Don't do it! These things are inexpensive. Just get another one and have that one defretted.
You don't want to lose a good thing!
You don't want to lose a good thing!
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Should I have my main de-fretted?
- Thread starter Ritter667
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deepestend
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- Feb 21, 2003
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If you like that one, don't f it up. I did that recently and I am FULL of regrets.
Just get another bass or one that is already fretless. You'll want to have both eventually anyway. And if you can't "just" buy a new bass due to $, that's not a bad thing... it will just give you pause to consider if you really want this and make it that much more special when you can afford it.
Just get another bass or one that is already fretless. You'll want to have both eventually anyway. And if you can't "just" buy a new bass due to $, that's not a bad thing... it will just give you pause to consider if you really want this and make it that much more special when you can afford it.
This, 100%.
Here's a used one on Guitar Center's website, also made in Indonesia like yours:
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- Sep 4, 2010
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If this is genuinely a great bass, and uniquely/irreplaceably so for the model, as stated by OP, I wouldn't touch it (and I am saying that as someone who plays mainly fretless and who has ruined some really good basses with in retrospect not necessary upgrades)
Not only will you mess with a really good bass which may not be that anymore post-surgery, there is also the fact (I learned the hard way) that fretless basses need more than just ripping out frets; the fretless basses that I play nowadays were built and designed for that purpose from the ground up (woods, pickup position, electronics, neck and fingerboard materials, bridge, nut).
A fretted bass without frets is in IME a diminished fretted bass, not a potentially great fretless bass.
I'd just find something cheap and purpose built to try fretless, or something very cheap to defret and mod and play just to see what happens, where the experiment is the fun, regardless of outcome.
Not only will you mess with a really good bass which may not be that anymore post-surgery, there is also the fact (I learned the hard way) that fretless basses need more than just ripping out frets; the fretless basses that I play nowadays were built and designed for that purpose from the ground up (woods, pickup position, electronics, neck and fingerboard materials, bridge, nut).
A fretted bass without frets is in IME a diminished fretted bass, not a potentially great fretless bass.
I'd just find something cheap and purpose built to try fretless, or something very cheap to defret and mod and play just to see what happens, where the experiment is the fun, regardless of outcome.
Ah...
I got a 4 string Mikro from 2023 made in China, but the 5 string you posted judging from the serial number is from 2024.
Kind of odd, I know for certain the 4 string Mikros are now made in China, but perhaps the production of their 5 stringed Mikros stayed at the Cort factory in Indonesia.
That certainly would be nice, and could account for the relatively higher price tack, beyond just an extra tuner and slightly more wood for the neck.
I really ought to get a backup, while these are still in production, whether I end up de-fretting it or not.
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No, you will regret it based on my own and other player experience, even Jaco had a fretted bass. Those Ibby mikro basses are still available and affordable so find one and pull it's teeth being sure to fill the fret slots.
I have a devotion to a particular bass model and often wanted a fretless to match, but I found one and hated it since my tonal fretless reference point is somewhere between upright bass and a fretless jazz ala Jaco. YMMV
I have a devotion to a particular bass model and often wanted a fretless to match, but I found one and hated it since my tonal fretless reference point is somewhere between upright bass and a fretless jazz ala Jaco. YMMV
I've heard you play, you use the frets as friends and I agree with most here, don't mess with what's working. I can see what would be appealing to you about fretless (plus it's good to learn new things) and I'm sure that in 4 or 5 years you will get to where your imagination is now on the fretless, plus adding those things that are only fretless like slides/swells/ wide vibratos and mwah. You'll also get instant happiness from one good fretless note, so the whole process of learning will go by fast. oh, I voted "Do you feel lucky, punk?" because it's a reckless act.
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FullumMusic
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Ibanez Mikro basses are neither rare nor expensive. Just get another one and de-fret that and don't risk destroying your main.
De-fretting isn't as easy as just pulling out the frets and off you go. You gotta get them out properly, and you need to fill in the gaps properly, and you might need to treat the neck with epoxy or some other material to avoid the fret-filler from being either hard-spots or soft-spots, or uneven spots. The nut will probably need lowering.
If you do the de-fret properly but don't like it for your main, you can't just stick the frets back into the neck.
If you don't do the de-fret properly the fretless won't play right, and you still can't just stick the frets back in when it doesn't come out right.
It'll need the filler carefully removed, a complete re-fret (new frets, leveled, crowned, etc. And hopefully you didn't widen the slots too much when extracting), new nut, etc etc etc.
Also, while you're working on the project, you won't have your bass to play.
In most cases these days there are enough fretless basses available that de-fretting a bass is more for the fun of the project than it is for the outcome. Your specific 28.6" scale bass is an exception. But still, don't do it to your primary. Get a second one and do it to that one.
De-fretting isn't as easy as just pulling out the frets and off you go. You gotta get them out properly, and you need to fill in the gaps properly, and you might need to treat the neck with epoxy or some other material to avoid the fret-filler from being either hard-spots or soft-spots, or uneven spots. The nut will probably need lowering.
If you do the de-fret properly but don't like it for your main, you can't just stick the frets back into the neck.
If you don't do the de-fret properly the fretless won't play right, and you still can't just stick the frets back in when it doesn't come out right.
It'll need the filler carefully removed, a complete re-fret (new frets, leveled, crowned, etc. And hopefully you didn't widen the slots too much when extracting), new nut, etc etc etc.
Also, while you're working on the project, you won't have your bass to play.
In most cases these days there are enough fretless basses available that de-fretting a bass is more for the fun of the project than it is for the outcome. Your specific 28.6" scale bass is an exception. But still, don't do it to your primary. Get a second one and do it to that one.
Should you defret your main bass?
Those are fairly inexpensive basses so why not buy a 2nd one and pull it's frets?
Keep in mind that such a short scale bass of 28.6 inches is going to be more difficult to to hit accurate notes being fretless compared to 34 to 36 inch fretless basses.
Those are fairly inexpensive basses so why not buy a 2nd one and pull it's frets?
Keep in mind that such a short scale bass of 28.6 inches is going to be more difficult to to hit accurate notes being fretless compared to 34 to 36 inch fretless basses.
Then again, on a short scale you have to move your hand less so it's easier to reach notes consistently. Tradeoffs.
There is no way on Earth I'd roll the dice on my 'main bass'.
These are not expensive axes in the overall scheme of things, so buy a second one. Cort and Ibanez' quality levels are good and I 'd think your odds of buying a dog are relatively slim.
I would also more than urge you to have the work done by a qualified, experienced guitar tech; You DON'T want some schmuck learning on yours.
Also, be sure that if you are going back with fret lines, you want to use wood for the lines. Plastic inserts will not come and go with the neck through the seasons, and you can easily wind up with a fretless bass . . . with fret sprout !
These are not expensive axes in the overall scheme of things, so buy a second one. Cort and Ibanez' quality levels are good and I 'd think your odds of buying a dog are relatively slim.
I would also more than urge you to have the work done by a qualified, experienced guitar tech; You DON'T want some schmuck learning on yours.
Also, be sure that if you are going back with fret lines, you want to use wood for the lines. Plastic inserts will not come and go with the neck through the seasons, and you can easily wind up with a fretless bass . . . with fret sprout !
Have you gotten a few price quotes for this work?
I had this done to a bass back around 2008 and the bill was $300.
And my interest in fretless quickly waned as reality set in. And that was it for that very nice bass. Rather than spring for a refret, I sold it on. I probably would have gotten more for it if I’d left it alone, and I was out the $300.
I file this one in the drawer labeled “stupid ideas” along with my other failed inspirations. It bulges, but I’m sure I’ll squeeze a few more in before it’s all over.
I had this done to a bass back around 2008 and the bill was $300.
And my interest in fretless quickly waned as reality set in. And that was it for that very nice bass. Rather than spring for a refret, I sold it on. I probably would have gotten more for it if I’d left it alone, and I was out the $300.
I file this one in the drawer labeled “stupid ideas” along with my other failed inspirations. It bulges, but I’m sure I’ll squeeze a few more in before it’s all over.
I would go for a standard inexpensive but playable (usually) 34" fretless like these Samick's MiK's, which also had other brands like Ibanez Yamah, Washburn on the headstock. Just make sure you can get refund if it's been abused, neck twist, anything like that.
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