Fretted Fretless

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Kinda.....

I was posing somewhat of a riddle

I'm thinkin something like this

I have this fretted neck, I dam it off pour in epoxy, once the epoxy dries shape the epoxy to be just above the top of the frets.

This is an experiment I've been wanting to do for a while so here goes

View attachment 3898190

It doesn't work

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Kinda.....

I was posing somewhat of a riddle

I'm thinkin something like this

I have this fretted neck, I dam it off pour in epoxy, once the epoxy dries shape the epoxy to be just above the top of the frets.

This is an experiment I've been wanting to do for a while so here goes

View attachment 3898190

A simple lined fretless neck would yield the same exact results, but without having to have a nut that's twice as tall...which they don't make.

 

[Ostie]

Seems to me the only real downside will be the weight from all the extra epoxy. The neck might feel thicker too but some people prefer that anyway.

If it has really bad neck dive, he can just pour more epoxy all over the body for counter weight. Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[darwin-bass]

Kinda.....

I was posing somewhat of a riddle

I'm thinkin something like this

I have this fretted neck, I dam it off pour in epoxy, once the epoxy dries shape the epoxy to be just above the top of the frets.

This is an experiment I've been wanting to do for a while so here goes

View attachment 3898190

Ah, using frets as fret markers for a fretless. Interesting.

 

[kodiakblair]

Is there such a thing?

Doug Wilkes over here in the UK did a fair few of them in the early 80's.

One was fretted to 12th. Another fretless on G,D/ frets on E,A. Pretty sure yet another featured his "percussive plates" in the fingerboard.

These were production runs,not custom builds.

Old Doug certainly was ahead of his time, nobody was surprised Richard Branson chose him to set up and run the Synthaxe factory.

 

[Scoops]

A simple lined fretless neck would yield the same exact results, but without having to have a nut that's twice as tall...which they don't make.

Why do I feel like I'm getting attacked by rioters from the city?

Actually I would say you incorrect on both accounts
1) An epoxy finish yields a completely different sound and feel
2) See pic for nut height

By the way Mr Cheezy....i'll ask you what I have asked of others....show us your builds

 

[Scoops]

It doesn't work

Please show me your evidence!

 

[rudy4444]

Ya don't have to watch if you don't want to
Also, It's my stuff I can do whatever I please!

BTW... Yous Guys.....Lets see some of your builds!

Ok. Here's my short scale lined fretless, with lines being installed around photo #53.

30" Scale Compact Semi-acoustic Fretless Bass Build

You can do whatever you want to do, but you'll end up with something that will end up in the back of the closet. Consider simply pulling the frets and adding filler material. You'll end up with a much nicer looking neck that will be a whole lot less bulky and will be fast and easy to play.

The whole point of the forum is to learn from other's mistakes so you don't have to make them all for yourself.

 

[Scoops]

Ok. Here's my short scale lined fretless, with lines being installed around photo #53.

30" Scale Compact Semi-acoustic Fretless Bass Build

You can do whatever you want to do, but you'll end up with something that will end up in the back of the closet. Consider simply pulling the frets and adding filler material. You'll end up with a much nicer looking neck that will be a whole lot less bulky and will be fast and easy to play.

The whole point of the forum is to learn from other's mistakes so you don't have to make them all for yourself.

Totally disagree!

Pulling frets and inserting chunks of wood look like
You pic doesn't show pulling frets either, so it nullifies your premise

 

[AndyPanda]

You can do it and make it work. There are several ways you could turn a fretted neck into a fretless neck, each of the methods has some pluses and some minuses. You've picked the method that has mostly minuses without any real pluses (other than making you feel like an innovator) But you want to do it so have fun and learn what you can along the way.

 

[Cutter8]

I've eaten at Joe's Crab Shack. They do their tables like this.

Hope it works out!

That's exactly what came to mind for me, too. And my next thought was "those are some damn HEAVY tables!"

 

[Lackey]

SUBBED!!! OMG... This is the content I crave right now....

 

[ctmullins]

I'm in. Do your mad scientist thing @Scoops ! I'm behind you all the way!

 

[Gorn]

BTW... Yous Guys.....Lets see some of your builds!

By the way Mr Cheezy....i'll ask you what I have asked of others....show us your builds

The other day someone noticed my shoes and asked if they were good shoes. I was forced to say I don't know because I'm not a shoemaker.

 

[Cutter8]

I see a number of downsides, but if done "well" it might look kinda cool. It'd be even more fun if you mixed glitter/metal flake into the epoxy.

 

[Scoops]

I'm in. Do your mad scientist thing @Scoops ! I'm behind you all the way!

Buuuuuhhhhhaaaaaaaa!

Epoxy poured

BTW, I made sure my surface was flat, and after I poured the epoxy, I used my heat gun to remove the bubbles and to liquify the epoxy so that it wouls self level

 

[ctmullins]

Hahaha! Somewhere Jaco is slapping his forehead, muttering "why didn't I think of that??"

 

[Cutter8]

That neck is gonna be thick and crazy heavy, but I won't be too shocked if the bass winds up sounding great.

 

[CatchaCuda]

Here I thought you were making frets that sat below the fingerboard. Turn the screws on a couple of cams and they raise up.

Don't give me that look, I'm not a builder.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Here I thought you were making frets that sat below the fingerboard. Turn the screws on a couple of cams and they raise up.

Don't give me that look, I'm not a builder.

That's a cool concept.