Fretless Bass Mod - Firefly Bass - CA Glue Finish - Pickup Fail

Keith does bunch of firsts. He modifies the $169 Firefly Bass into a Fretless Bass and also attempts to install some Active Pickups from GuitarFetish.com... Things don't go as planned...
Link to original review of the Bass - • $169 Firefly PJ Bass -...
Time Stamps:
Intro / Mod Plan - 0:00
Fretless Mod - 3:32
Active Pick Install - 6:38
Something's Not Right - 8:35
Onward /Demo - 9:35
Outro / Wrap Up / Learns - 11:10
Keith Leedham is an independent recording artists/studio owner/tinkerer.
He owns "The Tape Farm" a recording studio that specializes in transferring "pro-sumer" analog tape formats from manufactures like Tascam and Fostex.
Website: www.thetapefarm.com
Facebook: / thetapefarm
As an independent recording artists Keith has released singles, EPs and full length albums. With styles ranging from Progressive Rock to Country to Singer/Songwriter to Hard Rock to what ever the song dictates.
Website: www.keithleedham.com
He also tinkers with various audio equipment such as tape machines, guitars and guitar amps. When he comes across something interesting he posts the progress/results on KZbin.

[@hushpuppykl]

Great job on the fingerboard! 10 coats ... its awesome!

[@pacoruizserrano]

Great video, thanks!

[@garysanders4310]

If you are still wanting active pickups, try EMGs. Never had any issues, and there is no soldering. All the components plug in.

[@kevmac1230]

EMGs are great but I think he needs a preamp with a battery.I never heard of active pups without a battery.

[@mangofactory.mp4]

​@@kevmac1230I have a 5 string jazz that I bought used with EMGs thats wired "passive". It has a 9v to boost the pickups and traditional vol-vol-tone controls like a passive bass, but it still has a "preamp" or sorts.

[@kevmac1230]

@@mangofactory.mp4 I do too.I just count anything with a battery kinda like a preamp.

[@LightWingStudios]

As usual Keith..."Good Stuff!"

[@paulb583]

But I bet that maybe Jaco's Bass could have possibly had a few chip outs too know one had ever taken the frets out of a Fender Jazz Bass because I'm sure they were pretty expensive back in the day 🧐👍😎 just saying " I like the finish on that neck 👍👍💯

[@RobKMusic]

Store some picks in the battery compartment. LOL

[@TheTapeFarm]

Well played.

[@azbababooey]

The string spacing looks off, could be the angle on the guitar, but looks weird. Nice work, makes me want to make an inexpensive fret less!

[@TheTapeFarm]

I have been playing with the neck angle. I still don’t think I have right just yet. Since this really is a learning process I’m sure there will be changes along the way. The whole geometry of the neck might need tweaking. For example, I’ve been thinking that maybe the neck needs to be raised slightly. Since the frets are gone, now the actual playing surface has been lowered. Still a work in progress…. Much like myself.

[@curtisbentzen3176]

Try the emg geezer butler pj set

[@TheTapeFarm]

Put the EMG GZRs in this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raXEgJaXqdOIqbcsi=MOKW_tJlXgsNb6yq Liked them so much I put them in my P Bass as well.

[@cavacass]

The thing about passive VS active is ... pre amp... I can't understand what is a active pickup without thinking in a Passive PUp with pre amp integrated..... so... any passive pickup could be part of a active bass guitar! I would run from that type of Active pickups.. can't think of any pros of that all-in-one package except space confinement. The symptom you show with P split PUp take me to a Out of phase... I would try to switch ground with hot cable in P pickup.. just a chance it could work. And with de battery compartment, now you could implant in that bass, something 9V powered... some leds, simple effect (pre amp, booster, etc..)... mods are infinite.. use your creativity.. (jaco fretless? He used some effects.. chorus... 😅 ) Have fun with it

[@garysanders4310]

Question, I am thinking about removing the frets from my 5 string jazz bass. The tool you use, how expensive was it, and in your own opinion, do I really need to spend almost $60.00 for the Stew Mack one?

[@TheTapeFarm]

It was $25 I think. And no, you don’t need to spend StewMac prices on pretty much anything.

[@garysanders4310]

@@TheTapeFarm cool, thank you.

[@gabedestellano]

i did my bass in 20 mins with an exacto blade that i dulled with my sander. dont buy a tool... my chipout was less than this guys. also, nobody uses glue. no need to heat unless its pre 1990. even then, chances are theyre only pressed in

[@gabedestellano]

if u buy a tool, buy a cheap thin fret cutting saw. first, pull ur frets. then fill with woodfiller, then stain so it all matches, (sand flat first) then after its hardened go back and score a thin line with the saw where ur frets were, (good idea to mark them on back of neck) refill, sand, dont stain, cover with ca glue. done and itll be flawless, fret lines will be color of filler so u can experiment too

[@garysanders4310]

On that CA glue, is there a specific kind, or are they pretty much the same?

[@TheTapeFarm]

I used stuff I got at Harbor Frieght… so….. yeah pretty much all the same.

[@garysanders4310]

@@TheTapeFarm cool, thank you again.

[@johnpatitucci7919]

I would have recentered the strings on that neck.

[@TheTapeFarm]

Good call!

[@josephzummo9685]

Guitar fetish is hit or miss. Awful customer service so good luck with that. Their guitars are total crap. They're good for knobs, pick guard stuff. The rest is Chinese trash with no quality control. They really do sell stuff that other companies reject. The harbor freight of guitar websites

[@TheTapeFarm]

Harbor Freight for guitars… that’s a good description.