I would buy, but then I am challenged with tools and wouldn’t trust myself to get it right. O might buy an old Squier and then buy an aftermarket fretless neck, that I could do, but filling in those holes for the fretwires? I would mess up.
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Ok, that would be a problem for future me. I don’t even know that guy 
I much rather have the Squier with the Ebonel fretboard. Want something a little more mellow then get the Fender Fretless replacement neck. Pau ferro
This is the only place where the fretboard materials determine the tone. It’s not subtle it’s in your face.
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I would trust myself because ANYTHING can be done that can be done. It’s a matter of learning and patience…
But again… Must make sense…
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That means buying fretless . Anything else, over 250€, is beyond budget.
Just self awareness. My patience doesn’t stretch that far. Yours might be better.
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I have learned patience the hard way : by being impatient
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Isn’t the choice here buy vs. buy and make? If you have to buy a bass to convert anyway, better to go with factory fretless IMO.
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Do what I did. Pick up some necks or really cheap strings instruments and start pulling frets. My education cost me a few Saturdays morning hunting yard sales and less than $50 worth used instruments then I just went to town.
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Good point 
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If you have the ear to play no lines and fretless, you probably should.
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I love frets, myself
Fretless… pretty uncommon in the genres I like.
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Not gonna lie, unlined Fretless is cool as hell. Not to mention that they are not all made equal. Some are quite intuitive and easy to intonate. It’s also like a right of passage too.
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Honestly, unless you have a real reason here (i.e. a specific song or usage in mind) this is probably one of those things that would be fun for a few days and then get shelved. Based on the genres you said you liked I can think of exactly one song that used a fretless bass (Glass Houses by Skinny Puppy, if your’e curious).
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@fennario
Dude! Are you in John Sugar? Apple TV series? You looks just like the guy who plays Stallings. Episode 3 check it out man.
I will send you the frets that I removed:-)
There are a few fretless songs I like, but that was not the reason for thinking about a fretless bass.
It is the intellectual and senso-motorical challenge.
Also, it is easier to play “fretted” on fretless than fretless on fretted - so I could just play the fretless as if it were a fretted bass - with the added benefit that I would develop more precision with fingering!?
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Yard sales are as american as apple pie - I like!
In Germany, unfortunately, people tend to throw away stuff. I cannot throw away stuff. I repair and collect. Until the pressure of my girlfriend gets to overwhelming and then I give away stuff…
So yard sales are no option.
I will ask Thomann though, if they have an old neck laying around for the Harley Benton MV-4MSB Gotoh.
If they do, I can use that.
As my main instrument will be a short scale, it might be a good idea to have a fretless short scale too, to transfer the memorized fret positions more easily…
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(Ten was a GREAT album!)
Many Japan / David Sylvian songs
Kate Bush
Some XTC
Police
Sade
Some Paul SImon stuff
Talk Talk?!
Primus, if I remember correctly
Thomas Dolby’s phantastic “Screen Kiss”
Bauhaus?
Puscifer (I always say Pussy Fire ^^)
And of course this unforgettable bass line:
Yeah, I know, Paul Young