Fretless into a fretted

[thebassist]

Anyone here have experience or paid a luthier to switch a fretless into a fretted bass?

I've found a super rare bass I've been after for years but it's fretless. For info fretted versions of the bass do exist but I've not seen one come up in years on here, eBay or Talkbass. They're crazy rare.

[ambient]

Yep, you need to check if its got dots where the fret should be, or in the normal place.

[Roland Rock]

I got Jon Shuker to fret a fretless for me recently. Superb job. Luckily for me there were no front dots, and the side dots were in the correct place.

He will definitely be able to do it, but the price will depend on the complexity ie binding/dots/lacquer etc.

[thebassist]

That's good to hear. When you say the side dots were in the right place, Are you saying they were located where the frets would be or they were situated in between where the frets would be like on a regular fretted bass?

[Roland Rock]

Sorry, the dots were between the fret lines like with a fretted bass, so didn't need to be moved

Edited February 25, 2016 by Roland Rock

[ead]

My fretless basses have the dots where the frets would be. I thought this was the norm for fretless basses?

[haimesy]

I think most unlined have dots where there frets would be , and lined fretless have dot in between lines .. J

[Norris]

If it's super rare, and assuming it's a bolt on neck, would you be better to get a reproduction fretted neck made and store the original fretless neck away safely?

[Macker5]

Great idea!!!

Jon Shuker would also be my first choice for work such as this.

[Macker5]

Sorry - newbie alert and unable to add to a previous quote!

I think Norris' idea is great!

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1456416249' post='2988832']
If it's super rare, and assuming it's a bolt on neck, would you be better to get a reproduction fretted neck made and store the original fretless neck away safely?
[/quote]

+1

If it's hard to get - And a neck through (or set neck) - I'd have a fretted copy made with some custom options (e.g. custom inlays, LEDs, paint job) to budget and to taste. Bonus points if it matches / tastefully complements the fretless one!
If it's bolt on I'd say a fretted neck is a great option, and considerably cheaper than a custom instrument!