itu

So this whole process takes something like an hour?

My uneducated guess is some connection desperately needing Deoxit. I would put cables to both FX loops, and if there are any other similar connections in the back (pre/power), put a cable there, too. If this doesn't help, the next place could be input jack solderings to the PCBA. After that the next steps would be all connections between boards, pots and so on. Deeper and deeper.

For me the difference has been the need to adjust the bridge height, while swapping from a set to another (GHS and D'Addario). Soundwise I cannot say anything reasonable: when changing an old set to a new one, the sounds are so different. But how about trying two new sets?

I have only owned two necks (and two Status bass copies), and I do agree. Quality stuff for a reasonable price. After all, compared to the old music instruments the prices are ridiculously low: I have been searching for a decent double bass for jazz gigs. A basic student bass costs the same amount of ££££ as a quality Status. Some £20000 is needed to a pro instrument. I don't have that many gigs.

I do not follow Fender or Yamaha or many other brands as they just do not fit me. That's why I didn't remember that it is a neck through. But my main point was that as it is a fine instrument, I would keep it as it is. Self made modification may be fine, but there are other possibilities, too. A skilled luthier can make a good fretless version of it. Same dimensions and everything, the playability between those two could be very interesting. And a good luthier may suggest some tiny modifications that support the fretless sound, too.

Thank you, I should've checked this. Yahaya isn't my favourite brand. A meeting with a luthier might still be an option. A copy of the original would be a nice addition. As my old bass teacher once said, it would be easiest to change from fretted to fretless, if both instruments were the same (meaning muscle memory etc.).

Do not. Do not de-fret it. Do not. Meet a luthier. Ask him/her to build you a fretless neck to the instrument. This will be a very good and valuable investment to the bass and to yourself. You shouldn't mess with a fine neck. You just need another. If you do (or do not) like the combination of the neck and the body, you can go back to the luthier and order a suitable body to the extra neck (be it fretted or fretless).

Check FX loop and other possible jacks at the same time.

You can use a good amount of IPA or similar solvent to clean the track, but you need to "oil" the track after that. Deoxit might do the trick. If you let the solvent get to the axle, you may lose the friction and let that grease reach the track.

@marcblum: Neither am I, but with my Passion... try it!

Bridge PU, push (OK, turn) bass to the max, cut treble a lot. Middle according to your personal taste. How does that sound?

...stolen from a g-word player.

Nd. They are small and powerful. My fretless has 4+4 neodymiums that are Ø 4 mm. You want to open the cavity, use a plectrum: