renablistic Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 would regular woodputty/filler work to fill in the old fretslots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 You mean changing a fretted neck into a fretless neck ? If so, I sure wouldn't use it when real wood would look better and probably more reversible later, plus the filler wouldn't be that great in simulating the neck compression of fret-tangs, so I think I'd prefer aluminum about the size of the fret-slots (a couple thousandths thicker , if you want to make the neck stiffer--about a half a thousandth thinner if you want to add little, to no, stiffness). Brass might be good too. I've never done what you're talking about, so I'm just giving my opinion, based on my experience with working on fretted necks. If you mean making fret-slots more narrow, but still having fret-slots, then I'd also be against wood putty. Crimping the fret-tangs to become wider is usually the best option. Maybe a teflon sheet inserted into the slot, then filler of wood dust, then super-glue. But, the teflon might still be too hard to get out. Might be a cleaner job, to just fill the slots with wood dust ( I mean from the same kind of wood as the fret-board), super-glue, then cut a new slot. I don't like that idea very much though. Seem way overkill for any widened fret-slot situation I've seen or can imagine. I think the problem with a piece of teflon around .021" thick, is getting it to be totally straight. You'd have to attach it to something that makes it straight. Got a picture of that in my head right now, but my fingers don't want to try to explain it. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 I would never consider wood putty for that. It has a tendency to shrink and leave small bubbles. Not a big deal on a larger project, but on a fretboard... unless you intend to clearcoat the board, and I'm not sure about how well that whole project would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 try a veneer in the shape of a fret. then sand it down. not only does it look cool but you can keep yourself in tune. You know where to play on the fret board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...?showtopic=3815 Look towards the bottom. The reason I'm doing this is to come up with a good way to make a fretless. The good thing about 20 dollar guitars is that it doesn't matter if you screw them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrock Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 Is buying an unslotted fretboard blank feasible? 200 posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 Put small pieces of wood in the fret slots. They should have a different color than the fingerboard. This will give you more orientation on the fingerboard and will make it easier to play a fretless if you are not yet a master of unfretted instruments. Many professional and commercial available basses are built this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted December 14, 2003 Report Share Posted December 14, 2003 i dont know what id do, but i think filler would look outa place mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 14, 2003 Report Share Posted December 14, 2003 Is buying an unslotted fretboard blank feasible? 200 posts Of course it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 I'd say just inlay something that contrasts with the wood...maybe maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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