giveitaway Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 I'm going to defret my jazz bass knockoff and i was wondering which one of these methods you think would be better. http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/ or http://users.skynet.be/sky88241/defretting_site/page1.htm Basically either using hardwood slats or using wood filler (im not sure that i would follow either of those exactly). The slats would be harder to do because i would have to sand each of them to get the right neck radius, but it might have some advantages. What do you guys think? have any of you defretted one and which method did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclej Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 the geo cities site wouldn't come up for me but the other did..i didn't read the whole thing but i personally wouldn't feel real comfortable removing the frets with a hammer and chisel. too many chances for screwing up your fret board. get yourself some flat jawed plyers. and i don't think i'd use wood putty either. my experience with them is that they're brittle and i'm afraid that the first time you had to adjust your truss rod it would crack and fall out. if you buy some veneer in a color you like...either close to the board or completely contrasting..it's really not that hard to match the radius. trim them close to the fretboard with a single edged razor blade or an xacto knife and then wrap some fine grit sandpaper around a small flat block and then carefully sand the veneer even with the fretboard. at least that's how i'd do it without a radius block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 I would go with the first method, only don't use a small screwdriver, just use the end nip plyers (whatever they are called). The screwdriver is just asking for gouges, imo. Then, use veneer to fill the gaps. There is absolutely no need to use as big pieces as the ones on that site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Definitely the first link, the second one will screw up your bass big time. Use a 30 watt soldering iron. It's not really explained in the first link but what you need to do is stroke your fret (going up and down) to warm it. Once you feel it get warm and start smelling the wood burning (a few seconds) then it's time to pull your fret out with end nippers by squeezing gently under the fret. DO NOT pull out the fret once you gripped it. Just let the nipper squeeze it out by squeezing it in different places in the length of it ( the fret, that is) What the soldering iron does is melt whatever glue that might have been used to put the frets it and lightly burns the wood of the fretboard which helps prevent chipping of your fb when you pull out those frets. If you see any chips come out, glue them back in right away before you go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giveitaway Posted March 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Definitely the first link, the second one will screw up your bass big time. Use a 30 watt soldering iron. It's not really explained in the first link but what you need to do is stroke your fret (going up and down) to warm it. Once you feel it get warm and start smelling the wood burning (a few seconds) then it's time to pull your fret out with end nippers by squeezing gently under the fret. DO NOT pull out the fret once you gripped it. Just let the nipper squeeze it out by squeezing it in different places in the length of it ( the fret, that is) What the soldering iron does is melt whatever glue that might have been used to put the frets it and lightly burns the wood of the fretboard which helps prevent chipping of your fb when you pull out those frets. If you see any chips come out, glue them back in right away before you go on. Yeah i Was already going to do that, but i was concerned about which way to fill in the frets. I think i'll go with the veneers. thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Definitely the first link, the second one will screw up your bass big time... I could barely make myself look at the pictures on the 2nd site. That was some scary sh*t! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I could barely make myself look at the pictures on the 2nd site. That was some scary sh*t! Yeah … some of those pictures on the second page look like a great way to screw up a neck, a chisel, and possibly your leg . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser Rob Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 If you go to www.stewmac.com you'll find a set of pliers specially ground for removing frets. Nothing like the right tool for the job. Also, when in doubt see www.frets.com ... it's the best lutherie resource on the web, bar none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loquito5765 Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 Im sorry if this thread is old and im reviving it, Ive just got a question... Where do you get the vaneer or the wood strips? Is there anywhere online I can just order them from? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primal Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 Any veneer will work, as long as it doesn't have any adhesive on it. Try Rockler.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvyn Hiscock Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Any veneer will work, as long as it doesn't have any adhesive on it. Try Rockler.com. Veneer is pretty easy to use. It is also pretty easy to get out if you decide to put frets back into you bass. Don't worry about the camber, you are only sanding the veneer down to the surface of the fingerboard that si already there. Sand ALONG the board until the inlays are flush and then use lighter grade paper to finish the board off. It is not difficult. Do no, ever, use chisels and screwdrivers to get frets out. Spend the extra on a proper pair of end nippers as that is cheaper than replacing your fingerboard. I have seen some really bad fret jobs. Please don't do another. It is cheaper to get the tools and do it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 If you're ordering anything from them, LMI also has a nice selection of veneers, both in different wood types, and a bunch of interesting dyed ones. (Blue fret lines? Sure!) I also third (or fourth?) the "buy a fret puller" opinion. Heating the fret wire with a soldering iron, as mentioned, also really helps to get them out. It's surprising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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