mantekka Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi Folks, First post! So I've been planning on taking up the double bass, but then considering getting a fretless first due to money restrictions. Then realised I've had my old Fender Jazz Special sitting beside me for the last 3 yrs unused. It was usurped by a Stingray 5! Now I love this bass, sometimes even think it was nicer to play than the musicman in ways. But I haven't picked it up at all since really. So it's got some sentimental value and it's great to play, but I'm happy to take the risk of defretting it rather than continue to leave it lying idle. I'm no guitar tech or carpenter and don't know a whole lot about this bass. I picked it up second hand about 12yrs ago when starting out on bass. Its a Jazz Bass Special, made in Japan. No idea what year it would be even. It wasn't very well looked after by me I have to admit too. Machine heads are carelessly screwed in with odd screws after the old ones gave way. Pickups are rusted. Still has 2yr old rusty strings on it! So I think it's time to do something with it. And I'd be grateful if any of you have advice & experience to offer me! I've located a few helpful tutorials on defretting which I intend to follow. (I like this one [url="http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/)"]http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/)[/url] I'll have to make sure I have all the right tools & materials before starting. A few questions: 1) (See Pic) The frets are seated as in the picture, which appears to be same as tutorial above. Any issues? 2) I'd like to replace the machine heads. Are these standard fittings, if I pick up a set will they have the same screwhole placings? Should I look for fender specific ones? 3) Is it possible to continue with the rusty pickups or are they badly affected by a bit of rust? 4) What type of strings would be ideal after the job is done? 5) Will the design of this bass, location of the pickups etc. be compatable with the sound of a fretless? Any comments welcomed! Thanks Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 [quote name='mantekka' post='467482' date='Apr 20 2009, 02:29 PM']A few questions: 1) (See Pic) The frets are seated as in the picture, which appears to be same as tutorial above. Any issues? 2) I'd like to replace the machine heads. Are these standard fittings, if I pick up a set will they have the same screwhole placings? Should I look for fender specific ones? 3) Is it possible to continue with the rusty pickups or are they badly affected by a bit of rust? 4) What type of strings would be ideal after the job is done? 5) Will the design of this bass, location of the pickups etc. be compatable with the sound of a fretless?[/quote] Having de-fretted many a similar neck my answers would be:- 1) Frets seated as normal - follow tutorial. 2)Schaller BMFL seem to have the same footprint and would be a good choice replacement. 3)If they still sound OK ignore the rust for now but plenty replacement P-Js on the market. 4)Flats by Tomastik, La Bella or D'addario Chromes would be fine. 5)Yes. Other people will no doubt add comments which may vary - hope you enjoy your project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 I'd use a Dremel & a small wire brush to tart up the pickups, but remove the covers first. I'd be inclined to get a fretless neck rather than defret an original Fender neck, but if you must, use veneer to fill the fret slots,and don't just fill it with Plastic Wood (like I did). I use an old can of Liquid Gold for cleaning up stuff. YMMV. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantekka Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 (edited) After reading Bass Doc's post I decided to get cracking on the defretting. All went pretty successfully. I used an iron to heat the frets beforehand and then a small flat screwdriver to pry them up from the side. The higher frets raised some small splints with them but nothing drastic. I got some light enough sand paper and went over the fretboard, concentrating on the build up around each fret, also scrubbed them wtih a rough edged spoonge. Then ran a blade through the slots to clear them out. The guy on the tutorial went for hardwood slots as fillers, I think I'll go with the veneer option alright Geoff. Gonna talk to a carpenter friend during the week and see if he knows a good veneer to use. Happy enuogh with the progress so far, cheers for the help. Edited April 20, 2009 by mantekka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantekka Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 So would these tuning heads be suitable for the bass? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-GUITAR-MACHINE-HEADS-FOR-FENDER-PRECISION-MUSICMAN_W0QQitemZ390031858236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item390031858236&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Ebay Tuning Heads[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 [quote name='mantekka' post='468013' date='Apr 21 2009, 12:34 AM']So would these tuning heads be suitable for the bass? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-GUITAR-MACHINE-HEADS-FOR-FENDER-PRECISION-MUSICMAN_W0QQitemZ390031858236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item390031858236&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Ebay Tuning Heads[/url][/quote] Yeah man . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 [quote name='Josh' post='468015' date='Apr 21 2009, 12:39 AM']Yeah man .[/quote] noooo man, they don't look like they would fit to me. Buy some schaller BMFL ones like the bass doc said! Good quality and they will fit. Also maybe consider a new bridge? That one looks pretty manked up and something like a badass II will give you loads better sustain which given that you're turning yours fretless, will help quite a lot as fretless' tend to not sustain as well, your fingers not being as dense as metal frets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 to be honest I'd always go for name machineheads, not much more pennies but you can count on em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantekka Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 I'll give those ebay tuners a miss so. In fact I might just use the old one again, and find a set of new screws for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantekka Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) Just an update with some pics for closure! Here's my fretless... Edited October 25, 2011 by mantekka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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