to defret or not to defret....

Luthiers?

 

You could certainly get it done, but it's not that difficult. Defretting was all the rage a year or two ago; search up some old threads. There's likely a stickie somewhere.

 

Any qualified luthier can defret a bass without any concern. I had mine done and he did a fantastic job. He filled in the holes with wood, filed down the nut to bring the touch down, and put a hardner on the rosewood fretboard to protect it from the strings.

Mind you it does affect the value of the bass, but you don't seem to be ready to sell it, so that shouldn't matter. Defretting would breath new life into an instrument that would otherwise sit in a case unplayed.

 

Jsingles-
I'd recommend buying a used fretless, and not take apart a bass you really like. There's lots of comments about the Modified Squier and SM fretless series.

 

It should cost about $200, maybe $180 to get it defretted. It may vary depending on location though.

 

If the bass in question is a bolt-on, get another neck and keep the original pristine.

Failing that, leave it alone. You can get a fretless for the $200-$300 range you cite.

 

Most of the time I post on these threads I highly doubt that the person who wrote it will listen if you say to do something they already have there mind set on. I would never de-fret a bass again. Buy some P.O.S. bass like one of those SX bass guitars that is fretless and try one for a year. I had a fretless for ten years and can tell you that its different and not for a novice.

 

There's a sticky in the "Setup and Repair" forum. Check it out -- lots of info and no need to reinvent the wheel.

 

I'm a huge fan of modding basses. And I love fretless.

Defret the sucker. Find the geocities guide that some TB'er made a while ago and follow it. It's REALLY STUPID EASY and you shouldn't mess up if you're careful.

 

defret it, it's easy, just take your time, really as long as it plays well, it shouldn't matter how ****** the job looks.

 

You could also just buy a new fingerboard, although it might be difficult to spec one out as a direct drop for your Schecter. I know people have done it for Fenders and Rics in the past. Don't ask me how they removed the old one!

I defretted my Squier and I don't regret it, although I did dent the fingerboard a lot! Take your time and that shouldn't happen.

 

dont defret it. If you want to play fretless, get a cheap yet nice neck and defret that one. There's an ebay store that sells fender american parts. Theyre called the stratosphere. try them out.

 

i defretted my ibanes sdgr when i got my fender jag and was shunning the ibanez. i cearefully lifted out the frets with a penknife, and filled the gaps with woodfiller, and now it sounds amazing!

if you love your bass but its not getting played, go for it!

 

If you're really worried, don't buy an SX bass. Just buy one of their necks

http://www.rondomusic.com/sxgtrneckleft.html

and practice on it. Use different techniques, find the one(s) that work really well, and you're in business. Practice WILL make perfect.

 

I defretted my '61 Jazz.... it was just sitting in it's case... now It's my favourite and most played bass.