Ok, this project is done (except the nut height, which can be even lower. And the new flats).
This is where I started:
This is where I ended up:
Changes:
- Made fretless. That was surprisingly easy!
- Changed terrible stock pickups to EMG GZR.
- Changed stock bridge to Fender Highmass
- Changed stock tuners to Gotoh GB707
- Installed Schaller S-Locks
- Replaced wood screws for neck/body connection to threaded inserts. That idea came from my travel bass mod at first, but I do it on all basses now. I feel that the body/neck connection is MUCH better that way…
Result:
- it sounds fantastic!!!
- it is much easier to play than I thought, but I could not get any fretless-specific sound from the d@mn thing! That’s of course due to my lack of technique…
- Nut height can be really really really low. If it’s too heigh, than “fret” #1 is hard to play.
Also:
- I replaced the pickup selection switch with the tone knob. For purists that might be unusual. For me it is the perfect position for the tone knob.
- I learned that putting neck vol, bridge vol and tone knobs on the control plate, by moving the output to a newly drilled hole on the side for my other two basses was TOTALLY STUPID and an unnecessary thing! Should have abused the PU selection switch for the other two basses too!
Next step:
- optimizing nut height
- finally put on my first ever flatwounds, yay!