Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Today I decided to rip the frets out of one of my basses. This one.
http://alembic.com/club/messages/402/7088.jpg

Actually, I didn't rip the frets out, I carefully cut through the finish on the fingerboard using a Stanley knife and then using a little wooden hammer and a flat chisel, popped the frets out. After doing so I filled the slots with two component filler and waited until it dried, I then sanded the fingerboard, removing both the residue of the filler and the clear coat that was on the fingerboard. Then I fine sanded the board before applying several layers of linseed oil and presto I had myself a fretless bass.

My Ricky Re-think has a very fat neck, so judging from my experiences from working with Double basses I had a really good feeling about how this one would sound when turned into a fretless and I was right, it has a very deep Double bass-like growl and the all maple body makes for good sustain.

All I need to do now is buy some good flatwound strings. Any good suggestions from you guys?

D'Addario Chromes flatwound strings seem to get many thumbs up on this forum and I've just found out why. Give them a try.

Read the "Got A Set Of D'Addario Chromes" thread.

Will the inlays hold up to the strings?

I am using La Bella on my fretless and 4001 and they sound great. Just like roundwounds. Lots of punch and the characteristic Ric growl.

i'd recommend thomastick infeld jazz flats.

i always use roundwounds on all my basses except for the 67 coronado i used to have...usually rotosound rs swing bass nickels..the ones on her now..all my basses are fretless too

Pyramid Golds (tetrahedons) sound really good also, they give a big sound, are a little cumbersome if you're a doodler though, TI's are nice for doodling and solo work but are kind of middy and they lose their brightness quickly if that's what you're after. I'm an upright player also.

Pyramid Golds (tetrahedons) sound really good also, they give a big sound, are a little cumbersome if you're a doodler though, TI's are nice for doodling and solo work but are kind of middy and they lose their brightness quickly if that's what you're after. I'm an upright player also.

I like the Chromes the best. GHS Flats aren't too bad either, and Rotosound flats are nice if you can get a good set.

Bob, seems like you and I are a couple of the only ones who sing the praises of Pyramid flats. Maybe it's the price tag that turns people off. Well worth it to me. They last forever and sound better with age. I've had the same set on my T-45 for 2 years now.

I've had the same set of Pyramid flats on my 4003 since June 2002! I love them, but the price has me considering Chromes.

I've tried and liked the Thomastik flats, but love the D'Addario

Did you ever consider Tapewounds?
I currently use them and was suprised with
the sound and playability.
Of course I never learned to spelt correctly
using them.

Well after playing my de-fretted "Ricky re-think" for a couple of days, I decided that I don't need flatwounds after all, the D'addario slowwound set it has for almost three years and counting feels really good and if I turn the tone pot a little down I still get that lovely "Mwaaah" fretless basses are known for.

I'm really re-inventing my bass playing right now, I play guitar in a metal band but to keep myself on my toes, I play bass and my fretless enables me to learn how to play those fabulous lines of Paul Webb of Talk Talk who is one of my favorite bassplayers ever.

Glad to hear that.Stick with it but never be afraid
to try something diffrent.
bill