LeftyBassist.com
http://leftybassist.com./

"New" FrankenFretless
http://leftybassist.com./viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2769
Page 1 of 1

Author:  bbl [ June 26th, 2011, 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  "New" FrankenFretless

Fun fixin up FrankenFenders for folly. :)

2000 Hot Rod Body and '77 Fretless Neck

Attachments:
IMG_0309.jpg
IMG_0309.jpg [ 115.44 KiB | Viewed 8864 times ]
IMG_0308.JPG
IMG_0308.JPG [ 76.06 KiB | Viewed 8866 times ]

Author:  Matt R. [ June 26th, 2011, 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Yessss!

Author:  LefThanDed [ June 27th, 2011, 6:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Flatwounds for fretless fingerboard finish?

Author:  bbl [ June 27th, 2011, 6:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

I rarely use flats on fretless. I just use nickel round - DR Low Riders or other hexcore nickel-wrapped string. The hexcore allows the string to sit lower and the nickel rounds don't chew up the board as much as steel.

This board has been finished in poly, but I've played on unfinished pau ferro and rosewood, too.

I learned from other players - who play fretless much more frequently than I do - that it'll take a good 2-3 years of heavy playing before a re-sanding is needed, and most boards can be sanded 2-3 times.

The tone of rounds is well worth it, imo.

Author:  bbl [ June 27th, 2011, 6:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Matt R. wrote:
Yessss!


Recognize the neck? 8-)

The finish was, oh, a bit bumpy. :) So I've spent a few hours sanding it down with 400 grit and a 9.5" radius block from Stew Mac. It STILL doesn't forward bow as much as it should. But hey, I love to tinker. :D

Author:  bbl [ June 27th, 2011, 6:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

LefThanDed wrote:
Flatwounds for fretless fingerboard finish?


Or better answer... "forego the flats for fretless fun with FrankenFenders" :)

Author:  PunkRockBassist [ June 27th, 2011, 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

i love it very nice :)

Author:  Matt R. [ June 27th, 2011, 7:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Oh that was the neck I used to own? Well if so, that's epoxy, not poly. So you'll have no trouble out of those rounds.

Author:  pjmuck [ June 27th, 2011, 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Is that a Hot Rod P married to a real lefty '78(?) neck?

Author:  gravesbass [ June 27th, 2011, 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

I should have walked with that Hot Rod when the offer was available.. ;)

Very nice bass Geoff!!

Author:  bbl [ June 27th, 2011, 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

The neck is a '77 I believe, with a serial starting with "S7."

Matt, I do remember you saying it was epoxy but then I did some research and somehow concluded it was poly. I guess I didn't think one could sand epoxy. Or shouldn't. :D Perhaps some fine wet sanding and steel wool is in order here.

Author:  Matt R. [ June 27th, 2011, 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Definitely epoxy. Very sandable. Used the same stuff on my jaco fretless

Author:  Rodent [ June 27th, 2011, 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

bbl wrote:
I guess I didn't think one could sand epoxy. Or shouldn't. :D Perhaps some fine wet sanding and steel wool is in order here.


most epoxies are very sandable, and doing so is a must if you want to have a perfectly level fingerboard.

the right radius block, multiple grits of high quality wet/dry paper (I wet sand thru 2000 grit on my epoxy fingerboard finishes), and good wet sanding technique will yield you a fingerboard ready for buffing to a high gloss.

for high quality wet/dry paper, visit an auto paint store. good quality paper has less potential for a high grit, and it also is more uniform when wet. I use a small bowl with water plus a few drops of liquid dish soap (lubricant) as my liquid source. I also pre-tear all my paper pieces before starting, and pre-soak all paper I'll be using for at least an hour proior to using it on an epoxied surface

I never use steel wool on a epoxied fingerboard, especially when there's potential for it to come in contact with moisture

all the best,

R

Author:  bbl [ June 30th, 2011, 11:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: "New" FrankenFretless

Thanks so much for the tips, Rodent.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/