I have made up my mind. The bass that will become fretless is the Emerald Green. I feel that the Primas are more tonally balanced across the spectrum, whereas the Zs are richer in the highs and not so complex in the mids.

To be honest, I am more of a Mick Karn, or even Randy Coven fretless tone than Jaco, but I'm collecting opinions before I actually order a neck. We'll see what Master Chef Sheldon suggests

I personally would do it with a Z series. I've been thinking that a Z-2 would be nice with that double pickup in bridge position and the fact that you'd be using ash as a body wood. To me, the 'classic' sound we go for in a fretless gives you that nice attack and upper mid forward tone, and I'd think the Z-2 would do it. Now, on the other hand, I sometimes wonder if the dual pickup at the bridge is going to make your low end suffer when using either of the two pickup settings...but then I could be wrong.

I am only talking about replacing the neck. Sorry for not clarifying that. Still, having a neck replaced not by Sheldon is the "hack job". To be honest the person who will retro-fit the neck is a very competent person and is the only one that caters the needs of my herd ever since 1996. What I'd like to hear is: - First of all, which of the 12 Dingwalls should undergo the neck replacement surgery http://www.dingwallguitars.com/forum/vi ... .php?t=664 - Second, why you think of that bass having the neck replaced (eg the Z1 cause the ash body will give it a punchy sound too, or the 6str to have a whole different range and more balance sound). Or even tell me which one you would not touch and why. -Third, what kind of a neck would you choose and why (lined of course)? A 21, a 22 or a 24 fret? what fingerboard? etc PS no AB II in the herd yet

[quote="fullrangebass":3h880qex] Which of the 12 Dingwalls should be the one to take the hack job??? [/quote:3h880qex] hack job and dingwall just doesn't go together, i vote for the new neck too....

[quote="fullrangebass":bf02w1c9]I have been thinking of converting one of my fretted Dingwalls into a fretless (lined of course). So here is the question: Which of the 12 Dingwalls should be the one to take the hack job??? Please explain which one, why and what changes you suggest (eg placing FD1's, having a maple/ wenge neck, 21 frets unlined etc etc). feel free to speak your minds[/quote:bf02w1c9] +1, Funk. At probably $1000 or more for a Dingwall neck, it is tempting to yank the frets out of an existing one, but I would just opt for a new one. You could always sell the old one to recoup some of the cost. Mark

Can you list all your basses Fullrange? I would suggest if you have an ABII-5 you purchase a replacement neck and just change it out. I think Sheldon has a Jatoba fretless neck with white plastic lines. You will love the sound of a fretless DW.