fretless bass conversion(PART 5)

Jason from The Musician's Den in Evansville IN demonstrates converting a 4-string fretted bass, to a fretless. In PART 5 we do our final fingerboard clean up, then reattach the neck to the body, and jig it up to be leveled.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• fretless bass
• fretless
• converstion
• The Musician's Den
• veneer
• guitar
• repair
• tech
• luthier
• instrument
• Ibanez
• maple
• superglue

[stephenthebassist]

You mentioned that you had to fill a gap at the bottom of the veneer fill on the other side off camera. How did you go about doing that?

Also I'm pretty handy at woodworking but haven't had much experience with applying that to basses, which means I don't have a lot of the finer precision tools. I've heard that using filler putty is a good alternative to filling the fret slots with veneer, and think that with the tools at my disposal that would be a much easier option for me. What do you think?

[smbstressfest]

@stephenthebassist If I remember I just used a dot of superglue. Regarding filler putty instead of veneer, I've said this many times in the comments but I'll say it again. The professional way to do this job is to fill the slots with a solid material of some sort, a wood veneer of a contrasting color seems to be the most appropriate choice since we're dealing with a wooden fingerboard. Putty will work, but it's less than ideal for many reasons. If you're a wood worker, do it right.

[smbstressfest]

People seem to want me to tell them that putty is an acceptable substitute because it's easier to apply. Filling the slots isn't even the hardest part of the job, I would say that leveling off the board after the slots are filled is where it gets tricky and somebody can screw things up. Trimming this veneer is really quite easy (easier than it looks at least). If you want to speak with me and get a few tips, just give me a call at the store. I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

[rushbeat14]

Hi. In your refretting a strat videos you said fall away is even more important on a bass. Did you put fall away onto this fretless bass fingerboard, or is it more of a fretted instrument thing? If you have, would the fall away measure pretty much the same as on the strat you worked on? Your vids are nutritious.

[smbstressfest]

@rushbeat14 Yeah, I did add fall away to this neck. The amount you're shooting for would probably be the same regardless if you're dealing with a guitar or a bass .003-.007" or something in that neighborhood.

[jesterbass]

i 've defretted the very same bass keeping its original radius (12") what i still haven't done is properly levelling the fingerboard so it does not mwah all over. I don't have a neck jig. How do I go about leveling the board without the ability to emulate string tension? And how about the truss rod? Do I loosen it completely while levelling?

[smbstressfest]

@jesterbass There's a lot i have to say about that, more than I'd like to go into in the comments section here. Give me a call at The Musician's Den and I'd be happy to speak with you in detail about it.

[6ckbass]

Man you have a nice collection of tools at your disposal! If I had everything you have, I'd feel 100% confident in self defretting my bass! Great videos! Thanks for sharing!

[jeroen0011]

I really relax when i see u working on that bass :)

[rockrock3090]

why you don´t tape the FB? Isn´t it pretty much work for such a "cheap" bass!? how much costs the converting!

Man, you got so much patience! And you a great artist... this vids are 100% Entertainment for my evening... thx!

[DrDoubleZero]

i like these vids!! it looks like you put the bass in a Saw trap, its funny