guitarjong

Having just suffered a very bad case of gas for a fretless. I've just bought (about 6 weeks ago) a Pro Series Fretless Ash Corvette, the passive model, from Thomann. It is B stock, but not a mark on it. My budget wasn't particularly large, and I was really looking at Squier's and Vintage instruments. Then noticed the Warwick on Thomann. It ended up costing me very comfortably under £400, including credit card fees on the Euro to Pound conversion. The quality of the bass is very good, even more so when the price is considered. Do I care about country or origin? Not at all. These Pro Series instruments are in limited supply. I say grab one before Thomann sells out. It is nearly Christmas after all....:-)

Just looked and the credit card company have charged me £3. So I am into it for £380, bargain really. I took a few days deciding to pull the trigger or not, but came to the conclusion that Thomann have the 30 day money back thing, so it was worth doing. I have the cash saved up, and I want a fretless anyway. I'd say go for it, if you can afford it. These basses are now discontinued, so the deal won't be around for ever. I missed out on a violin yellow PS Corvette by waiting. I know about the "wait for a used German instrument to pop up here or on EBay" argument. But I don't think they go as low as I am paying. From what I've read, these Pro Series instruments are the same as the German production ones, just assembled in Korea.

Yes, I'm not sure what the full RRP of these basses was, but the Thomann indicated price in pounds sterling was £377. I guess my credit card company will hit me a bit with their exchange rate and charges, but even then it should still look very good.

[quote name='Srwu' timestamp='1412073113' post='2565292'] Ok, hope you find what you're after. If I get mine done first I'll give you some feedback. [/quote] Just by way of an update. I eventually decided against defretting a bass. Instead I have a Warwick PS Corvette Ash Fretless (the passive model) on the way from Thomann. I understand that it is one of the last Korean made Pro Series basses, which Thomann are selling off at a good discount. Add that it is B-Stock and the price appears to be a massive steal.

[quote name='Srwu' timestamp='1411991840' post='2564561'] Hi, I'd be really interested to know how this goes if you wouldn't mind sharing how you get on once you take the plunge? I have a Ray 34 which I'm thinking of getting defretted at the Bass Gallery (because it's a lefty and Sterling don't do a lefty fretless factory option). I'd really like to see some before and after pics if you have them. Fwiw, I have also explored the 'spare neck' option with Strings and Things but, although they were very helpful, they basically said they couldn't source a spare neck. Cheers Stuart [/quote] I'll keep you posted. Not sure which way to go yet. I'm basically keeping my eye on the for sale section on here and on EBay for a used fretless Ray 34.....the Ray 34CA FL or even one of the original USA Subs. I think I'd prefer either of those to a new Sub 4, but might end up going that way. I can't justify a new Ray 34CA FL at the moment, although they seem somewhat rare at the moment. Lots of places out of stock. I also looked at replacement necks. You can get a graphite fretless Stingray neck from the States, but they are mucho dinero. I'm in no rush, something will turn up eventually no doubt.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1410635453' post='2551536'] I had The Gallery defret my US SUB some time back and they did a cracking job, I even had them replace the front dot markers with rosewood ones to make them almost invisible and present a cleaner look [/quote] Very nice. Do you mind if I ask how much they charged to do dot replacement?

Pretty sure I am going to go for it. Will be later in the month before I have the requisite funds though. I've contacted the UK distributer (Stings and Things) to ask if getting a Black with Rosewood board is possible (to match my Ray 34). Looking on dealer web sites, you can have black and maple board or walnut, white or red with rosewood. I've cheekily asked if a neck swap is possible. I reckon there's no chance, but worth asking....:-)

Spot on. Thanks for the advice everyone. Really appreciate it. Cheers Jon

[quote name='TheSiberian' timestamp='1410613660' post='2551269'] It could be also needed a special treatment with epoxy or other hard laquer in order to prevent the fretboard to be "eaten" by roundwound strings.[/quote] Does the use of flatwound strings mitigate the need for epoxy etc? Do flatwound strings still cause damage to untreated boards?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1410610953' post='2551237'] Considering the amount of time and materials, plus security in knowing it won't be a bodge job, it sounds like a fair price to me. [/quote] Yep, I thought the same......but based on nothing more than a gut feeling. Think this is looking like a sensible option to get a fretless bass, of the style that I want, without shelling out lots of beer tokens. Has anyone played a Sub Ray 4? Good, bad or ugly? I'm guessing comparable to something like a VM Squier in quality? How about compared to a Ray 34 or even, dare I say it, a proper Stingray? Cheers Jon

Hi Howie, Good point. I'd not considered the dots being in the wrong place. Not a biggie as you say. I've asked the question about what the fret grooves would be filled with. I assume filling is included in the quoted cost, but will get confirmation. I'll also check on the setup point. If I go ahead I'd get the shop to supply the instrument new as well as do the defret. In my experience a setup can be negotiated, if not included, anyway. Does £90 sound about right for a defret and fill job? Cheers Jon

Hi, I'm just beginning to look at getting a fretless bass. My main bass is a Sterling Ray 34 and I'd like to stick with the Stingray thing. Having played fretted instruments for the last 27 years, this is a first stab at fretless. I know there is the fretless version of the Ray 34 CA, plus the fretless full on US Stingray. Both out of my budget at the moment. Not sure I really like the Squier or Vintage fretless options, although I do hear good things about them. Can't find a used Ray 34 CA anywhere, but if you know of one, or have one that you want to shift, let me know. My idea is to get a Sterling Sub 4 and get a professional defret on it. The Bass Gallery appears to offer defrets for £90. Is that a sensible approach? Or have I missed something? I know about using flat wound strings to protect the board. Cheers Jon

Looks like I'll be going for the twice as nice option then. Will keep an eye out for a used first gen at a good price, or else it will be a second gen new. Thanks for the advice all.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1379892347' post='2218035'] yep. More is always more. [/quote] Lol.....ok. Thanks Chris. I've been watching EBay and the classifieds here for one popping up. We'll see.....:-)

Chris, do you mean sound 5 times better than my current cab on its own? Cheers

I'm going to buy a second cab so that I can take full advantage of the power available from my amp. Not sure what to buy? Current rig is an Ampeg PF350 into a first generation GK210MBE. I think there are three options...... 1.Track down a used first gen GK210MBE. 2. Buy a new second gen GK210MBE. I don't mind the cosmetic differences (silver grill of first gen v's black of second gen). GK tell me that the dimensions of the to cabs are the same and they will stack ok together. 3. Buy another GK cab, maybe a 115 or 112. I think a 410 might be a bit larger than I want. Although I am open to persuasion. Budget is flexible. Could go to £400 or so but happy to spend less. What would you do? Advice gratefully received. Cheers Jon

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1355861790' post='1903851'] Please can this thread not now be extended into another ego discussion by the usual suspects............ ............ about what bigger drivers, bass thump or extra wattage do or don't do. There's been enough of them for this year. [/quote] Fine by me......I've only got 350 tiddly little watts to play with.......

Good points Lozz about not having to fiddle with eq. I hadn't thought of it that way. Cheers

A second 210mbe was my initial thought as I love the tone of the current cab. I just wondered if the 115 would add more bass thump, what with it being a larger driver????? It would also give me the option to use either cab on its own, giving a different voicing.