Fretless specialist in / near London?

[project_c]

I'm not even sure if there's such a thing as a luthier / repair person that specializes in fretless basses, but I need a bit of work and a setup done on a fretless neck to get the action as low as possible, it's a vintage neck so i'd like to give it to someone who knows what they're doing. Anyone have any recommendations? Definitely needs to be a bass specialist as opposed to a general guitar person, I know the guys at the Gallery are great, is there anyone else out there in / near London who's good? thanks

[Grangur]

What's the problem with the neck?

[OliverBlackman]

The guys at the gallery did a great job on a fretless thumb bass I had, when the truss rod needed replacing. It was a neck through as well so they had to take the fingerboard off. When I got it back the action was low and it was a much better bass than what I gave them. They also recently dressed the frets on my p bass and the action on that is now a joy. They're not the cheapest and I find their opening times a little restrictive but you always get really good service.

[project_c]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1477205504' post='3160457']
What's the problem with the neck?
[/quote]

There's a buzz on one spot, the B on the D string, which stays there even when I raise the saddles so it may be a little uneven just on that spot, it's definitely a job for a luthier. (It's a lined fretless). Also I like my action unreasonably low, so I'd like to get that neck as close to silly low action as I can, but it's a 70s Fender neck which i love so I don't want to mess with the truss rod with my crap setup technique. My concern is that if I give it to a non-specialist, they'll either do a hack job or tell me my action is too low and do nothing much apart from give the rod a turn and raise my strings a bit.

Edited October 23, 2016 by project_c

[gary mac]

Have you tried changing strings? Sorry if that sounds an insultingly strange thing to say, not meant that way, just that I had the same on a fretless a while back. One spot that I was getting a buzz, drove me mad, tried all the usual tweaks and adjustments. Then I just decided one day on a string change and there it was gone On checking there was a little flaw/burr on the underside of the old string.

[project_c]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1477220766' post='3160595']
Have you tried changing strings? Sorry if that sounds an insultingly strange thing to say, not meant that way, just that I had the same on a fretless a while back. One spot that I was getting a buzz, drove me mad, tried all the usual tweaks and adjustments. Then I just decided one day on a string change and there it was gone On checking there was a little flaw/burr on the underside of the old string.
[/quote]

Yep, done that and unfortunately it's still there. The story with the neck is that it was originally an unlined maple fretless, the previous owner cut grooves into it to turn it into a fretted but gave up before installing frets. I wanted a lined maple fretless Fender for ages so I bought the neck from him, the lines were then added by Martin at the Gallery, and they're great but I was told recently that changes in temperature can cause tiny fluctuations between the materials on the neck, and even if one of the lines sticks out just a fraction, it may cause a buzz like this. So I'm wondering if that's what happened in that spot. It was fine when I got it done last year, started doing it a month or so ago. I always use tapewound strings so I don't think they're damaging the fingerboard in any way.

[Number6]

Try asking Graham Parker a luthier based in Lewisham.

[project_c]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1477224598' post='3160640']
Try asking Graham Parker a luthier based in Lewisham.
[/quote]

Looks great but seems like he's a guitar guy rather than a bass specialist, which may or may not be a problem. I know it's practically the same thing in terms of the work that needs doing but i wonder if fretless bass is something he knows as well as a bass specialist would.

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1477224598' post='3160640']
Try asking Graham Parker a luthier based in Lewisham.
[/quote]

Are the Rumours about him true?

[Grangur]

Another silly question:
There's a buzz when the fret at the 9th on the D string. But it doesn't buzz when you fret the G or the A on the 9th?
What's buzzing? Is it the string on the fingerboard, or is something else buzzing?

I ask this because I had a bass that buzzed when I played a note on the A string. What was buzzing, as it turned out was a loose top on the G string tuning head.

It's worth sitting quietly and play the D 9th and move your ears all over the bass and listen for the location of the buzz.

[project_c]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1477248507' post='3160863']
Another silly question:
There's a buzz when the fret at the 9th on the D string. But it doesn't buzz when you fret the G or the A on the 9th?
What's buzzing? Is it the string on the fingerboard, or is something else buzzing?

I ask this because I had a bass that buzzed when I played a note on the A string. What was buzzing, as it turned out was a loose top on the G string tuning head.

It's worth sitting quietly and play the D 9th and move your ears all over the bass and listen for the location of the buzz.
[/quote]

No buzzing anywhere else. It seems to be coming from right above the fretline, I'm fairly sure it's the board that's buzzing. A bit to the left or right and no buzz. The location of it is difficult to determine beyond that, I'm not sure, there's nothing in particular that's buzzing specifically, it's like a glassy noise alongside the note. I've recorded it, have a listen. Listen out for a glassy overtone on the first 3 notes and the last one. Acoustically it's a lot more obvious than this, maybe I should record that too.
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/file/ghc0o4p37g860e0/buzz.wav"]http://www.mediafire...g860e0/buzz.wav[/url]

Edited October 23, 2016 by project_c

[therealting]

I send all my stuff to Jonathan at Feline Guitars in Croydon. Yes, he does guitars too but I've found his neck and fret work to be first rate. He's worked on both my Canadian Dingwalls, my Sadowskys and numerous vintage Fenders. I've referred several people to him who have all been very happy, and he's not expensive either.

Of course if you are wanting a bass specialist then skip right to Martin at the Gallery

[ezbass]

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1477294715' post='3161085']

Of course if you are wanting a bass specialist then skip right to Martin at the Gallery
[/quote]This +1000s

[project_c]

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1477294715' post='3161085']
I send all my stuff to Jonathan at Feline Guitars in Croydon. Yes, he does guitars too but I've found his neck and fret work to be first rate. He's worked on both my Canadian Dingwalls, my Sadowskys and numerous vintage Fenders. I've referred several people to him who have all been very happy, and he's not expensive either.

Of course if you are wanting a bass specialist then skip right to Martin at the Gallery
[/quote]

He's a good guy, I know him, just a bit worried about the fretless thing, which I think a bass specialist is more qualified to deal with. If it was a fretted, I'd go to him (he's also a lot closer to where I live). Looks like Martin is still my best choice so I think I'll go to him.