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Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: January 19 2011 at 21:32
NecronCommander wrote:
Mmm, Warmoth necks are supposed to be nice. I want to see how this turns out.
It is very nice. The shape of the back is incredibly comfortable and the fretless fretboard looks amazing. The guy I talked to on the phone who worked on it took the time to inlay the fret slots with mahogany. So it's a very nice rosewood neck with mahogany inlays. I will certainly upload some pics and hopefully link an audio sample when the guitar is complete.
And how many more of these bad fretless jokes can we have? Fretless piano, fretless vocals...
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 13 2011
Location: Nottingham
Status: Offline
Points: 635
Posted: January 20 2011 at 10:26
himtroy wrote:
So I'm thinking about making a fretless guitar. I'm planning on doing what I did the one and only other time I've made a guitar and make it with almost all Carvin parts. However I'm going to have to de-fret the neck. The purpose of this topic is to see if anybody sees any flaws in this...because I've been looking around and just wondering why fretless guitars hardly exist? I haven't put much thought into it yet, but I'm assuming the neck process would just be removing the frets and filling it with some kind of wood filler?
1. Yes I know personal made fretless guitars do exist on the internet.
2. Don't ask me why I would want a fretless guitar...why wouldn't I?
Jaco Pastorius removed his frets and filled the gaps with epoxy resin which gave his bass a unique tone. There is some killer fretless sounds out there, I like Pino Palladino then there's Percy Jones, Mick Karn (RIP) etc...... Good luck with your project! Tony C.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: January 21 2011 at 16:06
clarkpegasus4001 wrote:
himtroy wrote:
So I'm thinking about making a fretless guitar. I'm planning on doing what I did the one and only other time I've made a guitar and make it with almost all Carvin parts. However I'm going to have to de-fret the neck. The purpose of this topic is to see if anybody sees any flaws in this...because I've been looking around and just wondering why fretless guitars hardly exist? I haven't put much thought into it yet, but I'm assuming the neck process would just be removing the frets and filling it with some kind of wood filler?
1. Yes I know personal made fretless guitars do exist on the internet.
2. Don't ask me why I would want a fretless guitar...why wouldn't I?
Jaco Pastorius removed his frets and filled the gaps with epoxy resin which gave his bass a unique tone. There is some killer fretless sounds out there, I like Pino Palladino then there's Percy Jones, Mick Karn (RIP) etc...... Good luck with your project! Tony C.
That is the approach I was originally planning on taking until the guy at Warmoth offered to take one of the necks that weren't finished and inlay the fret slots with mahogany. This seemed better as I've heard that even people with experience chip the fretboard a bit when removing the frets. Seeing as I've never worked on anything wood related at all that wouldn't end well.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: January 23 2011 at 12:51
And I keep re-staining the neck over and over and it just won't take. I've done this at least eight times. This is probably the most aggravating thing I've ever done (that position was previously held by making a lot of tape loops out of cassettes). Every time I load up the stain like it says to, then it says remove after no more than three minutes. At this point I'm breaking that and leaving it on for 30 minutes+, but still when I go to "wipe off the excess stain that hasn't soaked in" it all comes off and I'm left with blank wood with a little bit of stain catching in the same places each time.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: February 01 2011 at 12:55
Starhammer wrote:
Finish the neck with gunstock oil; that's the same material the guys at Ernie Ball/Music Man use to finish their instrument's necks.
I was considering it, but I actually have many guitars including one I previously made. That one had nothing but tung oil and a satin finish polyurethane on it (didn't know any better at the time) and It's actually my favorite feeling guitar. I just love the feel of really smooth wood in my hand.
I asked somebody about what they recommended and they started on with "well if you don't want to void our warranty" and I cut them off right there and said, it's a fretless neck, I completely reshaped the headstock and neck in every way, and I stained parts of it green. The warranty is long gone."
Thats me! No not really, but thats the best fretless video I've found. It helps that it's not distorted beyond belief and used in a shred kinda way (not a fan). Also he picks up an ebow which is similar to what I'll have going on with the sustainer pickups (works basically the same way).
Edited by himtroy - February 01 2011 at 12:58
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: February 04 2011 at 01:16
Here's how that is going, I've just finished the wood and put on the tuners. I really have no idea what I'm doing wiring a guitar other than switching out pickups and i bought that sustainer system, so I'm definitely having someone wire all the electronics. I have someone in mind that would do it for pretty cheap,though I'll obviously still pay them well. I'm very satisfied with how the body came out. To note, that hole where the control knobs would be isn't really going to be there at all, it's going to have to be made much larger for the sustainer panel. The panel is very badass because it's clear and you can see all the electronics inside.
If anyone is interested I'll get pictures of the neck. The fretless rosewood fretboard is pretty smooth looking.
Edited by himtroy - February 04 2011 at 01:19
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: February 04 2011 at 01:32
Proletariat wrote:
^^^
now i want one too... but I don't think I have the patience or skills to make one...
You could do it. Skills are irrelevant. I've NEVER done anything technical or worked with wood before this experience other than applying tung oil to a carvin kit that I had someone build me (was too young). I'm only 18 and any labor I've ever done was generic chores or generic jobs (movie theatre, restaurants). I was never taught anything about any such things either. A little research and finding a kit site (or just use Warmoth) is pretty simple and they send you EVERYTHING you need. Granted you'll most likely want someone experienced to do the wiring but if you or a friend can't do so then a local music store wouldn't charge much for such work. If finishing wood is you're worry then doing a clear Old English and Tung Oil finish is pretty damn hard to mess up and looks VERY nice.
Also you could always just order a fretless neck off Warmoth, you can find a neck to fit most standard guitars. If not just call and talk to them and theres a good chance they'll work it out. You also have to call when placing the order online about the neck being fretless, as it isn't an option on the site. All you'd have to do then is apply a clear coat of something (or paint/stain/whatever you want), put on the tuners (which I just did in twenty minutes) and screw it onto the body. My neck was done the most expensive way possible. I could have gone with a completely blank fretboard or one with inlays but no frets (so I could fill it with wood putty), but I took them up on the offer of a rosewood fretboard with mahogany inlays where the frets would be. This was essential because a blank neck would be absolutely ridiculous to play if you weren't experienced on a fretless guitar......which most of us aren't....Anyway, mine was $180 all neck related things included.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: March 15 2011 at 11:30
NecronCommander wrote:
Mmm, Warmoth necks are supposed to be nice. I want to see how this turns out.
'
Indeed the neck is absolutely amazing. Not even taking into account the fretless aspect, its just so thin and smooth to play on. I definitely prefer then to the Fender necks they are "imitating"
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
Joined: March 30 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1882
Posted: March 16 2011 at 17:34
himtroy wrote:
Proletariat wrote:
^^^
now i want one too... but I don't think I have the patience or skills to make one...
You could do it. Skills are irrelevant. I've NEVER done anything technical or worked with wood before this experience other than applying tung oil to a carvin kit that I had someone build me (was too young). I'm only 18 and any labor I've ever done was generic chores or generic jobs (movie theatre, restaurants). I was never taught anything about any such things either. A little research and finding a kit site (or just use Warmoth) is pretty simple and they send you EVERYTHING you need. Granted you'll most likely want someone experienced to do the wiring but if you or a friend can't do so then a local music store wouldn't charge much for such work. If finishing wood is you're worry then doing a clear Old English and Tung Oil finish is pretty damn hard to mess up and looks VERY nice.
Also you could always just order a fretless neck off Warmoth, you can find a neck to fit most standard guitars. If not just call and talk to them and theres a good chance they'll work it out. You also have to call when placing the order online about the neck being fretless, as it isn't an option on the site. All you'd have to do then is apply a clear coat of something (or paint/stain/whatever you want), put on the tuners (which I just did in twenty minutes) and screw it onto the body. My neck was done the most expensive way possible. I could have gone with a completely blank fretboard or one with inlays but no frets (so I could fill it with wood putty), but I took them up on the offer of a rosewood fretboard with mahogany inlays where the frets would be. This was essential because a blank neck would be absolutely ridiculous to play if you weren't experienced on a fretless guitar......which most of us aren't....Anyway, mine was $180 all neck related things included.
THanks for the ecouragement!!!
I would love to do this but im afraid im a poor starving student at the moment, and besides I need to restore the 1965 12 string (acoustic) Ultravox I inherited before I go and build a fretless guitar!
who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob
Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601
Posted: March 29 2011 at 19:04
NecronCommander wrote:
Wow. That looks pretty f*cking awesome. When can we hear a sound sample?
The track I posted in another thread has two very minimal fretless tracks. I recorded it with the intention of keeping it very ambient (Brian Eno?) and playing a "lead" over it with more fretless (as well as adding in other things). So you can hear it in the latter part of that, but I'll upload it soon with lead over it so the fretless is more prominent. A friend is currently borrowing my nicer mic.
Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.
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