|
Post by gfxbss on Oct 16, 2006 22:01:53 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I have an old bass that i have ripped the frets out of. I plan to put wood filler in the fret grooves, and put minwax over it all for a nice finish. I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas about how to keep fret lines from showing up. If at all possible, I dont want them.
Thanks,
Tyler
|
|
|
Post by ranchtooth on Oct 17, 2006 9:29:13 GMT -5
Wood filler BAD!!! Real Wood GOOD!!! Seriously, don't use wood filler, cut the slots out a little wider and actually insert strips of wood into the grooves with glue, then plane it all down and re-level. You can get rid of the lines if you use some dark (black!) dye or stain on the board and then finish to your liking... I did a similar job on an old Squier J-Bass... I widened the fret slots with a table saw, then inlaid ebony wood, then planed the fingerboard dead flat. Then I dyed it with black dye and finished it with tung oil. Yields a nice sound!
|
|
|
Post by gfxbss on Oct 17, 2006 14:55:00 GMT -5
awesome! thanks man. is there any cetain reason that the wood filler doesnt work? either way the wood slots sound like theyd be much better. this is my first bass, its a silvertone P-bass. It has centimental value, so I dont wanna get rid of it. Just want somthing different out of it.
thanks again man.
Tyler
|
|
|
Post by ranchtooth on Oct 17, 2006 15:34:39 GMT -5
don't get me wrong, wood filler will work, it just has some proporties that should be noted... It can be rather difficult to get it to fill the fret grooves, and often will simply spread across the top of the groove and leave an airspace below, which will become brittle when it dries and can crack. Its also not great for tone transfer. If you do use it, make sure it is very "soupy" so it fills the slot entirely. I still stand by the hard wood insertion method... Just more stable and more tone, but to each his own. I'm sure you can pull of an awesome fretless with just wood filler.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Oct 17, 2006 15:52:27 GMT -5
I don't know.....seems like a lot of work. Wouldn't it be easier (and better sounding) to just buy a fretless neck and put it on? There are a couple of low cost fretless options from Rogue and Squierout there. I can't speak for the Rogue, but I've played the Squier, it's worth almost double what they are charging for it. If you're committed to trying the wood filler: if you apply it in small layers, you can work it into any groove. Try to get some with wood actually in it (cellulose wood fibers). I would put in a layer, put a piece of foam over it, and a strip of masking tape over it to maintain pressure on it while it dries, then clean and repeat until you make it to the top.
|
|
|
Post by gfxbss on Oct 17, 2006 22:18:28 GMT -5
alright, thanks guys. Im going to go with the wood. but my girlfriends brother just picked up a stingray and wants to make his old squier a fretless. with the cost of the stingray, he wants to go cheap and go w/ the wood filler. I appreciate all of the help and tips. I want to get more into the DIY scene w/ lutherie and wiring repairs/ mods. so im looking to learn as much as possible.
Tyler
|
|
|
Post by ranchtooth on Oct 19, 2006 18:39:21 GMT -5
You get one warning and one warning only: It becomes an addiction!
|
|
|
Post by pollyshero on Oct 19, 2006 22:14:35 GMT -5
Filler has a different texture than wood and will sand out smooth. It also doesn't absorb stains/dyes like wood does. You'd wind up with an atrocity - so now that you've made up your mind for the wood - stick with it.
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on Oct 19, 2006 23:02:38 GMT -5
The option I thought of immediately is tinted epoxy. That is what they use as filler around inlay routs. But then you wanted not to see the fret grooves. I actually think if you are just moving to fretless that seeing the epoxy lines would be helpful.
You could use black expoxy or get the pigment powder that Stewmac sells to make it more invisible. But even if you go to wood inlays, you will be able to detect crossgrain to crossgrain cuts.
Wood filler is absolutely the wrong product. soft and typically water based, although there are some oil based types, but still inadequate for the abuse a fretboard receives.
If you are really fired up about invisible lines, you could veneer the board, then consolidate the thin veneer with something like a penetrating oil, like Watco. Not quite as durable as a solid board, but will last a while. A hard poly would be even more durable, but the feel will be different than rosewood.. More like the feel of a maple neck with a finish.
|
|
|
Post by UnklMickey on Oct 19, 2006 23:16:49 GMT -5
Rune, i think you're on the right track with tinted epoxy, or custom tinting some epoxy.
i can't speak for Tyler.
but if it were me, i'd want to make the locations of the fret-grooves inconspicuous to the general public.
but still discernible up close. (sort of a guide.)
a good tint job could probably accomplish all that.
unk
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on Oct 21, 2006 16:41:51 GMT -5
I use exoxy a lot, especially when I am changing out a different scaled neck and have to redriill posts or maybe ad alittle to the neck pocket. Of course there a re-paint covers the patching.
Careful tinting and test patching will yield nearly invisible results... but whenever you have a cross grain injury, like a fret slot, it is nearly impossible to make it disappear. I've seen sloppy fingerboard inlay routs camaflaged remarkably well with the tinted epoxy.
I do think however, the slower setting kind is more durable, since to make it faster means more catalyst, which weakens the patch (in my experience).
YMMV
|
|
|
Post by gfxbss on Oct 23, 2006 20:48:10 GMT -5
hey thanks. hard poly sounds awesome. I actually prefer maple fretboards as to rosewood. although I'm not sure if i would prefer it on a fretless. but you never know until you try it! thanks everyone for your help, all of this is super interesting. I'm trying to decide if I'm even advanced enough for most of it. but the way i figure, i wont get better with out experience. not to mention, even if i mess it up, all i screw up is a silvertone fretboard....
|
|
mmray321
Apprentice Shielder
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
|
Post by mmray321 on Oct 29, 2006 22:31:17 GMT -5
haha, sup tyler, im his girlfriends brother, ;D
|
|