Ritsugamesh

That is the assumption I have made - it's a really really thick slab of ebony that's been put over the top of the neck and the fret marker situation definitely irks me! Sounds cool and plays well as far as I can tell, though I'm not really a fretless player. Good to know r.e. the serial, he said previous owner told him 78 so that tracks. The fet marker situation is definitely giving me some conniptions, but it does seem like a real quality fretboard so inclined to accept the jank and refret, I also find it a little tricky to intonate and I wager that's down to a) me being a crap fretless player and b) because the scale length has potentially changed between the bridge swap. I'm tempted at the very least to return it back to a passive instrument befitting it's vintage more, and the nut needs repairing on the low E side, though it isn't affecting playability at the moment (possibly thanks to being fretless?) Thanks for the input so far guys!

Hi guys, Looking for a bit of help/guidance/advice here regarding a fretless P-bass my dad has had for donkeys years and by osmosis came to be in my collection. As far as we're both aware, it's a mid/late-70's P-Bass, original body and neck, and that's about as far as the knowledge goes. If anyone is good at dating serial numbers do chime up! The main point of contention is how many mods have actually been made to the bass itself. From what I can tell, it looks like it was not originally fretless. If you look carefully at the underside of what I think is an ebony fretboard -It's incredibly dark and doesn't feel like typical rosewood to me - you can see what looks like filled-in fret markers, especially at the 12th fret. The bass has a skunk stripe too, which I was always led to believe meant it would likely have a maple one-piece neck. My dad thinks it's always been a fretless, I'm just not buying it. The active electronics are 100% not original, nor is the bridge and what looks like a strange silver foil shielding job? Any insights here appreciated! I believe the J pickup has been routed out specifically to add these pickups, relatively professionally if I do say so myself, and either side of the bridge are these odd circle pin things that I'm assuming were put there after an ashtray was removed from the original. I'm considering whether I should try to restore as much of the bass to original if possible, what people's recommendations would be to go about that r.e. pickup selections and whether to refret it (if anyone knows any good luthiers in the midlands that could handle such a job I would be appreciative!). I think it's a gorgeous instrument let down a bit by lack of care from the previous owner before us - no mods were done by myself or my dad, it is as we received. Cheers!

You've done a really good job there, very clean indeed! Agree that the unfinished neck looks miles better than 20 year old black paint that's seen too much action (at least is the case on mine!). I'd be tempted to do a slightly more reliced approach to the headstock transition personally, but mad respect for getting such a clean job done. I think I need to get researching on the best approach to sanding it down now, always get conflicting reports on grits, etc.! Cheers for the pics too, very enlightening and that looks like a lovely bass indeed.

Do you have a picture of yours with the stripped neck? I've got a USA SUB in white and have often found the painted neck to get a bit questionable after a long gig. It's definitely not leaving the collection so not afraid to mod it but would be interesting to hear/see the process/result!

Aye took me a good minute to find the right spot for it. For some reason when I took the neck off to touch up the truss rod, upon putting it back the intonation specifically on the E was right out. All the other strings were note perfect still! The nut is perfectly fine, no catching, plenty of winds on the string, neck relief ideal and the action in the right spot, it just needed pulling much further forward than I anticipated to get it intonated at the 12th and across the board. Not sure why, but if it works it works! If anyone more savvy than me has additional info as to why only the E would be out of intonation like that, do let me know.

Aye I nearly bought the black one when I saw it, let it get away and this came up so I knew I couldn't let it slip by! The painted neck feels absolutely fine to be honest, somewhere between a satin and gloss finish, though it's possible once I run it at a full gig I might change my mind. I do have another bass with a painted neck and that doesn't bother me, but I know many people get really turned off by it.

Wouldn't generally be mine either but I've recently joined a Funk band and this screamed Larry Graham so figured it had to be done! Just need the sequin guitar strap and I think I'm there, got the bass face down.

There were customs charges unfortunately yes, came to 20% so if you did order you essentially need consider that in as a part of the package price. Still came out to cheaper than an MIM Fender these days, so I wasn't too fussed and Danny gave me quality estimate charges and made me clear and aware of everything. He was a pleasure to deal with for sure.

Purchased from Danny at Bass Japan Direct and waylaid in Germany due to labour strikes, this arrived safe and sound on my doorstep this morning. It's all original and the date is a close approximation, as with these sorts of instruments. It's somewhere between 83-85 based on the serial number. Small amount of setup required given it's week and change trotting the globe, and the low E intonation took some dialing in, but playing beautifully now at 1.75mm (as is my preference) and the pickups sound superb. It's perhaps a little difficult to spot in the photos, but there's a lovely sun tan effect that's happened on the headstock and neck, sending the white into a more cream colour. Definitely got the played-in feel that you'd expect something pushing 40 to have. I'm mostly just sad at how played-in I feel at only 30 😂

Purchased a Darkglass Vintage Ultra pedal from Mick this weekend just gone. Concise and straightforward communication, product exactly as advertised and well-packaged for transit. Pleasure to deal with, would recommend! Cheers Paul

Purchased an MXR compressor pedal off Will. He was kind enough to meet me halfway at a particularly characterful location, had a pleasant chat and did the deal. Works like a charm and had it's first live run out that very same night. Deal with confidence.

Purchased a Hipshot BT1 Bass Xtender Tuning Key from Fettsman today. Painless and friendly transaction, even had a nice chat and a quality cup of tea, no complaints here!