get from stew mac,

I heat the top often frets with a soldier iron so any glue or Sludge looses then slowly pull the frets from one side to and working across really slow never pull up let the toll lift.

Then this is really important, adjust the neck straight with a straight edge (Truss rod) them use 180 paper and level the fretboard, follow the radius so be carful, if you have a radius block that is good. You should not have any chips if you remove the frets correct but you will see the stud from the fret it looks like little teeth, Sometime one maple this can be black I try to sand it out unless its so deep.

I use a small saw (I have a fret saw but if you can find a OLFLA Black Saw they work well) you need a blade width of .020 to .025, Also measure how deep you need to go and double stick tape a small piece of plexi or wood at that depth on the saw, (It will look even at each fret slot) If not each slot will look different,

At lowes you can get maple veneer or small plastic binding at stew mac (Thin black if you want to see the lines)

Put the veneer in the slot and push it down, use a Flat tooth pick and Super glue on each side (Don't go crazy on the glue its a mess) after the glue dries I use the fret nippers to to the veneer or bind lower the glue will harden it. Then just level it out until the fretboard is smooth and the radius is correct.

If its maple and you want to protect the finish, bet some Minwax or formby's Tungoil with Urethane in it, Its a wipe on wipe off product that easy to apply but put 10 or 12 coats on waiting 20 minutes between coats

String it up, If you don't line it just saw out the slot and refret it. Most people want fretlines so they can see where they are that is why I use binding (from stew mac I use 5785 .020" x .075" (.51mm x 1.90mm) Yes
$4.06
4 or more $3.46)

Good luck

[JLS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EjRqIJrkuo

[fourstringbliss]

Here's Dan Erlewine's photo tutorial on defretting.

I noticed that Dan Erlewine is defretting a maple fretboard neck and then coated it with super glue. It's a neck from a production bass so the fretboard must have some kind of finish on it. I don't see any mention to him sanding the finish off before he applied the super glue - only that he sanded the plastic strips until they were smooth and flush with the fretboard.

Do you think he applied the super glue over the existing fretboard finish?

I'm asking because I'm defretting a bass with a maple fretboard. I want to do a super glue fretboard finish but I'd rather not sand all the poly off. Do you think the superglue would bond sufficiently with scuffed poly to make a strong enough bond to withstand fretless playing?

[Meatsim009]

Hi

I just "restored" a late 80's Ibanez bass, which I converted to fretless. You can see pictures of the process in my FaceBook photo album. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2607250&type=3

I also watched the videos of Jason Holder on YouTube. He gave me great advice on what to do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=115gv...0C9EEB7CC0744C

All the best

[Shardik]

Originally Posted by Meatsim009

Hi

I just "restored" a late 80's Ibanez bass, which I converted to fretless. You can see pictures of the process in my FaceBook photo album. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2607250&type=3

I also watched the videos of Jason Holder on YouTube. He gave me great advice on what to do http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=115gv...0C9EEB7CC0744C

All the best

Seems like that FB photo album is unavailable to me.

I also have a fretless converted Ibanez bass, and I am really curious about yours.

BTW, here is my re-defret thread, mistakes and all:
Re-defret of a frankenfretless

[SquierJazz72]

This has been a great thread to keep up on.
I am considering fretless for my next bass, but
no one local stocks, or is selling used, anything fretless.

I'll likely buy another inexpensive fretted bass and convert it myself.
I have plenty of skill with wood and metal themselves, but it was nice to read about the bass specific aspects of it all.

[Meatsim009]

Originally Posted by Shardik

Seems like that FB photo album is unavailable to me.

I also have a fretless converted Ibanez bass, and I am really curious about yours.

BTW, here is my re-defret thread, mistakes and all:
Re-defret of a frankenfretless

try it now bro

[eli]

Sorry if this has been discussed; I searched this thread and found nothing. SO:

I lost my beloved Cort Curbow fretless 5 in a theft, and I want to recreate is as closely as possible. I have a Cort Curbow 5-string body for which I cannot get a fretless neck from Cort as the model is obsolete. So my only option is to defret. The Cort Curbow fingerboards are Ebonol (phenolic).

Has anyone defretted an Ebonol fingerboard? I know it's not wood, so I would imagine there are tricks to know to get the frets out, so I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually done it and has experience (good or bad) to share.

[OscarJr]

Wow, I just read 10yrs worth of defretting posts. Learned quite a bit of info. I had been lookin for a cheapie 6 string fretless, but now I feel confident enough to do a defretting with veneers on my own. Just need to find a cheap 6 string fretted.

[Shardik]

I think defretting an Ebonol neck is really difficult and risky business. It is really a pity that Cort stopped making those 5 string fretless Curbows. I've been looking for one myself.

[eli]

Originally Posted by eli

Sorry if this has been discussed; I searched this thread and found nothing. SO:

I lost my beloved Cort Curbow fretless 5 in a theft, and I want to recreate is as closely as possible. I have a Cort Curbow 5-string body for which I cannot get a fretless neck from Cort as the model is obsolete. So my only option is to defret. The Cort Curbow fingerboards are Ebonol (phenolic).

Has anyone defretted an Ebonol fingerboard? I know it's not wood, so I would imagine there are tricks to know to get the frets out, so I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually done it and has experience (good or bad) to share.

bump

[Shardik]

Well, I guess noone tried, since that ebonol stuff is pretty unknown territory.

[mmohamad1093]