fretless bass conversion(PART 1)

Jason from The Musician's Den in Evansville IN demonstrates converting a 4-string fretted bass, to a fretless. In PART 1, we'll discuss what we're going to do and verify intonation, read the neck a bit, and pull the frets.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fretless bass
• fretless
• converstion
• The Musician's Den
• veneer
• guitar
• repair
• tech
• luthier
• instrument
• Ibanez
• Osage Orange
• Lignum Vitae

[modusoperandi303]

Nice video, what type of pliers are you using?

[smbstressfest]

@modusoperandi303 I think I mentioned it in the video, but in case I didn't or you just missed it they're called flush ground end nips. You can purchase this type of item from many of the guitar supply businesses or you can just take a similarly sized set of nips and very carefully grind the bevel away (go slow and cool the pliers often to avoid compromising the temper of the steel).

[megapretzel]

Can you convert a 5 string bass to a fretless bass? Because I am having trouble finding a 5 string fretless bass that I like.

[smbstressfest]

@megapretzel Definitely, the job isn't much different no matter how many strings your bass does or does not have.

[WiiGamerof1995]

how much would the cost?

[smbstressfest]

@WiiGamerof1995 Send me a private message telling me the details of your bass (how many strings, bolt-on or neck thru, fingerboard binding?) and I'll reply with a quote.

[AustinxRodriguez]

This man needs a goddamn tv show

[smbstressfest]

@Metalsutra If you make a habit of watching my videos, I'm afraid you're just going to have to deal with a lot of "blah". This series is intended to be didactic as well as entertaining, and I can't teach anything if I don't explain what's going on. If you'll be patient and bear with me through the "blah", it's just possible you might learn something.

[puntmefar]

Great video series. I used them as a guide to convert one of my bass guitars and went off without a problem. thanks for the knowledge

[dustinnator1]

ibanez g10 :D

[smbstressfest]

@ftlpope How would you go about flattening the slot bottoms? The top of the fingerboard is radiused, it can be done but it's not easy. And regarding the steel wool, you're just erasing the superficial scratches. The wear is still happening and at some point in the future you'll need to true up the board to keep it playing well. And if your fingerboard is a true rosewood (a member of the dalbergia genus) regular "oiling" probably isn't necessary due to the inherent oily nature of the timber.