how much does a defretting cost?

bassman1185 · #1 03-09-2002, 06:55 PM

I'm thinking of getting an acoustic bass, but I really want a fretless, but the one I'm thinking of doesn't come without frets. How much would it cost to have a typical shop defret it and put in lines?

Chasarms · #2 03-09-2002, 09:04 PM

$175-$250 depending on who you get to do it. It really is a ton of work. There is little material cost in it, but it takes forever.

Chas

ldiezman · #3 03-11-2002, 08:38 AM

well.. if you are buying a bass with the intent of making it fretless.. i would look around a bit more before i did that. you may regret doing that... Or. if you are really adventurous, you can defret the bass yourself.. I wouldn't do that unless you know what you are doing... I defretted my first bass.. it came out ok.. but the bass itself was just crappy

thrash_jazz · #4 03-11-2002, 11:28 AM

I had my acoustic bass guitar defretted a few years ago - it cost me $150 Cdn.

bassman1185 · #5 03-11-2002, 05:07 PM

Crap, that is a lot. I guess I'll look around a bit more for a fretless ABG.

thrash_jazz · #6 03-14-2002, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bassman1185
Crap, that is a lot. I guess I'll look around a bit more for a fretless ABG.

I did the same thing before I got mine defretted. The cheapest one I could find (in a catalog) was about $1000 US. When I called stores to ask them if they had such a thing, they usually a) said it didn't exist; or b) laughed at me.

My point is, if you can find one for a decent price, I'd definitely be interested in knowing what it was!

Chasarms · #7 03-14-2002, 10:11 AM

I know that both Washburn and Epiphone have built fretless acoustic bass guitars in the past. I have seen several used ones on the web.

I am sure there are other makers who build more affordable fretless acoustics.

I would guess you would pay in the $350-500 range depending on the exact bass.

Here's a photo of my fretless acoustic bass

A little different than what you are looking for, but I am very happy with it.

Chas

Kraig99 · #8 03-14-2002, 01:15 PM

Check Ebay. They frequently have fretted and fretless acoustic basses that generally go for relatively cheap. Good luck with whatever you do.

Craig

allan grossman · #9 03-14-2002, 01:51 PM

Chasarms said...

$175-$250 depending on who you get to do it. It really is a ton of work. There is little material cost in it, but it takes forever.

If you're in that price range and have a Fender you can buy a lined fretless Warmoth neck.

allan

Hambone · #10 03-16-2002, 03:56 PM

If you can stand to have an amplified acoustic bass then the Godin A5's are about the most playable and best feeling instruments I've seen.

bassman1185 · #11 03-16-2002, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hambone
If you can stand to have an amplified acoustic bass then the Godin A5's are about the most playable and best feeling instruments I've seen.

Isn't the A5 a solid body with a piezo in the bridge? I'm looking for something that i can take places and mess around with freinds with. So dragging an amp around to play my 'acoustic' bass in't gonna work.

Thanks for the tip though.

**SoComSurfing** · #12 03-17-2002, 03:58 PM

I dunno what exactly you're looking for in a fretless ABG, but here's one that you may take a look at:

Fretless ABG

bassman1185 · #13 03-19-2002, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoComSurfing
I dunno what exactly you're looking for in a fretless ABG, but here's one that you may take a look at:

Fretless ABG

Thanks for the sugestion, SoCom, but I'm looking for a five string, and I would need fretlines, too. Plus I want to stay as far away from Rogues as humanly possible.