Fender Squire in to a Fretless

kenworth · #1 07-07-2006, 12:01 PM

Whats up all. I got some questions that maybe you guys can help me with. I have a Fender Squire from on of the starter kits that i bought off my buddie for $40. The reason it was so cheep is becasue we are in the same band and we hang out all the time and he realy has no use for it becasue he now plays the guitar. Anyways my question is how do I de-fret this bass.....I want to do it my self and im ondering if there is a specal way or a specail tool. My goals is to make the bass look grundgey but with a unique sound.

Yet another question is about pick-uups for this bass. Is there any reasonably priced pick-ups i can replace my Fender Squire's with? I do want good sound out of this too...but my goal is to complete this all my self.

Thanks a million guys.

spudmaster34 · #2 07-07-2006, 12:46 PM

read the sticky at the top of the page, all about defretting

pickups: what type of squire is it?

kenworth · #3 07-07-2006, 01:08 PM

http://www.jagshouse.com/music/images/squirebass.jpg

this is the one....not sure of the modle?

vindy500 · #4 07-07-2006, 01:12 PM

thats what they call a precision bass or p. any p pickups should fit, brands that come to mind are emg dimarzio and seymour duncan, what sort of music are you playing? are you going to refinish it?

spudmaster34 · #5 07-07-2006, 01:19 PM

any of these would work

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ups?sku=300310

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=302265

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...kup?sku=301602

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=300337

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=302280

and most stuff on here http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ups&category0=

Vic Winters · #6 07-07-2006, 06:59 PM

I defretted a Squire about 2 months ago. Just tape up the exposed wood with athletic tape (the stuff they use to wrap ankles) because it has a bit more cushion than regular masking tape. Then I worked the frets out one at a time very slowly with a very thin putty knife. Sanded the neck till smooth. Cleaned out the lines with a razor, and some compressed air. Filled the slots with the black plastic from a old 5 star notebook, and glued them in. Let it dry, then removed excess plastic with scissors and razor. Sanded again to make it smooth as can be, and put on a coat of lemon oil. After that, a few coats of poly, and it was done.

kenworth · #7 07-08-2006, 01:10 AM

Thanks for the imput guys....i did most of it today. Took out frets and all now jsut need to sand and stuff.

OmegaZ27 · #8 07-12-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

I defretted a Squire about 2 months ago. Just tape up the exposed wood with athletic tape (the stuff they use to wrap ankles) because it has a bit more cushion than regular masking tape. Then I worked the frets out one at a time very slowly with a very thin putty knife. Sanded the neck till smooth. Cleaned out the lines with a razor, and some compressed air. Filled the slots with the black plastic from a old 5 star notebook, and glued them in. Let it dry, then removed excess plastic with scissors and razor. Sanded again to make it smooth as can be, and put on a coat of lemon oil. After that, a few coats of poly, and it was done.

Vic, funny thing is that I was about to use a 5 star notebook for the fillers too.

Instead, I found a plastic tray that was cream colored and just cut it up. I have a few questions for you: did you have problems with the fillers not being shaved down completely flat? or how did you make it so you didnt feel the fillers' bumps? I just recently converted my Squier P into a fretless and I can't seem to get rid of the bumps from the fillers, no matter how much I sand it down. Could the problem be with me not using a radius block to sand it down (did you use a radius block or sand by hand also)?