oldslapper Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I have possibilty of buying a very nice lined fretless jazz bass, however I prefer unlined boards. The neck is beautifully aged, so don't want to swap necks. Any suggestions on refinishing/painting a neck to a plain finish? I'd have to do something about moving the side dots too. Any help appreciated. Thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_sub Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I think the only way to do it properly would be to replace the fingerboard entirely. That's likely to be £200+ job... unless the bass in question is really, really special, I wouldnt recommend it! For what it's worth, I found playing on lined boards easier, having previously only played unlined ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 [quote name='roman_sub' timestamp='1499799548' post='3333729'] I think the only way to do it properly would be to replace the fingerboard entirely. That's likely to be £200+ job... unless the bass in question is really, really special, I wouldnt recommend it! For what it's worth, I found playing on lined boards easier, having previously only played unlined ones. [/quote] Thanks for the reply. Hoping to not have to replace the board, but might be an option. Funnily enough, I find lined boards more confusing. 😊. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Unless it is proper vintage or valuable, I'd just have a nice unlined board fitted. Eliminating the lines and moving the dots on the existing board will devalue it anyway, so why not just have what your want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1499803253' post='3333775'] Unless it is proper vintage or valuable, I'd just have a nice unlined board fitted. Eliminating the lines and moving the dots on the existing board will devalue it anyway, so why not just have what your want? [/quote] Sounds like replacing the board is the only option. Shame, as I thought there might be a simpler solution. Thanks for the suggestions chaps 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 A suitably coloured marker pen carefully applied? Cheap and cheerful, but then I am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Halfway between marker pen and new board is wood dye; many DB boards are blonde but dyed to look like they're a darker (and more expensive) wood. Go careful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1499844426' post='3333938'] Halfway between marker pen and new board is wood dye; many DB boards are blonde but dyed to look like they're a darker (and more expensive) wood. Go careful! [/quote] Thanks Chris I'll check that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Coat the board in black epoxy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 If you decide to go for a new board I would recommend Brook Guitars down in Devon. They did a superb job on [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256290-nbd-fender-precision-american-special-fretless-conversion/"]this[/url] P bass I used to own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1499846695' post='3333961'] If you decide to go for a new board I would recommend Brook Guitars down in Devon. They did a superb job on [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256290-nbd-fender-precision-american-special-fretless-conversion/"]this[/url] P bass I used to own. [/quote] That is a lovely job. What did it cost (was that the £200 you mentioned in your earlier reply?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='Norris' timestamp='1499845274' post='3333947'] Coat the board in black epoxy? [/quote] Another option to consider cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1499857524' post='3334074'] That is a lovely job. What did it cost (was that the £200 you mentioned in your earlier reply?) [/quote] I think it was £220 all in IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 I think a new board on a neck that already works for you is a risk and an expense too far. I had a fretless ebony board put on a Precision neck a while back and it never sang as well as it had with the old, albeit worn out, fretless rosewood board. I don't think it was a bad job, just that for some reason it changed the response of the instrument in a way I didn't really care for. It could have been the mass, density, depth or even simply the surface of the new board, but either way, I wish I'd left it as it was. Lovely looking neck all the same walbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) I'd go for the option of at least just trying the marker pen first. You never know - it might just work... Failing that, Beedsters suggestion of wood dye is the next step.... Always try the cheaper option first, especially if it does the least "damage" Beedsters point above, re a new board not "singing" right or sounding and even feeling the same is also a valid point. A pal of mine used to have an old Precision, which had been de-fretted. The board had been treated rather poorly in the past, the fret slots hadn't been filled very tidily at all - looked a bit of a mess. However, he had a new board put on it, at considerable cost, and it never quite felt or sounded the same again. So much so, that he sold the bass, and bought... you guessed it - another old Precision (with worn frets) and de-fretted it..... My fretless (Jazz) is lined, and I know I much prefer it. Oddly enough, I don't mind the dots on the side of the neck being in the "wrong" place either - it seems to work for me anyway Edited July 12, 2017 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1499842060' post='3333922'] A suitably coloured marker pen carefully applied? Cheap and cheerful, but then I am! [/quote] On the lines and dots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1499869645' post='3334195'] My fretless (Jazz) is lined, and I know I much prefer it. Oddly enough, I don't mind the dots on the side of the neck being in the "wrong" place either - it seems to work for me anyway [/quote] Just goes to show....whatever works 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1499868970' post='3334184'] I think a new board on a neck that already works for you is a risk and an expense too far. I had a fretless ebony board put on a Precision neck a while back and it never sang as well as it had with the old, albeit worn out, fretless rosewood board. I don't think it was a bad job, just that for some reason it changed the response of the instrument in a way I didn't really care for. It could have been the mass, density, depth or even simply the surface of the new board, but either way, I wish I'd left it as it was. Lovely looking neck all the same walbassist [/quote] As they say; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1499844426' post='3333938'] Halfway between marker pen and new board is wood dye; many DB boards are blonde but dyed to look like they're a darker (and more expensive) wood. Go careful! [/quote] As Grangur says, the best route is probably to do nothing - pretty much all mods will reduce the resale value assuming the bass is in original spec. However, if it really bugs you but you really like the bass and intend it to be a keeper, I suspect it's the position of the side dots that are the issue more than the board itself? If so, as Beedster says probably the aesthetic issue can easily be sorted with a proper dye (proper so that it isn't going to come off on your fingers!) The side dots, if they are set into the ebony only, would be a case of drilling out the old ones and filling with epoxy mixed with ebony dust (which can be collected while preparing the board for its dye or I could send you some for free) and then new dots installed in the new positions. Not a job for someone of no experience in these sorts of things, but not actually a particularly difficult or risky job. Hope this helps Edited July 13, 2017 by Andyjr1515 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I totally get the point that a new board is a risk, as there's no guarantee it'll sound as good as it did before: my reason for suggesting it was that the minute you do anything that changes the original neck you are devaluing the bass, so it may as well be an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Thanks again for the suggestions, and the kind offer. It's the side dots that are the main issue, the lines are irritating more than anything, as I tend to look straight down onto the side rather than onto the board itself. But estheticly I prefer a plain board, no lines, no dots....but it's just personal taste. I'm not the best person for structural mods, so I'd use a tech for that. The bass isn't hugely valuable (£600 approx) but is viewed as a "vintage" pedigree being Japanese. Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I got a fantastic unlined precision neck with ebony board from brandoni guitars when I built my fretless precision several years ago. I think it was about £100 then, so replacing the neck could be a much cheaper and easily reversible option to modifying the existing neck. In your position however I would keep the lines & get used to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1500116346' post='3335713'] I got a fantastic unlined precision neck with ebony board from brandoni guitars when I built my fretless precision several years ago. I think it was about £100 then, so replacing the neck could be a much cheaper and easily reversible option to modifying the existing neck. In your position however I would keep the lines & get used to them. [/quote] That's very reasonable for a replacement neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Take your lined fretless - Close your eyes - Ta Da! instant unlined fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 [quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1500292310' post='3336677'] Take your lined fretless - Close your eyes - Ta Da! instant unlined fretless. [/quote] 😊 Mind you....I'd probably fall over....or asleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.