ezbass

I'm guessing it has a good crunch tone.

He is a unique player. I've tried his pick technique and it's not easy. To make matters worse he also excels at fingerstyle, slap and chordal work. On top of that he comes over as a top fella. I hate him

I did my first two recently. The first one was to contribute something to an owners' group and practice a song I had to learn for a wedding (the potential ridicule of unkind souls concentrates the mind wonderfully) and the second one was to demonstrate the sound of a customised guitar to a far flung friend.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1445891793' post='2895161']
There's two issues here, the bass itself, and the electrics. You'll need to know you get on with both before committing to an expensive instrument, so a custom build strikes me as a risky way of doing things. Personally I'd be looking to find a fretless instrument that I like and then sourcing the appropriate circuit once I'm 100% sure I like the bass. Buying used instruments (and pre-amps) means you can try things and move them on with little loss if you don't find them to your liking. Ordering a custom build is a sure fire way of losing money unless you really know what you want, which is why I've never ordered a custom build, but have - after years and years of trial and error - found myself with a fretless Wal that probably didn't cost much more than the average custom build.
[/quote]
[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1445933383' post='2895421']
Should have added to the above post that, in my opinion, a fretless bass really needs to speak to you, to respond to your fingers in accordance with the sound in your head, and to feel 'right' in your hands. I strongly believe that you have to do a lot of trial an error to find the right instrument (I've had over 20). Not sure where you're based but getting along to one of the BC Bass Bash events and playing a load of different instruments, some of which may also be for sale at much lower prices than you'll pay in any shop, is a good start.
[/quote]
Sage words.

[quote name='Paulhauser' timestamp='1445766272' post='2893910']
Ibanez Gary Willis GWB35. Light, narrow spacing, lined, active, thin neck and has very strong mids. i speak from experience. Even new its within your budget.
[/quote]And there's one in the for sale section right now (yeah, it's mine ).

However, why not try an outboard active circuit with the VM fretless already owned? No 'aggravation' fitting an onboard one, much reduced outlay and an easier sell if it doesn't suit. Someone (not me) is selling a Sadowsky one right now http://basschat.co.uk/topic/271601-sadowsky-pre-amp-pedal-with-the-di-output/page__fromsearch__1 you may find that an active fretless really isn't what your ears are craving.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1445681601' post='2893328']
My two, '83 and '86

[URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/2015-10-24%2011.07.03_zpsbut5afap.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/Beedster/2015-10-24%2011.07.03_zpsbut5afap.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[/quote]A fretless, 4 string Wal is the only thing I have GAS for these days and, IIRC, I've never played one.

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1445620832' post='2892923']
Another vote for JPJ & Bonham but amongst those I've seen Roscoe Beck / Tom Brechtlein (Robben Ford) and Muzz Skillings / Will Calhoun (Living Colour) comes to mind.
[/quote]Good call on Beck/Brechtlein, puts me in mind of Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton.

Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1445540985' post='2892326']
Best? Too subjective, but I'll lob in Francis Rocco Prestia and David Garibaldi (Tower of Power).
[/quote]+1 for Prestia and Garibaldi, I'd add Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1445358998' post='2890898']


Didn't he use the little cricket bat type? Can't remember, he's brilliant though. Funnily enough, I've wanted one since I saw Leslie West use one years ago.
[/quote]He's used both.

Oh that is dirty! both of them.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1445287522' post='2890352']
Very nice and a great price.
[/quote]
It really is a lovely bass, but it's getting no use now and my rule is an instrument has to 'pay its way' or it has to move on to another home. Thus...

45-100 are my 'go to' strings on fretted. I use D'Addarios on my guitars too.

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1445273401' post='2890152']
if it was fretless I'd be driving to yours right now!!
[/quote]Likewise.

Very Allan Holdsworth.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1445175098' post='2889271']


It's also unsightly, foul-smelling and woefully inhumane. Just think of all those black cats suddenly rendered homeless...

[/quote]

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1445125837' post='2889029']


It's getting like being at work round here...
[/quote]Looking at the interests in your avatar, I see you're in a field where there are two sides that butt heads regularly; that must be tough. I'm also guessing that witch burning is possibly ecologically unsound, so I retract the comment

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1445110739' post='2888923']

, but I have too many basses
[/quote]Burn him, he's a witch!

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1445085978' post='2888702']
I have a fretless, but I am in a covers band, and they don't want to do japan or paul young
[/quote]Find a new band! The 80s was rather fretless heavy, no wonder I love the music from that decade.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1445076191' post='2888590']
At a different time I would certainly be looking for one of these, although not at the moment as I have no fretless songs I am doing and trying to cut down on basses. But I think you have done the mods to it really well, it looks great
[/quote]Thank you, I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Not everyone's cup of tea, but completely reversible.

I swing back and forth with selling any of my basses I have in the FS section at the moment, but ideally I'd just have the two that'll be left and play them exclusively; getting value for money and all that.

No fretless songs? Get a fretless bass and they will come, to paraphrase Field of Dreams

I like the way the retro vibe disguises the techno beast within. Good work sir.

They are not making them with this finish anymore, so it's a collector's item now

No one, really?

To remove the screw, I suggest drilling a hole into the screw and then knocking in a pointed file (or something similar). Once knocked in, use the implement to unscrew the offending stripped head screw. To fill the remaining hole, find a similarly sized piece of dowel, glue this in and level with the body. Finally, drill a normal hole for the new strap buttons.

Pretty much what Dad said. A bit too 'wet' with reverb for my own personal taste which I think robs the low end of a little authority, but others may like that.