Will you be adding a radius back to the fingerboard after the pour to remove the extra material along the sides?
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Fretted Fretless
- Thread starter Scoops
- Start date
Science implies controlled and limited variables. Like what was the surface prep to ensure adhesion? Primed? Was this cured in a vacuum like a real pro job would be? Was the truss rod de-tensioned first, or tension even considered? What is the impact of neck bow with the strings being essentially 1/8" further away from the truss rod (more leverage)? Was this particular compound specifically selected for it's hardness properties, or maybe it's modulus of elasticity and thermal expansion coefficient, or was it just on the shelf at the hobby store?
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Y'all are aware that this thread is in the LC, correct?
...and that Scoops may have done a thing or two once or twice?
At any rate, carry on Scoops... I'M with those that are interested in seeing where this goes
...and that Scoops may have done a thing or two once or twice?
At any rate, carry on Scoops... I'M with those that are interested in seeing where this goes
JeezyMcNuggles
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I've done a few mods, finishes, upgrades, re-wires, and builds. I also have a thread where I turned my first bass fretless. Failed refret. That thread is called
"re-fretting my gio"
JeezyMcNuggles
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Your strings are going to fall out of the slots as you play. You can't file it enough to grab, and be playable on a fretboard that doesn't allow the strings to bend. You need a taller nut. But, whatever dude. Have fun trying to sand it perfectly flat and even. Post sound clips.
I, for one, think this is a super cool idea I've never seen attempted before.
I've seen the Marco basses Fretgroove and would love to play one, see what it's like
There was a user in the LC, @BassCycle built an 8 string where it was two sets of EADG on one neck, one side fretted and one side fretless, similar to the Ibanez Ashula.
There's this Clement that was modified for a sort of quarter-fretless setup. Fretted BEA up to the 12th fret or so, fretless DGC all the way up the neck.
This Ibanez Musician AJ-10 Alphonso Johnson signature fretted to the 12th and fretless after. There seem to be quite a few hybrid frettedless basses like this one.
Then there are, of course, much more boring options like double-necks or instruments with swappable fretboards.
Do what you're doing and don't let a few naysayers stop you. Some people worry about things that don't effect them in the slightest.
Personally, I'd like to put a metal fretboard on a fretless, especially after hearing Tom Monda shred his metal board fretless Vigier. Or maybe one could laminate a thin sheet of metal onto an already-fretless neck somehow.
(TW: Progressive rock with a fullblown horn section, Geddy-esque singer, and bass player doing more than R-5-R-5 ahead)
I've seen the Marco basses Fretgroove and would love to play one, see what it's like
There was a user in the LC, @BassCycle built an 8 string where it was two sets of EADG on one neck, one side fretted and one side fretless, similar to the Ibanez Ashula.
There's this Clement that was modified for a sort of quarter-fretless setup. Fretted BEA up to the 12th fret or so, fretless DGC all the way up the neck.
This Ibanez Musician AJ-10 Alphonso Johnson signature fretted to the 12th and fretless after. There seem to be quite a few hybrid frettedless basses like this one.
Then there are, of course, much more boring options like double-necks or instruments with swappable fretboards.
Do what you're doing and don't let a few naysayers stop you. Some people worry about things that don't effect them in the slightest.
Personally, I'd like to put a metal fretboard on a fretless, especially after hearing Tom Monda shred his metal board fretless Vigier. Or maybe one could laminate a thin sheet of metal onto an already-fretless neck somehow.
(TW: Progressive rock with a fullblown horn section, Geddy-esque singer, and bass player doing more than R-5-R-5 ahead)
+1Y'all are aware that this thread is in the LC, correct?
...and that Scoops may have done a thing or two once or twice?
At any rate, carry on Scoops... I'M with those that are interested in seeing where this goes
From what I've seen, this man turns piles of wood into boutique level instruments. He's not some new user trying to find an easy way to make a fretless.
As a non-luthier, are epoxy fingerboards a thing? Because my understanding is that he's basically putting an epoxy fingerboard over his traditional fretboard.
JeezyMcNuggles
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See, thatd be dope. Truss rod at the top. Fret rod at the heel.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.
There was a bass that was as popular for people to talk about as the one-handed bass player several years ago. The problem was it didn't seem to adjust the action at all, so when the frets were cranked down you had super high action.
EDIT:
Fretted fretless?
Sounds like either an oxymoron or one of those funny useless items like a metric crecent wrench, left handed screwdriver, cordless extension cord, muffler bearings, solar power flashlight, sail boat fuel, etc…
Sounds like either an oxymoron or one of those funny useless items like a metric crecent wrench, left handed screwdriver, cordless extension cord, muffler bearings, solar power flashlight, sail boat fuel, etc…
JeezyMcNuggles
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EdwardofHuncote
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I've wanted to apply this idea to a bass guitar build for quite a while now.
Ozark Half Fretless Banjo
Scroll through pictures, you'll see it...
Ozark Half Fretless Banjo
Scroll through pictures, you'll see it...
With a super thin coating over the frets, you'll want to go with flatwounds or tapewounds because roundwounds will saw through the epoxy down to your frets pretty quickly, and then what? Enjoy the cool new sounds or re-epoxy time, maybe 6 months down the road maybe a year or more, depends how much you play.
Pouring and then surfacing, set up, adjustments nut and bridge is long messy process. I've done it twice, and now with tapewounds which I actually like better, trying to eliminate doing it a third time.
Pouring and then surfacing, set up, adjustments nut and bridge is long messy process. I've done it twice, and now with tapewounds which I actually like better, trying to eliminate doing it a third time.
Have you all forgotten about the Rotator bass?
In reality, it's a cheap neck, and my mind wanders sometimes.
So then....
Why did Les Paul put a big plank of wood in a perfectly good guitar?
Why did Mr Tutmarc electrify a Bass
Why did Edison make the light bulb?
Why did man become a hunter?
Hey it's your bass, do what you like... but you can't seriously compare your idea to those above
Just because you have an idea that nobody seems to have had, it doesn't mean it's a good one. More often than not there's a good reason why it's not been done.
But by all means... go for it
That could be what he looks for, but what about the pickups under the fretless ?
So as this progresses, and I need to remind people this is an experiment, I could add scalloping to this to make it a scalloped fretless
Jacoie Malmsteen style fretless? Brilliant!
I bet that it doesn't feel radically thicker than the original neck, unless you are one of those people who clamp down really hard on the strings when fretting.
