Fretless conversion to fretted. Wierd, but possible...?

practicedummy · Newbie Alert Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

Hola!

I am interested in purchasing a fretless bass from a friend of mine. The price is unbeatable for an instrument of this quality and tone... and, perhaps more importantly, its that 'dream bass' that I've always lusted after. The only problem being that its fretless and I will openly admit I don't have the chops to pull off some of the stuff I play with a fretless, at the right speed, without looking down at my hands constantly. Plus, my music isn't really all -that- well suited to a fretless.

So.... Is this even possible, and how much will it cost if it is?

supermau · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 4:24 am Post subject:

I suppose it's possible. But I don't know for sure. It would probably cost ALOT. There's a lot of fine detail work involved. Or maybe they would just remove the fingerboard and replace it. It the neck/board is one solid piece of wood then there's more to it.

Is it a bolt-on neck or a neck-thru body design? If it were bolt-on I"d simply invest in a nice replacement. If it's not then I'd be real careful who I let do the work. You'd hate to ruin your dream bass with a hack job. Take it to a professional luthier and see what they say.

Maybe somebody here knows a little more about this. good luck

kantkeepup · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 5:38 am Post subject:

Why don't you just learn how to play better on a fretless, and not have the chance of it getting all f'ed up?
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BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

Keep the fretless and just get another bass, and then you will have one of each.
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practicedummy · Newbie Alert Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

Its a warwick neck-thru.

I appreciate the more logical path of 'learn to play fretless and don't risk it' but, at the same time, I -want- a fretted bass, not a fretless. I found, elsewhere, an estimate of about 400 dollars to convert. That begins to get a wee bit cost prohibitive.

Thanks for the imput, all of you. I appreciate it- and bassman, I would like to simply have both but my finances don't really allow it at the moment.

kantkeepup · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:47 am Post subject:

do you not have any other basses?
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supermau · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

I'd sell the bass for as much as possible and buy a fretted Warwick if that's what you want. Or practice with that for a while and get used to it.

practicedummy · Newbie Alert Joined: 15 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

Claybone · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 3:13 pm Post subject:

C'mon.. it's a good idea, as long as you can find a capable luthier to do the job. I had my Thumb undergo the same surgery for 4000 pesos, roughly $90, here in manila. it now have the brass (?) wires and an ebony fingerboard. Great tone, methinks.
Erick Very Happy

supermau · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2003 4:09 am Post subject:

Good for you dude. I couldn't see anybody doing that job for $90.00. I guess you lucked out. I wouldn't dare trust anybody less than a real pro luthier to attempt at hacking up a bass of such quality.

randomnotations · Ferret Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 104 Location: USA

just rip off the frets w/ a screwdriver (flathead) or other flat wedge, and fill in the knotches w/ bondo (stuff you put on cars to fill holes) this stuff is great, its stronger than wood. once i fell down some stairs and ripped out my strapholder Embarassed

so there was this big gash in the back of my bass. so i mixed up some bondo and put it in and re-screwed in the screw, its great now... Smile

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gibson_thunder · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2003 5:00 pm Post subject:

...with the custom bondo-phonic neck!!!! Laughing

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Dark Lord Vigo · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 2:40 pm Post subject:

BE VERY CAREFUL.

That's too nice of a guitar to screw up.
Warwick frets tend to be made of bell brass or some other sonically sound material, they are also mounted into grooves which are cut to match the curve of the fret wire EXACTLY as it follows the radius of the fingerboard.

All that coupled with the fact that it's a neck through means you should take it to a good Warwick experienced even authorised luthier.

Fret jobs are pretty common thing, but if not done properly it won't sound quite like a Warwick. Exclamation

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NUTT · Tadpole Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 23 Location: Normal

Hey man, just get the bass and list it for sale or trade. Someone will grab. Don't risk changing the tone or playability on that bass. Maybe learn to play a fretless, maybe ditch the dolphin and the kramer and get a Streamer STD 4 (like mine !!!!). Warwicks are too nice to go messing around with.
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Rufio · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:49 pm Post subject:

Dolphins are VERY nice instruments man... like over $3000.
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