Converting a neck to fretless...

MF_Kitten · 08-27-2007, 06:32 PM

ok, so i have an RG Wizard neck laying here, and i´m gunna convert it to fretless...

so, i´m wondering how i should go about doing this. i have a few options:

1: get a guitar repair dude to remove the fretboard and replace it with a blank one... problem is, the neck has binding (i think that´s problematic?), and it would cost me muchos cash...

2: use a sander and sandpaper, and just start out with really rough sandpaper and sand the frets all the way down to fretboard-level, then use a fine sandpaper to make a nice smooth surface, then oil it

3: pet my kitten

4: remove frets and fill the fret-holes (not something i wanna do!)

what do you all think i should do here?

OzzyC · 08-27-2007, 06:36 PM

1 and 4 are the only feasible options. But you can still pet the kitty.

Stitch · 08-27-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MF_Kitten

ok, so i have an RG Wizard neck laying here, and i´m gunna convert it to fretless...

so, i´m wondering how i should go about doing this. i have a few options:

1: get a guitar repair dude to remove the fretboard and replace it with a blank one... problem is, the neck has binding (i think that´s problematic?), and it would cost me muchos cash...

2: use a sander and sandpaper, and just start out with really rough sandpaper and sand the frets all the way down to fretboard-level, then use a fine sandpaper to make a nice smooth surface, then oil it

3: pet my kitten

4: remove frets and fill the fret-holes (not something i wanna do!)

what do you all think i should do here?

Definitely 3.

1 or 4 really dude - 3 is not a sensible option AT ALL and not really effective. I'd remove the frets and cover the baord with eopxy resin, Jaco Pastorious style.

Or buy a fretless Warmoth neck?

BCrowell · 08-27-2007, 06:41 PM

I've certainly been thinking about doing this mod since messing with Bumblefoot's fretless Vigier!

One of my buddies Matthew did this mod on a RG270... What he did is :

-remove the frets
- epoxy filled the holes
-Cut a thin 1/16th brass sheet, that extended 1/4 inch on either side of the fretboard.
- Bend form the edges around the neck (he used some machine that bent it for him.
-Affix the formed sheet on top of the neck, secured via a thing coat of epoxy.
-Using wood working clamps secure the brass plate flately against neck while it cured.

Now these are hardly instructions, just a brief memory of what he told me he did. (disclaimer lol)

MF_Kitten · 08-27-2007, 06:41 PM

i´m going for whatever is cheaper here :P

how should i cover the fretboard holes, without the gunk i fill them with getting worn right out?

and epoxy resin, that´s the glue-stuff that gets really really hard?

and why can´t i sand it? :P hehe

i just sorta imagined sanding the frets all the way down to fretboard level... then making it all smooth so i had metal fretboard markers :P

edit: BCrowell, that sounds nice, but i wanna keep the fretboard... so everything except the brass sounds like something i could pull off... so epoxy-ing the fret holes then?

BCrowell · 08-27-2007, 06:49 PM

Yeah, If you want to keep the fretboard look, you're gonna have to go with an epoxy resin as stitch mentioned.

The reason I wouldn't do that, is you'd have to keep the flatness of the epoxy pretty even... For me it'd be easier to use the brass sheet. THEN the result is the neck surface being as high as the frets were, keeping intonation and action close to the same.

garcia3441 · 08-27-2007, 11:02 PM

Unfretted - Fretless Guitar Resource.

bostjan · 08-28-2007, 01:22 AM

Soldering iron, fret pullers, lotsa patience.

cheap

Tymon · 08-28-2007, 04:31 AM

Epoxy works great.

MF_Kitten · 08-28-2007, 06:42 PM

i´m the kind of person to tweak alot of stuff on my instruments all the time, so i don´t think regaining action and intonation with only epoxy would be a problem to me... also, i don´t really have alot of cash, so getting a brass sheet done wouldn´t even be possible :P

08-27-2007, 06:32 PM	#1
MF_Kitten Whines about shit! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lillehammer, Norway Posts: 2,129 Real Name: Morten Main Seven: Schecter Omen 7 Extreme Main ERG: Agile 28" baritone Rig: Pod X3 Live Thanked: 75	Converting a neck to fretless... ok, so i have an RG Wizard neck laying here, and i´m gunna convert it to fretless... so, i´m wondering how i should go about doing this. i have a few options: 1: get a guitar repair dude to remove the fretboard and replace it with a blank one... problem is, the neck has binding (i think that´s problematic?), and it would cost me muchos cash... 2: use a sander and sandpaper, and just start out with really rough sandpaper and sand the frets all the way down to fretboard-level, then use a fine sandpaper to make a nice smooth surface, then oil it 3: pet my kitten 4: remove frets and fill the fret-holes (not something i wanna do!) what do you all think i should do here? -------------------------------------- Æn Æppl Æ Dæi, Kiips De Dåktor Awæi

08-27-2007, 06:36 PM	#2
OzzyC :ubersquint: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,315 Real Name: AntonioPetrucci Main Seven: RG1527RB Main ERG: I can has ERG? Rig: GNX3000 Thanked: 17	1 and 4 are the only feasible options. But you can still pet the kitty. You've got your head down You've got your eyes closed You look so pitiful now Your body encrusted with ash Breath heavy with toxins Hair singed and matted Clothes frayed and burnt You are left with nothing

08-27-2007, 06:49 PM	#6
BCrowell Cubicle Dweller Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 753 Real Name: Alex Lifeson :P Main Seven: RG7620BK Rig: JSX w/2120 Artist Thanked: 6 / 1	Yeah, If you want to keep the fretboard look, you're gonna have to go with an epoxy resin as stitch mentioned. The reason I wouldn't do that, is you'd have to keep the flatness of the epoxy pretty even... For me it'd be easier to use the brass sheet. THEN the result is the neck surface being as high as the frets were, keeping intonation and action close to the same. Image removed in fear of Chris's 133t Krom skills! www.briancrowell.com* \| "Carribean Blue" on SNOCAP! Myspace Page \| YouTube Page

08-27-2007, 11:02 PM	#7
garcia3441 Tone Whore Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 5,435 Real Name: Mike J. Main Seven: 2002 Vigier Excalibur 7 Main ERG: Danelectro Baritone Rig: Hot Rod DeVille 410 Thanked: 86	Unfretted - Fretless Guitar Resource. "Im sick and tired of hearing things From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth. " John Lennon

08-28-2007, 01:22 AM	#8
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 6,076 Main Seven: Oni Custom 7 Main ERG: Oni Custom 8 Rig: Mesa Dual Recto Thanked: 6	Soldering iron, fret pullers, lotsa patience. cheap Khereb's myspace

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08-27-2007, 06:41 PM	#4
BCrowell Cubicle Dweller Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 753 Real Name: Alex Lifeson :P Main Seven: RG7620BK Rig: JSX w/2120 Artist Thanked: 6 / 1	I've certainly been thinking about doing this mod since messing with Bumblefoot's fretless Vigier! One of my buddies Matthew did this mod on a RG270... What he did is : -remove the frets - epoxy filled the holes -Cut a thin 1/16th brass sheet, that extended 1/4 inch on either side of the fretboard. - Bend form the edges around the neck (he used some machine that bent it for him. -Affix the formed sheet on top of the neck, secured via a thing coat of epoxy. -Using wood working clamps secure the brass plate flately against neck while it cured. Now these are hardly instructions, just a brief memory of what he told me he did. (disclaimer lol)

08-28-2007, 04:31 AM	#9
Tymon ss.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: netherlands Posts: 132 Real Name: Tymon Thanked: 0	Epoxy works great.

08-28-2007, 06:42 PM	#10
MF_Kitten Whines about shit! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lillehammer, Norway Posts: 2,129 Real Name: Morten Main Seven: Schecter Omen 7 Extreme Main ERG: Agile 28" baritone Rig: Pod X3 Live Thanked: 75	i´m the kind of person to tweak alot of stuff on my instruments all the time, so i don´t think regaining action and intonation with only epoxy would be a problem to me... also, i don´t really have alot of cash, so getting a brass sheet done wouldn´t even be possible :P

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Converting a neck to fretless...