NBB My Franken 6 fretless

[Thumpin6string]

Started getting my 6 string fretless Franken 6 bass going. It is made of parts acquired over the last 5 years. I bought the Ibanez prestige 6 string neck on Ebay with a broken truss rod. I pulled the fretboard and replaced the truss rod, de-fretted it, reshaped the headstock, added a veneer and reshaped the heel. The body is a Dean burled poplar 6 string that was also acquired on Ebay with damaged finish. I stripped the finish and reshaped the body. It has an ABM bridge, Hipshot Ultralites and Barts from a Modulus 6. I still need to get electronics, coat the fretboard and do a wipe on poly finish. This thing plays amazing and has mwaa for days. Hoping to get it finished in the next few months. Thanks for looking.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Here are the type of basses that the neck and body came from.

 

[JRA]

nice! i guess that's "super modding!" it's gonna look killer when you're done but it sounds like it already plays killer.

 

[Thumpin6string]

nice! i guess that's "super modding!" it's gonna look killer when you're done but it sounds like it already plays killer.

Thanks. If it has half the mwaa plugged in as it has unplugged, it should be fun. The Ibanez neck is super comfortable to play. Very thin profile. Also, it isn't too heavy.

 

[TerribleTim68]

So what did you do with the body?

 

[Max Bogosity]

So what did you do with the body?

It’s cool, that guy’s totally not a homicide detective.

 

[Thumpin6string]

So what did you do with the body?

Did you look at the before pictures I posted? I reshaped the upper horn, shortened and reshaped the lower horn and lower contour, rounded and contoured the whole body and totally reshaped the lower edge below the bridge. So not much.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Did you look at the before pictures I posted?

I did. But I was a little confused. There's a picture of an Ibanez bolt-on neck on an Ibanez body as well as what looks to be an Ibanez neck-thru, and then pictures of the Dean polar burl body that you placed a bolt-on neck on. So I wasn't sure if you just bought a bolt-on neck with no body or if you bought a bolt-on Ibanez neck and body or fi you bought an Ibanez neck-thru and converted the neck portion to a bolt-on.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I did. But I was a little confused. There's a picture of an Ibanez bolt-on neck on an Ibanez body as well as what looks to be an Ibanez neck-thru, and then pictures of the Dean polar burl body that you placed a bolt-on neck on. So I wasn't sure if you just bought a bolt-on neck with no body or if you bought a bolt-on Ibanez neck and body or fi you bought an Ibanez neck-thru and converted the neck portion to a bolt-on.

As I stated in my original post, I bought the Ibanez neck with a broken truss rod and the Dean body with some pretty severe finish damage. The point was to build a 6 string fretless on a budget. My 6 string fretted was a scratch build which took a lot more time and a lot more $$$.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have asked.

 

[William Shafer]

I dig the scratch built! Also, great job on the frankenbass. Looking to start my first 5 string soon. Any tips for the larger fingerboard and neck?

 

[Thumpin6string]

I dig the scratch built! Also, great job on the frankenbass. Looking to start my first 5 string soon. Any tips for the larger fingerboard and neck?

Thanks! I also did a 5 string fretless, but the neck never had frets installed. Not sure what you are asking, but if you are removing frets, take your time and watch a few videos on how to do it. To fill the fret slots, I used CA glue and some maple veneer I had lying around. Most veneers are a pretty close fit in the slots. Good luck.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have asked.

Hey, no problem. Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my posts. I changed my post of the types of basses that they came from.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Well, I got this done sooner than expected. Put a light amber stain on it and did the neck and body with wipe on gel polyurethane. Also did a matching truss rod cover. So here is the list of parts used for the build:
Ibanez Prestige 6 string neck (modified headstock and heel and installed new truss rod).
Dean burled poplar 6 string body (Stripped and reshaped)
USA Hipshot tuners (bought used)
New Graphite nut (filed down so string slots are at fingerboard)
Modulus Quantum 6 Bartolini soapbars (bought used)
Benavente 18V 3 band preamp with passive bypass and tone (bought used and rewired from pickup blend to volume/volume)
ABM chrome 6 string bridge (bought used)
Dunlop gold strap locks (will change to chrome later)
Knobs were from my junk drawer and will be changed later.
Strings are a used set of Ernie Ball nickel rounds (D string would not stay in the tuner, so that is why it has a funky wrap)
Total build cost is just over $400.
This thing has mwah forever and with the dual volume controls and the preamp with passive bypass, it can go from a deep warm upright to a Jaco-esque tone and anything in between. Pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Nicely done. I do ok on my fretless 5 as long as I practice with it before actual play time but I still occasionally get lost on my fretted 6. I supposed I’d just have to practice more.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Nicely done. I do ok on my fretless 5 as long as I practice with it before actual play time but I still occasionally get lost on my fretted 6. I supposed I’d just have to practice more.

I had built a fretless 5, but always wanted a fretless 6. I just prefer a 6 string.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Well, I've done a few more changes, mostly cosmetic. Changed the knobs and the Straploks, made a ramp and put on some DR pink neons. I feel I'm manly enough to rock pink strings.

 

[Flamingo21]

I feel I'm manly enough to rock pink strings.

I'm cool with anyone rocking pink strings.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Just upgraded the pre to a Bartolini 5.4AP-918 NTMB. Sounds great with the Bart Quads.

 

[Danukenator]

The poplar looks great! I'd love to get a piece with lots of those gaps/pockets and experiment filling them with black epoxy.