One way to avoid opinions and commentary is to not share. Why take anonymous gibberish personally?
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Fretted Fretless
- Thread starter Scoops
- Start date
This is a forum for ideas and chat, it would be terrible if people decided to self-censor because of what people might say in response.
However, it's more than a little naive to expect everyone to agree with you and then get aggravated when people don't, especially if your suggestion is controversial or unusual.
With respect to the OP, they posed an unclear question in a convoluted way, regarding a strange idea with a fairly limited application, and received a variety of responses which sparked some robust debate.
To then turn around and become argumentative is an odd approach which makes me question whether they were interested in other opinions in the first place.
If he'd wanted an active thread where multiple opinions are offered, then mission accomplished.
If he was just after praise that seems to be missing the point of a discussion forum somewhat.
By TB standards this is a pretty reasonable debate; I've seen more inflammatory posts on threads about J-basses or ampless stage rigs.
My own unsolicited hot take - I'm a big fan of innovation but I don't see what the pont if this particular mod is, and there are easier ways I can think of to get the same result.
But I'm interested in seeing the end result, and if it works out like I expect it might (i.e. it ruins the neck in some way) then I'm not personally particularly bothered.
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
So, if your intonation was spot on, it didn't sound fretless? SO, you have the choice of mwah and out of tune, or in tune and no mwah? To me, that completely misses the point of playing a fretless.
Not sure if this has already been mentioned in this thread, but the DDP Fretless Bridge by Dominic de Piazza is something that has been mentioned on TB before:
DDP Dominique Di Piazza 'Fretless' Bridges
....also, Damian Erskine has one on one of his Skjold basses:
DDP Dominique Di Piazza 'Fretless' Bridges
....also, Damian Erskine has one on one of his Skjold basses:
Though I'm on record already suspecting that this will not work well in the long term, I would add that I do think it has the possibility to look very cool. If you can get it buffed up right it has the potential to really shine in the most literal sense.
I have to agree that this thread turned really ugly, really quick... 
The main question I would ask is, what's the objective?
Have a clear objective. Don't be a hammer looking for a nail, as it will only lead to frustration.
If you don't have a clear objective and you just want to see what happens, go for it and tell us how you did.
Diego
The main question I would ask is, what's the objective?
- Cover the frets in epoxy so the fretboard is flat and level? Then, in function, that's a lined fretless. And, in effect, a "fretted fretless".
- Fill the spaces between the frets with epoxy, leaving the top of the fret exposed? It will probably sound fretless-ish, but with more chance for buzzing. If constant fret buzzing is the objective (like the Coral sitar), there are probably simpler ways to achieve, such as a "buzzing bridge" like the aforementioned Coral.
- Do you want to do it, just because you can and are bored? Sure! More power to you! Be sure to share the results!
Have a clear objective. Don't be a hammer looking for a nail, as it will only lead to frustration.
If you don't have a clear objective and you just want to see what happens, go for it and tell us how you did.
Diego
That is my point. You don't post in a public forum open to commentary if you are not anticipating public commentary in an open forum. Scoops posted. We responded. If nothing else, he offered to engage and entertain us with the narrative of his musings and mission. Now we dine upon one another waiting to see what is served.
I had one of these for awhile. It was a unique instrument that was fun to play, but just not very useful for me. I unloaded it earlier this year.
I'm just curious about neck adjustment and the epoxy's ability to bend/move without cracking or separating from the neck. Carry on OP. Cannot have innovation without experimentation.
I for one hope it's a successful experiment. I do see a number of potential pitfalls- most of which have already been posted so I'm just sitting back waiting for the results...
to answer the why - it's obvious why not! Lol
good luck Scoops - I hope it cures hard enough, doesn't crack from truss rod adjustments, different thicknesses of epoxy at the frets vs the fingerboard or from varying rates of expansion of the wood/metal frets/epoxy...
mans above all - I bet it will sound awesome - I do want to hear it (before the heat cycles etc...).
to answer the why - it's obvious why not! Lol
good luck Scoops - I hope it cures hard enough, doesn't crack from truss rod adjustments, different thicknesses of epoxy at the frets vs the fingerboard or from varying rates of expansion of the wood/metal frets/epoxy...
mans above all - I bet it will sound awesome - I do want to hear it (before the heat cycles etc...).
Instead, glue the bristles to your teeth and you can brush while chewing.
You'll end up with a fretless bass that looks fretted. If you know how to do good work with resin, then go for it. But if you suck with resin, the result will suck.
The bass player for our buddies The Primal Kings has a bass he designed and built that is BOTH - fretted and fretless!!
He has a lever on the back of the neck that raises or lowers the frets. By moving the frets, the action never changes. Sometime he changes during the song! Says he has Patents filed and pending.
Here is Roger in action -
He has a lever on the back of the neck that raises or lowers the frets. By moving the frets, the action never changes. Sometime he changes during the song! Says he has Patents filed and pending.
Here is Roger in action -
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
What I fail to understand is how he thinks it will make it sound fretted. If its all one thickness, completely even, its going to sound fretless regardless of having metal lines...completely sealed in epoxy and unable to resonate.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
So the neck will be a quarter to third lb heavier. Thats some wieght.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please consider that this forum will, on occasion, push the envelope in what is considered "the norm" in regards to the building of instruments. It is encouraged here, and the regular contributors understand that sometimes eggs need to be broken in pursuit of the omelette. While it is absolutely acceptable to question said egg activity, please keep the nature of the forum in mind and, of course, be respectful always.
Thanks,
Your friendly, neighborhood moderator
Thanks,
Your friendly, neighborhood moderator
Q: So, what did you do during Shelter In Place / lockdown?
A1: "I experimented with some stuff I had lying around in my shop, tried some whimsical approaches, learned some things."
A2: "I sat behind my keyboard and hurled criticism at a seasoned builder who was experimenting in his shop and sharing what he was doing."
A1: "I experimented with some stuff I had lying around in my shop, tried some whimsical approaches, learned some things."
A2: "I sat behind my keyboard and hurled criticism at a seasoned builder who was experimenting in his shop and sharing what he was doing."
Someone came up w/ a bridge that makes your fretted sound fretless-like.
