Jerry_B

+1 That's what I'd do, if that was me. I'd recommend a Wizard Hammer for the bridge - although Wizard also do a P/J set.

Are you sure yourself that there's a need for new pickups? I mean, it doesn't matter what other people think if you like the tone you're getting out of it.

Might be worth a try. That's my preferred guage anyway

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Q7XFFy_j0[/media]

[quote name='PauBass' timestamp='1317127381' post='1387041'] Yeah, I like that one!...Is he using an old Fender Bassman? [/quote] Not sure. Awhile back on another thread somewhere someone posted some details of the kit he uses. Another candidate: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jMQzvRvDws[/media]

Well, perhaps try some [i]new [/i]flats? And maybe some other guages? Failing that, maybe the action is too low WRT the pickups? There may be some magnetic problems there.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTVKFsSDoaU[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYCkFDj_Xo0[/media]

For starters... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaxV3c5Hc0I[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCzB5F2zDHQ[/media]

Maybe try some flatwounds...?

Never use it live? He must be mad.

That said, some punk covers bands consider them to be punk, in my experience (i.e. the ones that asked me to join). Ditto for The Jam. I'm not sure why!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ZVbw74OhU[/media]

Pub rock rather than punk rock, surely...?

Hmm - 'grunge' never really existed, IMHO. Nevermind actually killed Nirvana's sound, as it was horribly over-produced.

I say go for it. As for sounding like Mick Karn, you could chase that for ages and never get there. And you may be more likely to find your own sound and grow to appreciate that. Trying to sound just like any given player in IMHO a bit of an uphill task, as there's too many factors to consider. I'd say have a go, see if you like it, then noodle around alot to get used to it. Fingerstyle, playing with a plectrum, etc - all part of the fun!

Perhaps [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/tuning-keys/bass/bass-tuning-keys/gotoh-gb1-bass-key-4-in-line-with-press-fit-bushings-p-2027.html"]these...?[/url]

Aren't they standard smallish Fender ones?

A somewhat pricey [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Columbus-2-Jazz-Bass-Fretless-/250879041462?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a698e5fb6"]Columbus 2 Jazz Bass Fretless[/url]...

Heh - well, when I found it, it was covered in nasty crud, dents and dust. Now it just has the dents, but that's part of the charm

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1373066' date='Sep 14 2011, 12:00 PM']The only downside is it can be harder to get a gig, depending on the sort of music you play. I was lucky in that the years I spent exclusively playing fretless I came across a lot of very open-minded musicians to play with, but most guitarists either think it's a poser's instrument or they want to hear that clack and clang rock sound that you only get from frets. It's a versatile instrument though and it can work well in any music, really. It can get tiring on the ear if you're always pushing up the midrange 'honk' though so go easy on people. [/quote] Yep, some people can get a bit silly about you can or can't do - or aren't 'supposed to do' - with a fretless. When I've tried to join several punk bands over the years, they said no to the fretless - this despite the fact that I prefer to play with a plectrum, and know that I can colour things with compression, overdrive, etc. Bigger fools them really - and it tends to ignore certain players who have done similar things in established bands over the years.

[quote name='fatback' post='1373236' date='Sep 14 2011, 02:03 PM']This is hugely important imo. If the dots on the edge of the neck are not on the 'fret' positions, get stick on paper dots and put them there. You could use a marker to dull down the original misplaced dots.[/quote] Then again, you get used to the dots being on the 'fret' with unlined necks. It doesn't interfere with things - you just have to remember what you need to do, which just takes a bit of practice.

[quote name='FlatEric' post='1372777' date='Sep 14 2011, 08:04 AM']The only bit he missed was that when only the bridge pick-up is on, in single coil the phase switch is a coil select. He also describes things made of steel - they are not, it's Zinc Die Cast. His is 12lbs!! I do have [i]one[/i] at around that weight but most average 10.5lbs[/quote] Yep, the best review so far. He even uses a plectrum a few times (seems to be a rarity in bass demo videos). Shame he wasn't a fan of the phase switch, but I guess he hasn't noodled around with it enough to see how much it can do. My favourite setting is is still with the phase switch in the down position, bridge pickup only with the tone rolled off to 8 or so - and played with a plectrum, of course

This all sounds good! Fretless just takes a bit more care - that said, you'd be suprised at how you don't have to be super-accurate with your playing for people not to notice any mistakes I started playing one not long after I first started to play bass and actually think that helped a bit with getting my head around the whole concept of the fretless. One thing you might notice when going from a marked fretless to an unlined one will be the dot markers on the top of the neck. Some are on the fret, some are where they are on fretted basses (i.e. in the middle of the fret). It's something to watch for should you ever make the transition from lined to unlined.

Maybe a Squier VM Jaguar might suit you? They get good reviews here, are Jazzish in shape and have the pup combination you're after. One may possibly come up for sale here, or on Ebay, etc..