mantekka

Just an update with some pics for closure! Here's my fretless...

I would recommend fingering down by the bridge, and maybe rest your thumb on her pubic bone Seriously tho, I play a stingray 5 and rest my thumb on the bridge pickup. As it's a double, I feel there's a bit of width in it to move around. Besides it's not too close to the bridge, compared to the bridge pickup on a fender jazz. I played a P-bass before that but wasn't long adapting to the new position. Being closer to the bridge, I felt, gave me better control and allowed me to finger a string faster and with better rhythm & accuracy. Have you tried resting your thumb on the bridge pickup of any stingrays you've tried? Did you not like it?

I like it! Nice vibe and playing

A few options at [url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/search.html?gk=trstka&bn=&pr=800a1200&kf=on&oa=pra&wgfid1=9618&wgf9618=3%2F4&wgfid2=9619&wgf9619=4&wgfid3=7424&wgfid4=9616&wgfid5=7425&wgfid6=9617"]Thomann.de[/url]

I'll give those ebay tuners a miss so. In fact I might just use the old one again, and find a set of new screws for them.

[quote name='TheRinser' post='467448' date='Apr 20 2009, 01:50 PM']I know this is a bit old, but I'm thinking about going for one of these: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm[/url] which as far as I can tell is the one you bought?[/quote] I think I'm gonna get one of these for myself in the coming months, I was just over with a mate who bought one and really enjoyed playing it. If you're looking for a starting point, I don't think you can go wrong with that price. I reckon it's definitely a better way to go then gradually progressing from fretless to 1/2 size then eventually to 3/4. Having only played a DB once before, I was really impressed with the sound of the thing. I didn't expect much because of the price but it sounded & felt pretty good, like I'd expect one to sound! It feels sturdy, the fingerboard is probably a little rough but thats no harm. Anyway I was impressed enough to decide I'm gonna buy one. For 400eur I think it's excellent value for a beginner, and it probably won't be too difficult to sell on in UK/Ireland at a similar price!

So would these tuning heads be suitable for the bass? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-GUITAR-MACHINE-HEADS-FOR-FENDER-PRECISION-MUSICMAN_W0QQitemZ390031858236QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item390031858236&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Ebay Tuning Heads[/url]

After reading Bass Doc's post I decided to get cracking on the defretting. All went pretty successfully. I used an iron to heat the frets beforehand and then a small flat screwdriver to pry them up from the side. The higher frets raised some small splints with them but nothing drastic. I got some light enough sand paper and went over the fretboard, concentrating on the build up around each fret, also scrubbed them wtih a rough edged spoonge. Then ran a blade through the slots to clear them out. The guy on the tutorial went for hardwood slots as fillers, I think I'll go with the veneer option alright Geoff. Gonna talk to a carpenter friend during the week and see if he knows a good veneer to use. Happy enuogh with the progress so far, cheers for the help.

Hi Folks, First post! So I've been planning on taking up the double bass, but then considering getting a fretless first due to money restrictions. Then realised I've had my old Fender Jazz Special sitting beside me for the last 3 yrs unused. It was usurped by a Stingray 5! Now I love this bass, sometimes even think it was nicer to play than the musicman in ways. But I haven't picked it up at all since really. So it's got some sentimental value and it's great to play, but I'm happy to take the risk of defretting it rather than continue to leave it lying idle. I'm no guitar tech or carpenter and don't know a whole lot about this bass. I picked it up second hand about 12yrs ago when starting out on bass. Its a Jazz Bass Special, made in Japan. No idea what year it would be even. It wasn't very well looked after by me I have to admit too. Machine heads are carelessly screwed in with odd screws after the old ones gave way. Pickups are rusted. Still has 2yr old rusty strings on it! So I think it's time to do something with it. And I'd be grateful if any of you have advice & experience to offer me! I've located a few helpful tutorials on defretting which I intend to follow. (I like this one [url="http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/)"]http://www.geocities.com/charlesarms/)[/url] I'll have to make sure I have all the right tools & materials before starting. A few questions: 1) (See Pic) The frets are seated as in the picture, which appears to be same as tutorial above. Any issues? 2) I'd like to replace the machine heads. Are these standard fittings, if I pick up a set will they have the same screwhole placings? Should I look for fender specific ones? 3) Is it possible to continue with the rusty pickups or are they badly affected by a bit of rust? 4) What type of strings would be ideal after the job is done? 5) Will the design of this bass, location of the pickups etc. be compatable with the sound of a fretless? Any comments welcomed! Thanks Brian.