Bass Modification.

[atheistbass93]

Can I sand my frets to a near fretless status? This is coming from a fairly experienced player, but i'm no luthier.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Sure grind away, but I prefer to remove them and insert wood veneer in their place. It's actually a much easier process.
Dirk

 

[allexcosta]

Not sure why, but yes...

Stewmac's 146 fretwire is .036" tall...

 

[Stilettoprefer]

You'll want to pull them out and fill the holes with some sort of filler or wood strips and glue.

 

[allexcosta]

Sure grind away, but I prefer to remove them and insert wood veneer in their place. It's actually a much easier process.
Dirk

You'll want to pull them out and fill the holes with some sort of filler or wood strips and glue.

I don't think he's actually looking for a fretless bass. He says "near fretless"...

 

[iiipopes]

It's been done before: the 1950's Les Paul Custom "fretless wonders."
Link Removed

 

[Dirk Diggler]

You could also refret with something very much smaller. I remember years ago someone talking about a micro frets bass.
I also have heard of folks using banjo frets too.
Dirk

 

[Melik]

You could also refret with something very much smaller. I remember years ago someone talking about a micro frets bass.
I also have heard of folks using banjo frets too.
Dirk

Lee Sklar used mandolin frets!

 

[atheistbass93]

Thanks for the help, because my repair man said taking out the frets could hurt the basses fretboard? But like i said i'm no luthier.

 

[atheistbass93]

Lee Sklar used mandolin frets!

Does this make it sound cleaner than say normal frets?

 

[frianbisher]

I think what the repair man is worried about is when you remove the frets it is possible o tear out pieces of the fingerboard when doing so....You could have a tech level the frets to a very low level and do a crown and polish (can be pricey)...Or of course there is always mandolin wire. I know people do use mando wire but I don't know what it might do to your sound.

 

[atheistbass93]

I think what the repair man is worried about is when you remove the frets it is possible o tear out pieces of the fingerboard when doing so....You could have a tech level the frets to a very low level and do a crown and polish (can be pricey)...Or of course there is always mandolin wire. I know people do use mando wire but I don't know what it might do to your sound.

That what he meant he gave me a quote on the repair he said 120 would work but thats because he is my friend.

 

[Melik]

Does this make it sound cleaner than say normal frets?

Don't know 'bout that. I think that, when he (or his gear tech or who ever) assembled his world famous Frankenbass, he used any type of fret wire that was available at the moment

 

[Bass-Adrenaline]

Just remove the frets and do it right. If youre that worried about it you should prob just get a different bass thats fretless. What is the bass you want to defret?

 

[atheistbass93]

Just remove the frets and do it right. If youre that worried about it you should prob just get a different bass thats fretless. What is the bass you want to defret?

My Washburn XS-5, but now i think i'm gonna buy a Fender Jazz Fretless for my Jazz Fusion Collective. Thanks for the help everyone, who commented.

 

[allexcosta]

Does this make it sound cleaner than say normal frets?

Not exactly cleaner, but some people say they can hear "more wood" and better intonation.

Lakland and Dingwall use small frets for this very reason.