Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi!

What problems will I encounter if I have the frets of my 4003 removed? Any problems with the pitch, sound or overall playability of the bass???

I mean, technically speaking, the frets are the only difference between a 4003 and 4003fl, but I heard a bassist who had removed the frets of his 80's 4003bg saying it was the biggest mistake of his life...

Why don't you just buy a 4003FL, you'll ruin the resale value if nothing else, also the side dots will be in the wrong place. FL's also have dots instead of triangular inlays which may eventually cause trouble as sometimes they lift a little.

If the fret slots are not filled with wood or another rigid material the neck will develop serious up-bow. The open fret slots will act as kerfing allowing the neck to curve and twist beyond playabilty. Second, the triangle inlays are made of resin and will wear out pretty quickly if the strings are pressed agaist them.

"also the side dots will be in the wrong place"

I have a '04 4003FL and all the dots, the ones on the fingerboard and the side dots, are placed just like they would be on a fretted 4003! It is a bit disorienting at times so I do not gig with it much. My Zon has the side dots in the correct positions and my Rick Turner fretless has fret lines so that too, is not an issue.

Plus, after you do all the work required to make it right, and the loss in value of the modified instrument, you will be ahead just buying an FL.
Don't do it.

BTW, except for the dot position issue, I LOVE my FL!

I've heard that before Jeffrey, if my BB FL comes like that I'll have it modified somehow, that will drive me nuts.

My '75 4001FL has the dots in the right positions.

Send 'em to Paul/Dale to get fret lines added.

My Pedulla Buzz came with fret lines and side dots at their normal (fretted-style) positions. I find the lines on the fingerboard face annoying and distracting after 30 years of playing a bass with nothing more than a few side dots at the fret positions. It looks like a fretted bass, so you have to fight the natural tendency to play behind the lines, as you would with frets, and instead, play right on top of them to get the intonation right. One thing which is handy though is that the fret lines wrap around onto the sides of the fingerboard which gives both fret-style side dots and side marks at each fret position. If I had a fretless bass with fretted-style side dots, I might have somebody mark the actual fret positions with little epoxy-filled tick lines to eliminate the confusion.

"If I had a fretless bass with fretted-style side dots, I might have somebody mark the actual fret positions with little epoxy-filled tick lines to eliminate the confusion"

Dale, Paul, Ted?

That is doable. You could also replace the binding (if any) with a piece that has the desired markers.

I'd consider replacing the fingerboard too, with a plain bubinga board. And adding checker binding and walnut wings!

Don't they still make fretless overlays?

I swear "back in the day" I guy I knew had a 4001 that he used an overlay. He could take it off when he played in his rock band, and put it on when he played Jazz.

I don't know if I'd actually go for the full overhaul of having the frets removed when there are other avenues to get that sound.