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Where can I get my bass defretted?

kylejamesbaker

kylejamesbaker

Jul 7, 2011
44
1
#1
I want to get my fingerboard defretted and coated. I refuse to do it myself because I don't trust myself not to destroy it and also don't wanna buy tools that I'll use only once. I want to find someone who will do it well. Someone locally so I won't have to ship it. I live in the Hudson Valley but could probably bring it to NYC if needed. Any ideas?
 
#4
If you already have the tools though, you might use them MORE than once. I always just buy tools as I come across a need for them, and once I have them, I use them more than I thought I ever would. But that's me, you're you, and I don't know anyone to send you to in that area :/
 
#5
the soldering iron & pliers can be found cheap otherwise sub-d with clothes iron & cheap pliers not specific cutters like he uses inthe video i've done it it's easy just tape up the fingerboard so you dont scratchy scratch hellfire do it without the iron waht are you going to do w fingerboard ebanol over it or nothing only fill in the lines
 
#6
kylejamesbaker said:
I want to get my fingerboard defretted and coated. I refuse to do it myself because I don't trust myself not to destroy it and also don't wanna buy tools that I'll use only once. I want to find someone who will do it well. Someone locally so I won't have to ship it. I live in the Hudson Valley but could probably bring it to NYC if needed. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Your garage.
 
#8
What you're saying is that you don't want to pay Stew Mac prices for tools. That's understandable.

Here's my fret heater: http://www.washing-machine-wizard.com/black-decker-the-classic-iron-model-f67e.html

Except mine is about 30 years old and I got it at a yard sale.

Here are my fret pullers:

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I reground the face to eliminate the top bevel on the cutting edges so I can get a good grip on the frets.

I've done many de-frets with these. Never had anything fancier. I've also bought fretting tools on eBay and tuned them up and they work well. Nothing against Stew Mac. I buy plenty of stuff from them too.

IME, a good de-fret is more about attention to detail than tool cost. That's the best reason to go to a skilled person.

About coating the board: I've done it and not done it, and I prefer a halfway approach. I coat the board with a low viscosity marine epoxy (like MAS) which I apply like an oil finish. It penetrates and hardens the surface but doesn't build heavily enough to fill the pores (in open pore woods like rosewood).
 

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