How to convert a bass neck to fretless?

[ThreeChordWonder]

Why not just do a palm sander and hand sand, which you would have to do anyway?
Chipping out pieces of the fretboard would only add to the work.

I was pulling yer plonker, yer plonker:butkick::friday:

 

[Chistopher]

Are there any ways other than heat and moving slow to limit chipping? also when they do chip, I assume just wood filler that matches the color?

 

[Demanic]

I know that the OP is interested in doing this conversion for the experience. Am I alone in thinking that he would be better served by learning how to install frets on a neck that doesn't have them? After all, a purpose made fretless neck would never need frets removed in the first place. But all necks begin life fretless until the steps are taken to install them.

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[Clint 55]

Are there any ways other than heat and moving slow to limit chipping? also when they do chip, I assume just wood filler that matches the color?

The tape might help also. Yes, wood filler to fill the chips.

 

[Clint 55]

Why is everyone suggesting superglue? Seems like a hack job to me. Why not epoxy? It can even be dyed to match the fretboard.

That's what I was thinking. Epoxy is good material. It's more solid, it goes on thicker, and would probably be easier to sand.

 

[hamerfan]

Right now I'm thinking:

Yank the frets out carefully with this obscure car tool I have that looks like it should do the job

sand the slots using a 1/32" square file I have

glue a 1/32" veneer in, trim, sand smooth

super glue finish

That was exactly did. I used a maple veneer to accent the playing positions. I used a small saw blade to clean the slots. I used expoxy lacquer and strung up half round or pressure wound strings.
If you don't like maple, you can also use dark wood and drill for white side dots as markers.

 

[GuitarStv]

I have a friend who did this with his Rickenbacker bass . . . he ended up epoxying the fretboard after pulling the frets to prevent dings and gouges.

 

[solspirit]

Did someone say epoxy?
I imagine that youre not silly enough to try this on maple.

Tape helps minimize the chipouts but don't bank on it. Mix any similarly colored wood dust with the epoxy and go to town.... until the next stage of sandimg and leveling.

 

[Chistopher]

I know that the OP is interested in doing this conversion for the experience. Am I alone in thinking that he would be better served by learning how to install frets on a neck that doesn't have them? After all, a purpose made fretless neck would never need frets removed in the first place. But all necks begin life fretless until the steps are taken to install them.

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I might have to do that next. It seems like a useful thing to know how to do.

 

[Demanic]

I might have to do that next. It seems like a useful thing to know how to do.

I've seen some of the equipment for it on StewMac. Just like woodworking of any kind, having the correct tools really helps.

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[Aceman]

Skip the veneer and just fill with resin

Be sure to tape the sides so it doesn't leak out.