Epoxy on fretless

I'm out of work do to kidney surgery([kidney cancer] My story this... whole month by Heat - TribalWar Forums (http://www.tribalwar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573598)) and am putting a clear epoxy finish on the fretboard of my fretless bass. I'm trying to get a better "mwah" fretless sound. It's has a rosewood fretboard with maple inlaid fret markers. The rosewood doesn't give as good of sustain as other fretlesses.

The bass is a Yamaha RBX800AF 4 string. Active EQ circa early 90's. It's black w/black hardware. I run round wound strings.

There is a pic of one for sale on this page Yamaha RBX800AF Fretless Bass (http://washingtondc.craigslist.o rg/nva/msg/1005784659.html)

Any thoughts before hand? It's a fairly common procedure and everyone who had done it seems very pleased.

I wax mine.
No, I shit you not.

Description:
BUTCHERS BOWLING ALLEY
CLEAR PASTE WAX
1 lb.
Cleans as it waxes, easy
buffing

What is your fretboard made of? Does it already have a finish?

I only hope it would turn out like this
http://www.woodwiz.com/epoxy/testimonials.html

So far so good. I took pics along the way and here are a few.

Started like this...

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass1.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass2.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass3.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass4.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass5.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass6.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass7.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass8.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass9.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass10.jpg

Looks gorgeous, if it stays that way.

It still had a couple rough spots and the break where I removed the masking needed smoothing.

Sanded with 600 grit. Going to recoat and polish edges.

What is your fretboard made of? Does it already have a finish?

I only hope it would turn out like this
HG Thor Epoxy Fretless Testimonials (http://www.woodwiz.com/epoxy/testimonials.html)

Rosewood, nothing but pore filled and sanded.
It's a "faded."


Yours looks sweet!
Nice work.

But wtf is a dust free environment?

No such place here. The kids came home from school and I didn't have it covered. A hair got in it. Now I have to sand again and recoat. :(

Heat, how'd the neck turn out?

It turned out great. I was able to peel the first coat off and redo it. At first I was worried the epoxy wouldn't get rock hard but it did. It did improve the sound too. It's got more "mwaa" sound now. I only had flatwound strings to put back on it but will be going back to round which will sound better to me.

I took the body apart and polished it too. I also cleaned all the routings from dirt and dust. That overly complicated bridge it has needed cleaning too.

Some fretless basses have a fretboard made of "ebonol" and those have that hard finish with the same sound.

Time for some pics, then.

I would seriously consider buying a cheapo neck and trying this for my bass...or even a guitar neck.

Looks very cool... This may be a stupid question but, would the finish scratch by the strings?

Post pics!

The fretboard does get some small scratches but most rub off. What's left should polish off with a little compound. I found the epoxy to be easy to polish.

The hardest part to all of this was dealing with the edge left behind when you remove the masking. I was able to polish it down after a day or so before the epoxy fully hardened.

Here are some pics.


http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass11.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass12.jpg

http://www.bamapride.com/bass/bass13.jpg

Nice!