Fretted to fretless

[EzaRitualBella]

Heya just wanna ask around
How much does it cost to make your fretted bass fretless?

 

[originallyfira]

Seriously? just get a a bass that's alrdy fretless. i dont think a defretted bass sounds as good...try looking up....in the guitar section, i saw a good work on guitar defretting....not sure if they do it for bas anyway...

 

[alanchia]

i've asked for pricing before.

it depends how much work involved. these are the options (after removing of frets)
1) What to use to fill the fret slots
2) Need to resand the whole finger board
3) Treatment to the fingerboard
4) Other works or replacement of pickups or nut/bridge

i'll rather keep my existing bass as backup and purchase a fretless (perhaps from 2nd hand).

 

[scylla019]

it would be better to keep a fretted bass around for practice. because practicing on a fretless bass, the strings eat into the wood finish, and soon... into the wood. so just buy a fretless

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

i have a guitar that was converted to fretless through Malcolm years back. When he was working on the instrument, i had the chance to see how it was done and to do a good job(which Malcolm did), its really not as easy(higher cost as well). Even though its a guitar, still the defretting and finsihing process on bass should be similar.

anyway, as others had mentioned, its easier to get a fretless then to convert a fretted to fretless.

Bro alan summed has basically summed up the main points for the conversion. Its aint some easy job that anyone can do it and doing it well. So if really wanna do it to the instrument, its better to think properly(once fretless, theres no way to go back fretted, unless changing neck), find a reputable guitar tech and saving the money for it(few hundred dollars at least)

anyway, if wanna check for the quote, do check with the respective guitar tech in private thru mails or pm.