JV Precision De-fret or not De-Fret

[henry norton]

My custom made fretless neck's had it - one too many mosh pits and careless drops - and I'm wondering whether I should defret the original maple neck, maybe even machine off a quarter inch and replace with a nice plain ebony fretless board. Thing is it's a JV precision, valuable in some peoples eyes but I figure I've already devalued it enough by adding a Jazz pickup in the early nineties. What does Basschat think???

[neepheid]

[quote name='henry norton' post='656182' date='Nov 16 2009, 06:08 PM']My custom made fretless neck's had it - one too many mosh pits and careless drops - and I'm wondering whether I should defret the original maple neck, maybe even machine off a quarter inch and replace with a nice plain ebony fretless board. Thing is it's a JV precision, valuable in some peoples eyes but I figure I've already devalued it enough by adding a Jazz pickup in the early nineties. What does Basschat think???[/quote]

I wouldn't do it - there are plenty replacement necks which will fit right in there without you molesting a perfectly good neck of some historical note.

[Beedster]

[quote name='neepheid' post='656190' date='Nov 16 2009, 06:13 PM']I wouldn't do it - there are plenty replacement necks which will fit right in there without you molesting a perfectly good neck of some historical note.[/quote]

+1, plus then you have the flexibility of fretless and fretted should circumstances change

C

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='neepheid' post='656190' date='Nov 16 2009, 06:13 PM']I wouldn't do it - there are plenty replacement necks which will fit right in there without you molesting a perfectly good neck of some historical note.[/quote]
+1 - I can't see a good reason for doing this.

[john_the_bass]

Do it, what harm can it do?



























Don't do it at all!!! Listed to what them up there say!

[henry norton]

Hmmm, you're probably right. It probably wouldn't be much more hassle to make a new neck - maybe a one piece fretless maple version but with the round edged '57 profile. Now that could be a neck to die for - watch this space....

[Duarte]

just do it. You know you want to.

DO IT!

[LukeFRC]

the decrese in the value of your JV if you defretted it would probably be more than the price of a new neck Iwould think

[doctor_of_the_bass]

Computer says no!

I'd go the replacement neck route personally.

[Buzz]

Don't do it.

The thing with the JV's is that their value is based upon the fact they shipped with very good QC and are very playable (aka, they've got good necks), the added J pup isn't going to affect the playability of the actual bass (just the sound) whereas if you defret the JV neck you'll be doing a lot more "damage" to it.

Buy a replacement. You'll probably lose less in the long run anyway as you can sell the JV as near original and you'll have a spare fretless neck to sell/use on another project should you decide to shift the bass.