Anyone know a Luthier who refrets Graphite Necks?

[HeadlessBassist]

Guys, Guys, listen...

 

We picked up a nice, but very oddly spec'd Status S2-Classic 5 today and we're looking to get the lined fretless neck fretted. Obviously most Luthiers won't even go near a graphite neck with a fret hammer, but if you know of a brave one with nerves of stainless steel (like his frets!), please do let me know!

 

 

 

 

[itu]

Is this a factory fretless? 

 

Has to be a short scale, because of the Bendwell. 

Edited 14 hours ago by itu

[HeadlessBassist]

It is a factory fretless, yes. So would be a very delicate job, I'd assume.

 

Yes, with the bend well it's a 32" scale as standard.

Edited 14 hours ago by HeadlessBassist

[Mokl]

What's the fingerboard material?

[itu]

Phenolic resin? 

[HeadlessBassist]

3 minutes ago, itu said:

Phenolic resin? 

 

Yes, it's a Phenolic Resin fingerboard.

[police squad]

have you asked Rob Green? you never know

[Mokl]

Would it be tangless frets and epoxy to glue them in? Sorry, this doesn't help you, I'm just interested!! 

 

I expect The Gallery could help.

[Hellzero]

Why not use (sell?) it as what it is? A fretless bass... and a very good one.

[godathunder]

I read a piece recently about refretting a parker fly, which has frets glued to a carbon fibre fingerboard. The luthier (tony thompson) glued a thin ebony veneer to the existing fingerboard and cut the frets into that. If the extra couple of mm of neck thickness isnt a problem for you, that could be a solution

[HeadlessBassist]

1 hour ago, police squad said:

have you asked Rob Green? you never know

 

Yes, we've already emailed Rob & Dawn - awaiting response...

 

Kiwi suggested Jon Shuker who apparently has experience, as well as Mike at Zoot & Simon at GUS. All avenues to be explored.  

Edited 1 hour ago by HeadlessBassist

[Beedster]

29 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Why not use (sell?) it as what it is? A fretless bass... and a very good one.

 

This ^

 

I can't speak for the effects of fretting a formerly fretless neck, but I've had basses that sang with a fretless neck and were comparatively lifeless when a fretted neck was installed (I like to chop and change necks). OK, the fact that it's both the original neck and that it's graphite reduces the risk somewhat, but I can't help feeling that Tony's advice is good advice 👍