I have a cheap (Johnson...) J bass that I would like to convert to a playable fretless. I put EMGs in just to be able to use it, and the 'burst finish and white pickgaurd are actually decent. I would like to put a new fretless neck on this bass, and I actually prefer the P bass nut-width - any recommendations? (I have looked at the Warmoth site, and could use them, but they are not cheap.)
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fretless replacement neck for P/J bass
- Thread starter NormM
- Start date
- Jun 28, 2005
- 1,015
- 18
- 87
- Disclosures
- Builder,mcdcustomguitars
Have you measured the neck pocket on the Johnson? Try to get a neck with the proper measurements. If the pocket is Fender size you can get MIM necks very reasonabally and they are good necks.
you could pick up an SX fretless P bass for around $100 and switch the neck... they're great necks as long as you know how to file down a nut and I think the profile is somewhere between a p and a j. plus this way you'd have an extra p-bass with a johnson neck as a fretted backup
What do you think of ebonal fingerboards? (I have a Washburn T14 fretless that has a bad fingerboard - I'm not sure what it's made of. To me it has a strange sound.) I really like a mellow, string bass sound but one that can also be toned for a little more clarity and punch.
Yeah, just defret the neck. I've done a couple as well. One with woodfill and the other with vinyl shims. Really easy and fun project.
I am hesitant to try, because the neck is the main deficiency of the bass now, but I guess it wouldn't hurt, if I am planning to get rid of it anyway. I really like the idea of having no lines, though, and I like ebony. I wonder if defretting, either mine or another (MIM) neck, and then filling and dying the wood black would end up looking good?
I did that on one, http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483256
Died it back with no lines, the challenge on defretting and taking the lines out is the position markers....
Here's one I did using birch veneer as the filler, leaving lines.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=561385
after defretting you have to trim the nut to get it down to the proper height to get the amount of mwah you're looking for.
Died it back with no lines, the challenge on defretting and taking the lines out is the position markers....
Here's one I did using birch veneer as the filler, leaving lines.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=561385
after defretting you have to trim the nut to get it down to the proper height to get the amount of mwah you're looking for.
