K somebody explain to me why some builders charge more for...

[tjclem]

Not doing fretwork?!?

Unlined fretless option costing more than fretted basses? What is it I am not seeing? They don't call it "fretless work" the phrase is "fret work"

Sorry it was supposed to be "OK somebody....

[Phil Mailloux]

If its raw wood it makes no sense, if its a clear epoxy finish on the fingerboard I'd probably charge more too

[hsech]

I don't know other than maybe it is the use of Ebony or other exotic wood. I have one semi acoustic fretless and I've kind of wondered about that also. I wouldn't think it would require anymore work to build the guitar unless larger sales volume fretted basses are cheaper to build and with fretless they have to use a special run???

[bass12]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

If its raw wood it makes no sense, if its a clear epoxy finish on the fingerboard I'd probably charge more too

More than a fretted bass? Is an epoxy coat really more costly and time consuming than fret installation/fretwork?

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

If its raw wood it makes no sense, if its a clear epoxy finish on the fingerboard I'd probably charge more too

Oh I agree on the Epoxy been there done that what a mess and time consuming.

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by bass12

More than a fretted bass? Is an epoxy coat really more costly and time consuming than fret installation/fretwork?

Costly no time consuming yes

[bass12]

Originally Posted by tjclem

Costly no time consuming yes

But is it more time consuming than installing frets?

[Phil Mailloux]

Very time consuming and a major pain in the ass, you charge more on those jobs so no one actually orders it. I usually swear under my breath when that happens anyway.

[Phil Mailloux]

Originally Posted by bass12

But is it more time consuming than installing frets?

It takes 10 minutes to install frets and maybe another hour to do the final levelling/crowning/polish at final setup, epoxy takes days plus you need to sand this crap down and make it level, a complete pain in the ass. I don't want to do it unless I get proper compensation for it

[bass12]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

Very time consuming and a major pain in the ass, you charge more on those jobs so no one actually orders it. I usually swear under my breath when that happens anyway.

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

Very time consuming and a major pain in the ass, you charge more on those jobs so no one actually orders it. I usually swear under my breath when that happens anyway.

I so agree

[Phil Mailloux]

That is the reality of ordering high end instruments, if a luthier has all his building process organised and he can go from begin to end under X amount of hours and someone decides to order something that will complicate the matter and add X amount of time to the build process that could have been used for another build than that amount of money is usually added to that in the costs, especially for something as complicated and time consuming as an epoxy finish, the more finicky the work the more expensive it should be.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

That is the reality of ordering high end instruments, if a luthier has all his building process organised and he can go from begin to end under X amount of hours and someone decides to order something that will complicate the matter and add X amount of time to the build process that could have been used for another build than that amount of money is usually added to that in the costs, especially for something as complicated and time consuming as an epoxy finish, the more finicky the work the more expensive it should be.

Is the fretboard a different wood from the rest of the neck? Is there a good way to epoxy the fretless fingerboard seperately and bond it to the neck after?

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally Posted by tjclem

Not doing fretwork?!?

Unlined fretless option costing more than fretted basses? What is it I am not seeing? They don't call it "fretless work" the phrase is "fret work"

Sorry it was supposed to be "OK somebody....

The bass is otherwise identical? I can't see it in that case, unless it's a matter that the builder sees that the market will bear charging more money for the work, or, as was already roughy up, to price it so as to reduce the number of customers that will choose the option.

Another reason would be if it complicates the work process, though I don't really see how a fretless would. An example of this is that F Bass has a very high mark up for a laminate top. While I initially thought that this was far to much to charge, the more I thought about it, the more I thought that it must cause deviations from their method of building basses without laminate tops that increases the work time by a substantial amount.

[tjclem]

Take a look at some big builders sites.. It is ..Interesting...

[reverendrally]

1958bassman, have you ever used epoxy on a fingerboard?

Try it and tell us how you go.

[Double E]

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

Is the fretboard a different wood from the rest of the neck? Is there a good way to epoxy the fretless fingerboard seperately and bond it to the neck after?

Originally Posted by reverendrally

1958bassman, have you ever used epoxy on a fingerboard?

Try it and tell us how you go.

Uhm, what?

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by tjclem

Take a look at some big builders sites.. It is ..Interesting...

If by big builders you mean the factory guys (or somebody like Warmoth), I suspect that they just do batches of slotted fingerboards in their production run because that's what most people want - then either bang frets in, or veneer for lined fretlesses.

Catering for people like me who prefer an unlined board means that there is some kind of deviation from the normal process and in production terms any deviation means extra cost. Even if that means you just don't put a certain small percentage of fingerboards through the slotting process, it takes extra effort to write out those instructions and monitor the process to make sure it happens rather than just banging every piece through the same repetitive process.

[Kmonk]

For the same reason the phone company charges a service charge for a unlisted number. Because they can.

[reverendrally]

Sorry, my bad. misunderstood.