Defretting a Harmony H22?

[TN WOODMAN]

You might even try tapewounds on this neck . You won 't get mwah but you will get thump . I love Rotosound tapes on my. ' 65 Rivoli-close to an upright sound .

 

[smcd]

What an absolute freakin' mess....

 

[6stringvince]

I have TI Flats on there, and they do sound great, also low tension, which is good considering the neck is pretty wimpy

 

[Ken J]

I'm done trying to defret basses I have had some good results but not great. I'm also moving to unlined boards and looking into replacing the finger boards. Attached is a link to an alternative I'm looking into but I'm having a slow time on getting back feed back. I'm starting to locate luthiers to discuss and pursue.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1043712&referrerid=200078

 

[cripula]

I'm glad you're not going to do it.
I would find a reissue and pull the frets if you really want to try it.

 

[drewfretless]

What an absolute freakin' mess....

Hey I didn't do it, and I'll admit it sure isn't pretty, but it does play and sound great.

 

[julian ewart]

OK, I have this beautiful 1964 Harmony H22 that's in near perfect shape. I love this bass for it's warm woody tone, and playability, pretty close to an upright bass tone, but the frets get in the way of it nailing it perfect, it lacks that "mwah" that only a fretless can deliver.
I've been gasing for a fretless as of late (would be my first), so I've been considering yanking the frets. I feel like it would be sacrilege to do this to a near perfect 50 year old beauty. I know this was a department store bass back in the day, but Ronnie Lane wasn't wrong to play one of these, they are beauties, and now a days well sought after fetching some good coin.
Should I do it or will I regret this later?
I've considered building a fretless clone neck instead, keeping the original, but I'm not sure my luthier chops are up to spec for the job.
Long and short of it, talk me in to it, or talk me out of it.
Thanks in advance

 

[julian ewart]

OK, I have this beautiful 1964 Harmony H22 that's in near perfect shape. I love this bass for it's warm woody tone, and playability, pretty close to an upright bass tone, but the frets get in the way of it nailing it perfect, it lacks that "mwah" that only a fretless can deliver.
I've been gasing for a fretless as of late (would be my first), so I've been considering yanking the frets. I feel like it would be sacrilege to do this to a near perfect 50 year old beauty. I know this was a department store bass back in the day, but Ronnie Lane wasn't wrong to play one of these, they are beauties, and now a days well sought after fetching some good coin.
Should I do it or will I regret this later?
I've considered building a fretless clone neck instead, keeping the original, but I'm not sure my luthier chops are up to spec for the job.
Long and short of it, talk me in to it, or talk me out of it.
Thanks in advance

Hello, just came across your post on this site.
i have just finished making an old H22 Harmony bass fretless.
i did it because the neck was warped and the truss rod didn't work.
Took off the old fingerboard and replaced it with a nice chunk of ebony, also sorted out the truss rod issue prior to glueing the new one.
filed and sanded the sides, then used a radius block on the fingerboard. Put in dot markers on the sides using old fingerboard as reference.
last job was to refinish using black then clear nitro.
it played really well, lower action than my other fretted H22.
It is the 3rd H22 bass i have restored and although it took awhile it has been worth it.

so, like other people have said, I would not alter yours, wait till one crops up that needs fixing like I did.
i can send you pictures if you want?

 

[Pilgrim]

What an absolute freakin' mess....

That is just plain nasty. Even the words "hack job" don't convey how bad it is. That instrument needs a new neck, or at least a new fretboard.

 

[GretschWretch]

That is just plain nasty. Even the words "hack job" don't convey how bad it is. That instrument needs a new neck, or at least a new fretboard.

Or, it may just need the fret slots filled followed by a good sanding of the fingerboard. The main reason that job looks so bad is that it wasn't completed.