LEDs aftermarket - without removing fretboard

ZolkoW · #1 01-23-2007, 04:52 PM

I hope, someone finds this useful or at least, interesting

http://www.dikid.hu/bm/proj_led_aftermarket.php

AND, -the pictures won't really show it- it's my best fretwork so far.
I hope, the owner will be happy with it

wilser · #2 01-23-2007, 06:58 PM

very nice work.

but I think removing the fretboard would have been easier

ZolkoW · #3 01-24-2007, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilser

very nice work.

but I think removing the fretboard would have been easier

Yeah, sure, but I found this more challenging, and this way the original finish is unchanged..
I tried to avoid removing the FB, and succeed..

FBB Custom · #4 01-24-2007, 09:21 AM

That looks great and wow, a lot of work.

People are always asking here if you can fret a fretless board. Can we send them to you now?

Angus · #5 01-24-2007, 10:41 AM

Cool looking stuff!

But using an endmill in a drill chuck?

ZolkoW · #6 01-24-2007, 11:04 AM

"Can we send them to you now?"

-to Hungary? If they know, where it is in the map

"But using an endmill in a drill chuck?"

-why not? as I don't have any other holder for that..

Musiclogic · #7 01-24-2007, 11:20 AM

Hungary? Isn' that somewhere between Poland and the Czech Republic? LMAO

Nice work, and Kudos for facing the challenge headlong, most are afraid to take on such a task these days. Outstanding.

ZolkoW · #8 01-24-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Hungary? Isn' that somewhere between Poland and the Czech Republic? LMAO

Nice work, and Kudos for facing the challenge headlong, most are afraid to take on such a task these days. Outstanding.

Thanks!
My country is -let's say- in the middle of Europe, to the south from the Czech Rep.
Geographical training

OFF: I've been using this nickname for years, when I found, that there's a place in Poland called Zolkow... no connection, of course. just reading Poland brought this up

Angus · #9 01-24-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZolkoW

"But using an endmill in a drill chuck?"

-why not? as I don't have any other holder for that..

They aren't built to withstand forces in the X and Y direction, only Z, so consequently they can deflect a fair bit. Not as much of an issue with wood compared to metal, but it depends on how much you are removing. It's much easier to dull and break cutters this way, though, because it produces chatter with much less feed than normal, and you aren't able to cut as much. You can probably get away with it in wood, though, but definitely not with metal!

ZolkoW · #10 01-24-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angus

They aren't built to withstand forces in the X and Y direction, only Z, so consequently they can deflect a fair bit. Not as much of an issue with wood compared to metal, but it depends on how much you are removing. It's much easier to dull and break cutters this way, though, because it produces chatter with much less feed than normal, and you aren't able to cut as much. You can probably get away with it in wood, though, but definitely not with metal!

That sounds useful, i'm new to milling machines...
thank you.

spudmaster34 · #11 01-24-2007, 03:45 PM

thats pretty cool, no way I would have the balls to try it

dooft11 · #12 01-25-2007, 07:06 AM

my friend did it in a similar way but we route the channel on side of the neck which make the route channel unseen when you hold the bass up with fb facing out. he did a nice and clean job, i can post some pics with his permission.

ZolkoW · #13 01-25-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dooft11

my friend did it in a similar way but we route the channel on side of the neck which make the route channel unseen when you hold the bass up with fb facing out. he did a nice and clean job, i can post some pics with his permission.

post some pics!

my channels are 99% invisible (from the viewpoint of 2"

), and if that wouldn't be enough, they go exactly under the A and D strings

Dusty G · #14 01-25-2007, 09:14 AM

You are one seriously patient person! Awesome work!

I probably would have bought another pre-slotted pre-rasiused FB, installed conventional fiber optics in it, planed the original fb off and glued the new one on....Actually, I'de tell him to have someone else do it!

erikbojerik · #15 01-25-2007, 09:38 AM

Nice job!

How did you drill from the dot holes into the channels? Is that black wire-thing a tiny flexible drill bit?

ZolkoW · #16 01-25-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikbojerik

Nice job!

How did you drill from the dot holes into the channels? Is that black wire-thing a tiny flexible drill bit?

I've used a handheld drilling machine, and drilled small holes from the dot holes to the outside, slantwise. I did't have much room, but enough for the wires.

the black insulated wire is needed only at fret 12, the double dot, because I had to connect the LED's other pole to the farther channel. (all the other LEDs have one ch. left, one right)

dooft11 · #17 01-26-2007, 10:52 AM

dooft11 · #18 01-26-2007, 10:58 AM

but routing along the side, i avoid to touch any fret, jsut drill the smallest hole one can get running 90 to the neck aligning the center of the dot, then remove the dot, Led from top down, and the lead wire thu the small hole.. no refret, no touch to fingerboard.

ZolkoW · #19 01-26-2007, 01:06 PM

Nice work!

Mine was erlier defretted, and now the friend wanted to convert back to fretted.

khariel · #20 01-30-2007, 10:15 PM

They both look very beautiful. A few questions though (I have a spare non-working cheap bass so I figure I might try something like this on it).

Has anyone tried to power the LED via the amp? Dont know if that possible but might something i'd like to have instead of a battery.

Also whats the liquid you will the holes with? epoxy?

Thanks,

BK