Fretless Bass Conversion...Cyanoacrylate Super Glue Finish

Рет қаралды 4,160

3 ай бұрын

Took my Sterling by Music Man RAY34 bass that is fretted and took the frets off and then did a CA (cyanoacrylate super glue) finish.
I had come across a few videos of these techniques on You Tube and decided to try my hand at it. Had been trying to sell this bass before so after a month on the market I took it off and decided to keep it. Then thought "I should make this a fretless bass~)
I have now entered another facet of my 18 month bass journey.
Shug

Пікірлер: 157

@RhodySeth 3 ай бұрын

Lot of treasures there in that Shug Workshop. Truly you are a man of many talents. The fretless Music Man sounds great! Mayhap I'll try something similar with mine...

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I do have a lot of good memories all over in the Nut Hut. I'f you do a fret job good fret pullers really helped. I got a pair at Stew Mac. But there are other techniques on You Tube ...of course.

@JasumZ 3 ай бұрын

Wow! I'm amazed at how well that turned out, and even more impressive that it was your first time. She looks great and sounds fantastic!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I was too. When it glossed up after buffing I was so happy I took this on. Not a perfect job but since it is just for me I'm satisfied. Thank you.

@EverydayKindaGuy 3 ай бұрын

Nice looking conversion. I like that you didn't fill or use a dark filler material, still gives you a visual representation of where you're fingering.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I need to know where the frets would be as I'm less than 2 years into the bass.

@kat.p.b.5193 3 ай бұрын

man, that is a beautiful instrument, sounds good and looks like fun to play...always fun to see the nut hut 😻 the world is exciting with lots of different interests! so cool!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking it out Kat.....

@mat-ventures 3 ай бұрын

Really interesting process! Almost therapeutic! :) The result is beautiful! Great job, Shug!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

It very much was therapeutic for me!!!

@kimrice394 3 ай бұрын

I would have never tried this til you made it look doable. Cheers.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Try it. It was a fun and satisfying project. I hope to do it again someday.

@joehorton01 3 ай бұрын

Ol shug. A man of many hats

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I like hats. I have hats. Many hats.

@MrSnmpsniffer 3 ай бұрын

Nice!! Looks like a cool project!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

It was very satisfying to do. Thankee.

@notice_fpv 12 күн бұрын

Nice! Loved the jam at the end, too!

@shugemery 12 күн бұрын

Thanks and thankee....

@terryboehler5752 3 ай бұрын

Made a bass fretless for my son. Worked fine. All he ever wanted to be was a bass player and a basketball player. Two areas where, as a Dad, i had ZERO skills or knowledge. He is 35 now and has maintained the course as a bass player. Its taken him to places I've never seen. Across the Atlantic even. The basketball thing he let go away. Now he works out diligently. Very disciplined.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

That is really wonderful that you invested in your son's bass dream and he took it and is seeing the world. This comment made my day. Art takes discipline. Weeds the posers out. You seem a top notch Dad.

@cgriggsiv 3 ай бұрын

Can't wait to hear what it sounds like when it's finished

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

There are clips of me playing it at the end.....

@cgriggsiv 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery Yes I heard that that sounds really good

@marinamile 2 ай бұрын

Having dabbled in some similar guitar projects, this was very cool to watch. Looks awesome and your playing has really gotten good. cheers!!

@shugemery 2 ай бұрын

A very satisfying project to do. And to film a bit. Thank you on the playing. I do enjoy it.

@stephen.mcguire 3 ай бұрын

I've never played an instrument and I think that's been a benefit to my family over the years. Instruments are really cool but when you said fretless bass I'd no clue as to what you were talking about. Glad I watched, though I'd be no judge of how it came out other than it looks pretty darn cool. :)

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee Stephen.

@ekhaat 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful job

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee!

@armanger6254 3 ай бұрын

a page out of Jaco's repertoire... sounds great.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Yessir. I met Jaco once. He would sneak into the back door at Ringling Brothers when we played there in 1982. He came straight to us clowns. He told us he was Jaco. Never said that he was a bass player or anything like that. I figured it out though. Our performance directed banished him after a few days. What a cool thing to have experienced. He was a pretty good juggler and could do a handstand.

@ianandrewdonnelly6507 3 ай бұрын

Remarkable. Top job. Ian

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee. It is not perfect but came out better than I thought it might for this old half-asser!

@CampfireTalk 3 ай бұрын

ASMR Shug video...the best turned out great!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed doing this video. Partial-ASMR.

@kevshelley 3 ай бұрын

What a great, peaceful project Shug. Sounds great, those extra coats and patience definitely paid off! ✌🏼🎸☕️

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thanks. I had so much fun putting the coats on. Glad it paid off. The tone of that bass is so different now.

@jimhendrix7566 3 ай бұрын

Pretty dang cool Shug. Nice work. Maybe one day we'll see Bass by Shug in a store near you! 😂

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

My new side hustle.....

@TomTheTaxPayer 3 ай бұрын

That was so cool!! Nice craftmanship!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Appreciate it Tom.

@outdoorwally8430 3 ай бұрын

Pretty cool👍

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee.

@barondavis5692 3 ай бұрын

Nice work Shug.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly Baron.

@kevchard5214 3 ай бұрын

Shug a little trick you may want to try is use a tuner to determine where on the fret is in tune. Remember you removed the set location for each note but frets are never perfect in the first place for each string but with a fretless you can fine tune your sound. Good choice to remove the frets. Fretless is great for jazz.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Getting used to the feel. I am smitten with it. Lots to learn but the finger roll helps with pitch. The project was very satisfying.

@kevchard5214 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery I prefer fretless, for me it allows more nuance with playing. I have a Ibanez fretless I have played Jazz on for around 30 years and still learning tricks every time I pick it up. Welcome to the never ending wonder of the Bass. P. S. your slaps are getting much better.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

@@kevchard5214 It is tougher slapping a fretless with those tape wounds! Had to slapp 'er with vigor! Thankee. Wish I had discovered my bass love long ago but it is perfect for my life right now. The only way to be new at something is too take up something new. Here is to Nuance.

@kevchard5214 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery Its never too late to try something new I always say.

@defiantly_emily 3 ай бұрын

As someone who’s first instrument was fretless (cello), it has been a real adjustment to switch to fretted instruments (mandolin and banjo). This might be a fun project to turn a mando fretless. Thanks, Shug!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Fretless mando.........hmmmmm. I've never seen one. But.....wait a minute....kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mahpdL1hsdO0Y2w.htmlsi=nEjZCE-rzYOjNFYx

@defiantly_emily 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery hmm no disrespect to the person who put that video together. But it seems like they are already opposed to the idea and unwilling to hear the potential there. I really liked how that fretless mando sounded. Did it sound like a mando? … somewhat but it definitely was missing something (frets maybe? 😁) Thanks for finding and sharing. Edit: probably won’t be taking the frets off my starter mando anytime soon.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

@@defiantly_emily I think my mando will keep it's frets. I did not love the sound of it. Maybe just his playing.

@ForrestThump 3 ай бұрын

Looks awesome sir! Sounds great too! Your playing is inspiring!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thank you. It brings joy. Joy is my calling card~~

@bobmillerick300 3 ай бұрын

Very nice sir. 😎 Play those blues

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee Bob. It was not far removed from building a control line plane.

@bobmillerick300 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery Very true as Ukie season will soon be in full bloom. Wooo Buddyyy

@cbluebeard 3 ай бұрын

Now you can get into the Michael Manring stuff!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I'll have to look him up//////

@cbluebeard 3 ай бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/et9df6aovb_aoKM.htmlsi=9AuhZWRR4jaVf_s1

@johnphillips3526 3 ай бұрын

Pretty soon you’ll be like Guy Clark, and make your own guitars. You could call them Sector 7 Guitars. Well done!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Funny. I do want to make one. They sell kits. That would be a fun start.

@VIandVII_VIIIths 3 ай бұрын

The Title had me thinking that this would be about using glue to change the behavior of an overconfident fish. The actual video was much more interesting. Thank you much!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Though I would like to see the video of the overconfident fish getting a glue conversion~~!!!

@ckyrooster 3 ай бұрын

Noyce! Looks and sounds good!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thanks a ton and a bunch and a whole lot.

@steves9522 3 ай бұрын

I think Shug should play a variant of Wolverine in the new Deadpool movie, the mutton chops are top shelf!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Maybe the Olden Badger......

@daviddevine1757 3 ай бұрын

Thats a fine job shug..

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee. And a very fun project.

@armanger6254 3 ай бұрын

I have quite a few fretless basses to include a JP fender vintage. I did this once on a jazz bass neck but did not use cyanoacrylate, I used epoxy with denatured alcohol mix and a heat gun to keep the bubbles out. It's great, but dang, the strings will eat the neck up over time. I wish i had used CA for the coating. Looks good Sean! And yes, i saw Jaco at the SB county bowl for shadows and light tour with Joni Mitchell. Long time ago!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

You are a fretless guy! Ahhhh That must have been a great concert and what a memory to have. I'm using smooth strings on my fretless. They say round wounds chew up a fretless fingerboard. Jaco used round wounds.

@yobentley7274 3 ай бұрын

Very ambitious.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

It was a soothing project actually. Pulling frets was the scariest part but once I did one it was on.

@Bluegrassified 3 ай бұрын

I am a fellow hammocker who is also a mandolin and guitar player, but I also play a fretless bass. I bought an Ibanez SR Bass Workshop Fretless! Love it. I still have an Ibanez 5 string fretted and my Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray fretted basses. Good luck with this project and your continuing bass journey! This is quite an undertaking. I have considered it. You may inspire me to convert my 5 string to fretless!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I proper fret puller helped a lot. Got mine at Stew Mac....www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/pullers-nippers-sizing/fret-puller/

@TerryC69 3 ай бұрын

Hi Shug! Neighbor, y'all lit into that job like you knew what you were up to. Looks great!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I studied up and dove in. Was not really as hard as I thought it might be. Thankee.

@martintvingsholm 3 ай бұрын

…flot resultat Mr. Emery 👌🏻💪🏻

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Tak skal du have~~

@rebeccasilveous8898 3 ай бұрын

Oh my gosh Sean. Is there anything that you can't do? To take a guitar and remove the metal frets and then make it fretless is just outstanding. What a task and you made it look easy. And it plays like a dream. I bet you're not going to sell it now. That's for sure!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I watched a few videos and said I best just dive in and try. Was not really as difficult as one might think. If I can build a control line airplane I knew I could do this. Loving playing it. Thankee Rebecca

@christianfoster3806 3 ай бұрын

Having done this a few times, I'd recommend applying a few coats of CA glue, and using a leveling beam to level it.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Noted for next time. Cheers

@nute923 3 ай бұрын

On top of everything else, now you're a luthier too? Renaissance man!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Just a dabbler. I do find it interesting. Might become a side hustle! I watched a few videos and said I best just dive in and try. Was not really as difficult as one might think. If I can build a control line airplane I knew I could do this.

@CrownJewelzMusicGroup 3 ай бұрын

Looks badass bro u got skillz

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Mucho appreciato Crown

@CrownJewelzMusicGroup 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery bro do fancy doin a bassline or 2 in the future if i send you the beats without bassline

@ChrisChiappini 3 ай бұрын

Good Shug! The Chicken sounded great!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thank so much Chris. How goes the juggling life??? Still tossing?

@ChrisChiappini 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery eh zero juggling, but I’ll be teching for my magic friend at the Steele County MN fair this summer again!

@mat-ventures 3 ай бұрын

I really love the miniature set at 2:16 ! WOW

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

A guy carved that of Hickery and I.

@uptrail7169 3 ай бұрын

Nice project and it sounds good. My mother passed away last night and it's been hard on me. Your videos always lift me up.😀

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

My condolences to you in this tough and sad time. Never easy losing Mom. peace.

@garyhyett1265 3 ай бұрын

Tony Levin would be proud of you...!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I was thinking of him the whole time….

@ToddStull 3 ай бұрын

That bass needs a maple burl pick guard with a shug logo inlay with walnut veneer.. right in that space in front of the pickup. That'd make'r super custom 👌

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Yes....oh yes it does. That project may beyond my skills.

@mikenewren6847 3 ай бұрын

Damn shug you never cease to amaze me. Your the reason i started hiking, i appreciate good coffee and now your a luther... man of my own heart!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Whooooo Buddy))) Mike. Do you play?

@browsman2328 3 ай бұрын

Jack Bruce would be proud of you.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I do seek Jack's approval~~ Ginger's approval is very hard to get.

@browsman2328 3 ай бұрын

Unfortunately both of them have passed on and yes Ginger could be a little ornery but he was Scottish which might explain that.

@joesneon 3 ай бұрын

Playing fretless will truly refine your ear.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I'm hoping so. Just feels and sounds so different. Smitten with it.

@joesneon 3 ай бұрын

Whoo Buddy!! I have made many 3 string fretted cigar box guitars. I recently became fretless myself, I inherited my mothers 270 year old German violin! Because I play the mandolin I play my fiddle with my eyes closed. Three months at it and love the fiddle!! Do you have one! I really enjoyed this video!! Thanks Shug, Joe

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

That is cool Joe. I don't have a fiddle. All in the bowing hand right?

@joesneon 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery Yep!

@ergot57 3 ай бұрын

Well done. I can't help but wonder what a ballad sung by carl while accompanying himself on bass would sound like. I mean that is a purty bass.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Karl has to learn to sing while playing.......soundcloud.com/seanemery2/karl-childers-sings-here-we-come-a-caroling?in=seanemery2/sets/seans-plays-songs&si=bd2b6a2e91f64e2ba19af615433d8c79&

@ergot57 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery LOL Thanks

@02wrxRally 3 ай бұрын

for RC models I used to make fiberglass pieces using CA instead of epoxy and would use a plastic bag or cling film over my finger or the part to smooth the CA. Doesn't stick to the zip lock bag material.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

So you don't have a need to chew the CA off of your fingertips!

@anna.okelani 2 ай бұрын

You did such a great job on it ! Wow I'm looking to turn a vintage jazz bass into a fretless , that has block fret marks on the fretboard. How would you go about that? Thank you !

@shugemery 2 ай бұрын

Thank you. Were it me I'd just leave the blocks on like I did the round fret markers on mine. Also since you say the bass is "vintage" you could order a fretless neck perhaps. reverb.com/marketplace?query=fretless%20bass%20neck&product_type=parts

@russhay422 3 ай бұрын

In 1989 I was 10 years old. What a fun project!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Wow....I was 31~ And yes the project was satisfying for sure.

@Suppplex 3 ай бұрын

What about that ambidextrous knife handling at 00:52? Whoo buddy!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Jugglers use both and relish dangerous objects.

@padude131 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful job! I just hope you didn't "fret" on any mistakes you might have made!! I didn't see any! Woo buddy!!

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Thankee Pa......fret not I say.

@jrreed6992 3 ай бұрын

Shug the Luthier.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I am dabbling. Maybe a side hustle someday.

@joelrussell1662 3 ай бұрын

Shug have you ever listened to the song “ Please do not go” by the Violent Femmes? Great heavy bass driven song w/ amazing solo. Check it out dude.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I had to look that up. Yes, great bass line. He seems to play an acoustic type bass. Always heard of that band but really never listened. Thankee....

@flawless_royal4056 Ай бұрын

If I just pull the frets and throw the strings on would it work?

@shugemery Ай бұрын

I think it would work more or less. Not sure how well as I never tried it.

@mat-ventures 3 ай бұрын

At 2:09 Was it Medaglia D'oro ?

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Actually espresso and hot water...Americano.

@djolemadzarevic 3 күн бұрын

Thank you for this video. Lucky you didn't sell that bass. It turned out very well in the end. What is the experience with the CA coating after three months? Is it hard enough that there are no wire marks on it? And, I know it's too late for you, but maybe for someone else. You can save a little time and effort with this trick: don't pull out the frets, just sand them down to the level of the fretboard. That way, you'll have the space filled, and you'll have a mark where the note is. Further, everything goes like in this video.

@shugemery 3 күн бұрын

It has held up very well. No string marks that I can see. I do tend to play my fretted bass more but feel I will grow into fretless as my bass journey continues. Thanks.

@djolemadzarevic 3 күн бұрын

@@shugemery Thank you. Cheers!

@shugemery 3 күн бұрын

@@djolemadzarevic I do have tape wound strings on it though. Very smooth strings.

@djolemadzarevic 3 күн бұрын

@@shugemery They sound really good. And even for playing, it wouldn't be said that it's only two years :)

@shugemery 3 күн бұрын

@@djolemadzarevic It will be 2 years in December. I am truly enjoying the bass. My mandolin has to plead with me to playin. Thankee.

@elliotwilliams7421 3 ай бұрын

Great video mate.......Buy a vice 😂

@elliotwilliams7421 3 ай бұрын

End result is beautiful mate. I just spent the weekend sanding and oiling my chopping boards, kitchen utensils and axe handle. Its the simple things

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

I have a vice or two. Bad habits. But I do have a vise.... Old metal one. Someday a wood clamp vise.

@shugemery 3 ай бұрын

Oiling wood is very satisfying isn't it. Funny...I just lemon oiled out dining table and a side table. They look so good and drank in the lemon oil. Thankee....

@elliotwilliams7421 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery hahaha bugger off. How did the bass play? did you enjoy fretless? I do not know what it is about wood working, simple things for simple people.

@elliotwilliams7421 3 ай бұрын

@@shugemery Scalloped neck next?