I had a request by a client for a fretless guitar w specific thematics artistically, and possibly additional mods/options added on after the conversion to fretless (depending on how much it was going to cost him at that point).
It wasnt easy or simple to get done well and right-so I thought Id post the method I developed to hopefully save other people some effort.
This is the finished project (just fretless, the possible later additions hadnt been done at this point):
Note:-be very careful when doing this, especially if you hve a nicer guitar that has a softwood fretboard like rosewood (what I had here). Its very easy to scar the fretboard and the more stuff you have to fix and fill, the harder it is to end up with a proper slick fretboard.
The method I evolved used a small jewler's flathead screwdriver and small hammer. Carefully whack the screwdriver under the fret's top ridge on one of the sides of the neck (top or bottom),
Step 2: Fill the frets
Used MINWAX WOOD PUTTY to fill the fret holes left over after removing the fret wires. This is a multi-step process. First, you put some in the hole and tamp it down using your finger or some other tool. Then you leave it to dry or expand..whatever..for a couple hours. Then you use a scraper or plastic credit card to scrape off any excess outside the holes. Make sure to also fillany scars or dents made before or during the removal process.
You can stop here if you're not painting..but I was..so
Step 3 : Paint your design
First, sand the previous finish off. Then, I laid down a coat or two of primer. Then I painted the dsigns on the 2 guitars I was doing this to.
Step 4: Polyurethane
I used abut 8 coats of it. Made a nice, thick finish that would protect the wood and allows for smooth sliding up and down the scale (the purpose of fretless guitars I think). After they all dried, I waxed, polished and finely sanded.
Then ended up with finished fretless customs:
