Worn fretless fingerboard

[Bobbe]

Levelling a fretless board is an exacting task - even small variations can case nasty buzzes. With the strings off, get the neck as flat as possible using the truss rod. Remove the nut. Then use a truly flat sanding beam the length of the fingerboard until the board is truly flat end to end. Refinish the board and reinstall the nut. You will need to lower the nut slots to account for the amount of wood you removed from the board.

Hello!
Thanks for advice!
It seems I have to leave the "lady" to a pro, then.
I've very much figured out how to do it, the same way you describe it, but was hoping to avoid removing the nut, but I belive you've right. The nut has to come off, to reach sanding the part of the fretboard nearest the nut.

 

[bholder]

Hello!
I don't know of pressure wounds??!!
I know someone used before, I don't know if any one use those any more;
Half the string was flats(for the fretboard), and half the string was round wound. But I don't like the feel of flats. I also sweat a lot in my hands, and then the strings fast loses the clarity/treble using non coated. So I stick to my Elixirs.

Those are half rounds or ground wounds your describing - the winding cross section is a semi-circle. Yeah, they're supposed to feel like flats, but don't, I find them "grabby" to the fingers. The pressure wounds feel more like round wounds - the winding cross section is a semi-circle on the bottom, like the others, but the top is "smushed down" rounded with rounded corners. I'll see if I can google up a pic...

They're not for everyone, but worth a try. I use them on most of my acoustic fretless basses now. I still do like the feel and sound of roundwounds on fretless, though, I still run DR Hi Beams on my fretless Carvin LB40, despite the board wear - it's worth it. The cost being a need to resurface every 15 years or so.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Those really look like superficial surface scratches. I wonder if you buzz comes from a tiny backbone in the neck ? Much less involved to fix if so

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Ok. On second look yeh. Wear areas for sure. I’d pay a skilled professional to fix

 

[Bobbe]

Those really look like superficial surface scratches. I wonder if you buzz comes from a tiny backbone in the neck ? Much less involved to fix if so

Hello!
There is no backbone in the neck, unfortunately. Action is higher than than I really want. The neck is about absolutely straight, and the string height is about 3,5mm high at "fret" 17.
When the fretboard is finished, I will set up the bass again, with lower action.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Looking at the width of the scratches,some of you guys are doing guitar like sideways string bends.

 

[Jogobass]

Looking at the width of the scratches,some of you guys are doing guitar like sideways string bends.

I've seen people comment on marks like that similarly. I have them too, on the lower strings, but I can say for certain that I don't bend the strings sideways. Only explanation I have is that the strings vibrate wider than we think they do and thus cause scratches like that.

 

[bholder]

I've seen people comment on marks like that similarly. I have them too, on the lower strings, but I can say for certain that I don't bend the strings sideways. Only explanation I have is that the strings vibrate wider than we think they do and thus cause scratches like that.

Ah-yup. I get them like that too, it's not guitar bends, it's plucking with a high amount of sideways (to the board surface) motion. Up and down against the board gives more mwah, digs deeper, but side to side gives wider scratches.

 

[SteveCS]

Yes, there is buzzing going on.

The neck is about absolutely straight, and the string height is about 3,5mm high at "fret" 17.

You could try putting in a few thousandths of an inch of relief - just enough for daylight. That should allow you to lower the saddles a little without getting too much buzz. And don't forget the boundary between undesirable actual buzz and a desirable level of mwah* is a somewhat blurred one.

* I really dislike that word but we all seem to understand what it is so I guess I'm stuck with it

 

[Bobbe]

Looking at the width of the scratches,some of you guys are doing guitar like sideways string bends.

Hello!
Thanks for input.
Sideways string bends? On a fretless? There is no obvious reason why I should do sideways string bends, when playing on my fretless, because it is………a fretless.
It is veeeeeeery hard to bend the strings on a fretless because there is no frets the string could glide on, and it is therefor very hard to get grip on the strings with your fingers.
How ever exsessive use of vibrato is very common.(preferabely not fast «rabbit» vibrato like Mike Oldfield, but slow like Jaco on Remark you made)

 

[JLS]

I recently redid my BEAD fretless, for the first time since the defretting in 1987(!) I level w/strings on, using aluminum u-channel. I refinished w/CA glue, several rubbed-on coats. Glad I did!

 

[vaesto]

Hi. if the "groves" are only in the finish (not pressed-in into the wood) I'd start with sanding/polishing. But since it only looks easy on Youtube, I'd give the bass to someone else who knows the materials and have skill to do the work right.

Now back to your second question:

This bass has always had some sustain issues. The #C, D and #D on the G-string is deadspots.
Any one knowing if it is possible to fix. In all my years playing on this "old lady" I've compensated this by playing these notes on my D-string, when possible.

-->Try adding some mass to the headstock (e.g. some clamp). Your aim here is to change resonance frequency. If it helps, then look for Fender Fat Finger. Some other guys use these attachable tuners on tip of the headstock.

 

[Bobbe]

I recently redid my BEAD fretless, for the first time since the defretting in 1987(!) I level w/strings on, using aluminum u-channel. I refinished w/CA glue, several rubbed-on coats. Glad I did!

Hello!
Tanks for reply.
I've decided to send the bass to a pro. I've never worked on a neck before other than adjusting the truss rod. I don't want to mess up the neck. I have to practice on an another entry price level bass/beginners bass, first so.
Thanks any way. I'll try the aluminum U-channel trick of yours.
Bobbe

 

[Bobbe]

Hi. if the "groves" are only in the finish (not pressed-in into the wood) I'd start with sanding/polishing. But since it only looks easy on Youtube, I'd give the bass to someone else who knows the materials and have skill to do the work right.

Now back to your second question:

-->Try adding some mass to the headstock (e.g. some clamp). Your aim here is to change resonance frequency. If it helps, then look for Fender Fat Finger. Some other guys use these attachable tuners on tip of the headstock.

Hello!
Thanks for answer.
I've never heard of Fender Fat Finger before. Googled it. It's worth a try, since they don't require any mods on the bass.
Thanks again!
Bobbe