Fretless epoxy question (help a brotha out?)

Alexben824 · #1 05-23-2007, 05:58 PM

I know all this very well could have been answered before in previous post, but I gave up looking. So...

About how much on average would it cost to get my fretless' neck coated with epoxy? I'm really afraid to do it myself (unless it actually is easier than it sounds) so I wanna see how much it would cost to get it professionally done. Do they do repairs and stuff like that at Guitar Center? Or should I look in the phone book for someone?

Kael · #2 05-23-2007, 06:40 PM

It cost me around $50 to $60 to do my fretless J using mirror coat epoxy. I still have about 80% of the epoxy left. I'd suggest that you buy the smallest amount of epoxy possible. I also purchased with that money painter's tape, packing tape, sandpaper of varying grades, disposable latex gloves (believe me, you'll want those gloves!), disposable foam brushes (they are pretty much shot after one use), and a radiused sanding block from Stewmac. You could probably cut ten to fifteen bucks out of the expense by skipping the sanding block, but I recommend that you get one. Makes sanding down the fingerboard much more even/easy/quick. Well worth the expense. It is actually a pretty simple mod. Just put each layer of epoxy on thin and take your time with sanding.

MysticMichael · #3 05-23-2007, 06:46 PM

Unless you're an experienced luthier, or at least have some pretty good woodworking chops, I wouldn't recommend doing it yourself - it's just too easy to mess it up, and you really get only one chance to do it right...

I wouldn't recommend Guitar Center either - unless you happen to find a bassist/salesperson who can refer you to someone good. Ditto with the phone book.

Best bet is to ask around among some experienced players in your area, plus maybe some local guitar shops. Or if you don't mind shipping your bass interstate, some TalkBassers might have suggestions (I've used HG Thor in upstate New York...but his wait times are insane). Price could vary from maybe $200 - $400, depending on your area, type of instrument, etc.

Some players have reported good results with Tru-Oil. Not a permanent finish like epoxy, but a lot easier to apply...

MM

greenboy · #4 05-23-2007, 07:03 PM

After I found Rot Doctor (on the net, out of Seattle) boat epoxy, which is not petroleum based but supposedly virgin wood and really pliable after full cure (no edge chipping etc over the years), I got a six-string bass done by a local acoustic luthier who'd never done one before, but had real meticulous work habits. He did the neck for $200, six coats, and that was including pulling the frets and filling the slots with maple. Then he bought the remainder of the epoxy from me for some stuff he wanted to try out.

Came out great!

bottomzone · #5 05-24-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexben824

I know all this very well could have been answered before in previous post, but I gave up looking. So...

About how much on average would it cost to get my fretless' neck coated with epoxy? I'm really afraid to do it myself (unless it actually is easier than it sounds) so I wanna see how much it would cost to get it professionally done. Do they do repairs and stuff like that at Guitar Center? Or should I look in the phone book for someone?

Please check out www.dontfrettt.com. Very reasonable prices and great work! He really did a SWEET job on my Dean Edge 4 (see my testimonial).

Keep God First!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

greenboy · #6 05-24-2007, 08:58 AM

I got PMs from a couple of TBers reading this thread and promised to share what photos I had and a little more info.

The photos are just quickies. One of them was to show V-Bassers how I installed a GK-pickup semi-permanently, and you can actually see bad color temperature and a light reflected on the neck! Another was taken a year later to show how a lot of playing would still make the surface get minute scratching, BEFORE and AFTER shots a year apart. You can actually see my hands and camera if you look at the BEFORE closely. I had intended to do a real good detail shoot at that time but my camera died.

Really it takes better lighting and setup to really show off an epoxy job to get the reflections at the right angles to show depth and shine and not just glare or obscured detail. So you'll have to take my word that this job turned out looking very thick and clean, much like the pics you might see on HG Thor's site.

First: Here's the Rot Doctor stuff I used. Great stuff. Prices are linked there on the page. You don't need much to get a lot of coats. It really does flex like the little picture shows. Seems to hold up very well too, better than a lot of jobs I've seen with the same amount of time on them, where there's chips along the edges of the neck.

I went over to the luthier's shop every step of the way. After pulling frets the next step was using a solvent to remove neck oils. You do want to make sure you get oils out of the board as much as possible before doing a coat, for total adherence. Then, it's layering, with edges totally taped off and slightly edged above. He used a thick plastic automotive tape. He told me that application procedure was important to keep any bubbles small or large from forming. Between each layer, real fine sanding of course.

Anyway, here's what I have:

bradjonesbass · #7 05-24-2007, 09:10 AM

Lot's of time on that d-string in 1st position, eh?

Jay Terrien · #8 05-24-2007, 09:11 AM

You could also send the bass out and get it done at HG Thor:
http://www.woodwiz.com/epoxy/pictures.html

AMAZING RESULTS!! I was playing Skinny Bishop's bass (a Jacoized Fender Roscoe Beck 5 string, converted to fretless by HG Thor) in this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mKZwdLMgPe4

I hadn't played a fretless 5 tuned in 4ths with a low B in YEARS!! Awesome feel on the neck, unreal!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexben824

I know all this very well could have been answered before in previous post, but I gave up looking. So...

About how much on average would it cost to get my fretless' neck coated with epoxy? I'm really afraid to do it myself (unless it actually is easier than it sounds) so I wanna see how much it would cost to get it professionally done. Do they do repairs and stuff like that at Guitar Center? Or should I look in the phone book for someone?

greenboy · #9 05-24-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradjonesbass

Lot's of time on that d-string in 1st position, eh?

Not sure that's really that's down near the nut, and it's just the close flash that makes any one of those seem to have more wear in a certain spot anyway, as the specular highlight kinda infers.

Kael · #10 05-24-2007, 01:07 PM

Everyone seems to be missing something from the original post. This is already a fretless neck. No pulling frets required. No filling in fretlines. All the original poster would need to do would be to apply the actual epoxy. A lot less trouble and opportunity to mess up the bass if you aren't pulling the frets.

If you have a multi thousand dollar collector's instrument I'd agree with paying a pro luthier to do the work. If you have a player's grade gigging bass, then I'd say just do the work yourself.

greenboy · #11 05-24-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Everyone seems to be missing something from the original post. This is already a fretless neck. No pulling frets required. No filling in fretlines.

Just because I mentioned them is no reason to assume I missed that.

And for less than 200 smackers to get a really fine job with absolutely no high or low spots seems a steal.

I've seen enough gloppy uneven jobs that work but don't really get to a final fine stage to appreciate that.

doctorjazz · #12 05-24-2007, 02:37 PM

HG Thor's wait times are long, but I've seen and heard his work firsthand and it is nothing short of spectacular.

greiswig · #13 05-25-2007, 11:53 AM

I redid my neck using cyanoacrylate instead of epoxy. I had to saw out the wood putty previous guy tried to use, and put in several different types of hardwood to make an interesting pattern, then put on three coats of CA with sanding in between them. The CA sands nicely, is amazingly hard and smooth when finished, and can be taken off easily relative to epoxy if something should go wrong...either sanding or with acetone.

bottomzone · #14 05-25-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Everyone seems to be missing something from the original post. This is already a fretless neck. No pulling frets required. No filling in fretlines. All the original poster would need to do would be to apply the actual epoxy. A lot less trouble and opportunity to mess up the bass if you aren't pulling the frets.

If you have a multi thousand dollar collector's instrument I'd agree with paying a pro luthier to do the work. If you have a player's grade gigging bass, then I'd say just do the work yourself.

Sam at www.dontfrettt.com treats necks that are already fretless. He does amazing work and doesn't have a 2 year waiting list!

Keep God First!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

greenboy · #15 05-26-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottomzone

Sam at www.dontfrettt.com treats necks that are already fretless. He does amazing work and doesn't have a 2 year waiting list!:

I just glanced at his price list - seems very reasonable. Got any idea how many coats that is? That price with a quick turnover could compete with good local luthiers, depending on where one lives, etc.

Didn't beat my guy, but Montana is kinda tough for wages, so...