Author Topic: Need for dentist tools or ...how defretting?? (Read 684 times)

palembic · « **on:** November 18, 2004, 04:07:51 PM »

Hi friends,

as you know I have Broomstick as my crappy Squier Korean Jazz-bass. Beware ....I really love the instrument. The crappy is pure tonal
My life-time plan to get rich once will get me eventually to buy a pair of Alembic Jazz-bass PU as replacement. I read somewhere that even electronical morons like me do that.

Now I also want to defret her.
Now THAT is tricky I guess?!?!
I read an article in Bass-player magazine where the guy explained that he HEATED the frets by connecting them by wires to the powersource via I-really-don't-remember. Anyway: the result was that the fret heated and the glue melted so the frets were easy to pull (

??) out.
Any ideas? Do I need dentist tools to ull or what plyer??? Will I need a hammer?? Do I need to take off the neck off the body for doing this???

Second: I think I will need to change the nut too? Wel ...at least file the slots lower?

Anyway ...tips and idea's and encouraging shouts are higly appreciated!!!

Paul the bad one

PS: oh ...huh...I forgot to say ..I found a new job! Well ...only for 3 months for starts. I am a copyxwriter in an advertising agency (mostly below-the-line projects). Me a copywriter ...HA ...I am closing in to the 2000 posts her ...'copywriter ...yeah right!

elzie · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2004, 04:29:35 PM »

Hey brother P!

How about just getting a new neck? You can purchase a replacement neck in a wide variety of woods (tones) and have it fretted for free. We have discussed this place on the phone in the past, www.warmoth.com They stock a good amount of Fender necks, or you can choose to have one made for you

palembic · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2004, 04:39:24 PM »

Hey Good P,

Warmoth is waaaaaaay over my budget. It's expensive stuff over here!!!!
How is your project running??

Bad P

yeeeks ...now we're p-ing

bsee · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2004, 05:22:14 PM »

I don't mean to suggest sacrilege, but shouldn't you be able to find a similarly 'crappy' bass that is already fretless and either swap the necks and resell it as fretted or just sell Broomstick? You should just about break even on such a deal if you do private sales, and it will be a lot cheaper than trying to repair the wood chips you knock out of the neck or replacing it after you've done so.

You might also find a replacement fretless neck on eBay for cheap and not have to buy the whole bass. I doubt you can find a 'crappier' neck than the one that comes on a Squier. Chances are that by going with something factory fretless, you even stand a chance of getting a fretboard that can stand up to fretless playing. Are you planning an epoxy coating to make this unimportant?

I think Val put an ebony nut on his new super-bass. Something like that would probably give you the most consistent tone between fretted and open notes on a fretless. What's on it now? Do you think you'll hear the difference with the electronics you have in the bass now, or are you just concerned with action?

Can anyone local and professional do the job for you? It should be much cheaper than a refret since they don't have to pay for fret wire, install it, or do anything to make sure it all lines up. Probably spending the money on a replacement neck if you've got it is a better investment, though.

elzie · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2004, 07:04:25 PM »

My project is running well brother Paul! I am currently choosing the neck woods. Is that just a coincidence?

? Then I can rout out the cavities for the electronics, yeeehaaa!

Paul TGOP

rami · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2004, 08:07:36 PM »

I remember that article in Bass Player. They make the process of defretting seem pretty easy and straight forward. Of course, I'm too chicken to actually try it. I'd leave it to the pros. Besides, I don't have any Basses that I'm willing to experiment on!

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2004, 12:52:02 AM »

hey Paul. No idea how to Defret, I built my first bass as a fretless to start with. Anyway good luck with the job. At least it's a start and they might offer you a permanent post at the end of the contract.

mint_bass · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:26:52 AM »

Hi Paul

i have just defretted an old squire p bass i bought for ?30 it was easy the frets were not even attached with glus so i did not even need to heat the frets. I simply worked them out with a butter knife there was very little damage done to the fret board as long as you go slow.

try here for more info www.musicplayer.com
for a great pictre guide of fretless conversion go here heres the link:
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b335f074849f

or simply do a search at google for fretless conversion its a fairly common procedure.

It is a very satisfying job and the dresults gained were very good.

(Message edited by mint bass on November 19, 2004)

mint_bass · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:35:53 AM »

P.S

Oh yeah ive put up my plans for that squire bass i have its right handed and i am left handed so i am going to try making it more left hand suitable.
Im probably going to make a mess of it but it will be fun. Its under the title right to left conversion under miscellaneous.

palembic · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:47:27 AM »

I bought Broomstick for 100$. So ...there is nothing much to sale from the point of view that you want to make something of it to go fretless. I thought it was highly unlikable. So ...me too I just want to give it a shot.
Now thanks for info everybody, I'll check some websites and for professional help, well, my former bass-teacher did it once for his Fender P-light and it was a dream to play. So maybe if I smile frindly he'll give me a hand.

PTBO

mint_bass · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2004, 04:53:52 AM »

PTBO

I say go for it. It is fun and the results i gained were very pleasing it is well worth the effort and for the record i am a complete novice at anything like this. It is not that hard you can do it just give it a shot.

godoze · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2004, 05:58:50 AM »

Stewmac sells a fret pulling tool. I have one and it really does work well, with a minimum of fretboard material waste.

the_mule · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2004, 06:06:16 AM »

Paul, for a lot of useful information you should clickus linkus proximus: http://www.gitaarnet.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36365

It's in Dutch, but that shouldn't be a problem ;-) and it inspired me to do the job myself with my old Guild B-301. It worked out great, as you can see in the same thread...

Wilfred

joram · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2004, 01:05:31 PM »

Paul, I defretted my bass too (cheapy yamaha rbx 260). Pretty easy. I wouldn't use wood cement, though. I don't believe wood cement works well on the long term, so I used maple veneer for my bass. It still needs a proper leveling job, though. I guess all (cheap) instruments could use one, especially after such an operation.

palembic · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2004, 01:35:31 PM »

Yep ...but where do you get those maple veneers???

Paul the bad one