Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 For some reason, I just can't get a suitably pleasant tone from a fretless. They just seem to grate when I play them. It's not that my intonation is that bad, it's just not balanced enough. Too much harmonic content and too little fundamental. Which is why I sold my '90 fretless 'Ray5 and am currently considering trying out a NS NXT5 EUB... [runs away] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Is that a P-Retro on the Fender Walbassist? How does it fit with the fretless sound? Mine is on a fretted P and I'm liking it very much. Big GAS problem now is whether I'm brave enought to go UNLINED. Still peeking out from behind the sofa on this one though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Here's my recently completed bitsa project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1331799445' post='1578891'] Is that a P-Retro on the Fender Walbassist? How does it fit with the fretless sound? Mine is on a fretted P and I'm liking it very much. Big GAS problem now is whether I'm brave enought to go UNLINED. Still peeking out from behind the sofa on this one though. [/quote] Yes it is, or rather was, as I decided the bass really didn't need any extra help in the tone department. It's back to passive volume and tone now. Great preamp though! I would say go unlined: it's very liberating, and if you've played fretted long enough your "fretting" hand will fall into the right shape anyway. You always have side dots for big jumps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1331804764' post='1579006'] I would say go unlined: it's very liberating, and if you've played fretted long enough your "fretting" hand will fall into the right shape anyway. You always have side dots for big jumps! [/quote] +1 Unlined is much easier than you would think and looks better IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Just out of interest are the dots on the side in the same place on a fretless or located to where the fret would be - or both if it depends on the luthier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1331815863' post='1579303'] Just out of interest are the dots on the side in the same place on a fretless or located to where the fret would be - or both if it depends on the luthier? [/quote] On an unlined they are usually (but not always, so check!) where the fret would be. On a lined, they're mid-fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) Mine are located exactly where the fret would be, so, for instance, you press the string at the second dot and you get a low D, or a G etc. Edit; yes, my fretless is unlined. Edited March 15, 2012 by bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Oh oh, I feel GAS approaching . Is it possible to trade a modded lined fretless for an unlined one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregHughes Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I think an unlined is next on my list. They do look a lot better. I'm a Jazz man so what fretless bass would the experts suggest I try? Budget around the £1000 mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Maybe it's worth just getting a new unlined neck. You can sometimes get Mighty Mite ones from a guy on Ebay for 100 quid, more or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1331803123' post='1578972'] Here's my recently completed bitsa project. [/quote] Sorry Jerry_B, I rather selfishly forgot to complement you on a very nice looking bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregHughes Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Thanks Jerry, good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) I'll muck in too. Here's my '88 Bass Collection SB320 fretless. A previous owner changed the pups (and maybe the electronics too) but I haven't worked out what they are yet. I popped some new gold and abalone knobs onto it and strung it with Rotosound nylon strings. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:75226] And here's what it sounds like: [url="http://soundcloud.com/mornats/mystery-and-magic"]http://soundcloud.co...stery-and-magic[/url] And [url="http://soundcloud.com/mornats/dragging-deep-bx5a-remix"]http://soundcloud.co...deep-bx5a-remix[/url] Opps, that pic up there doesn't have the new knobs on it, try this one: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:80845] Edited March 15, 2012 by Mornats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='StraightSix' timestamp='1331720187' post='1577533'] [url="http://www.westone.info/thunder3afretlessbass.html"]http://www.westone.i...etlessbass.html[/url] My photography is hopeless and won't do it justice. It's exactly like this one. [/quote] Very nice! What strings are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1331820678' post='1579432'] I'll muck in too. Here's my '88 Bass Collection SB320 fretless. A previous owner changed the pups (and maybe the electronics too) but I haven't worked out what they are yet. I popped some new gold and abalone knobs onto it and strung it with Rotosound nylon strings. Opps, that pic up there doesn't have the new knobs on it, try this one: [/quote] I think you people would say something like "bad", "lush" or something incomprehensible. Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1331825776' post='1579539'] Very nice! What strings are you using? [/quote] I have just picked up a set of Rotosound SM77 and a set of Ti jazz flats to try but I haven't had a chance to fit either of them yet...bl**dy work gets in the way of everything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1331827303' post='1579577'] I think you people would say something like "bad", "lush" or something incomprehensible. Very nice. [/quote] Nice guess, I AM a Geordie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) I didn't know that you wanted photos as well. Here's my Corvette strung with TI Flats. Edited March 15, 2012 by Hutton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 There's an Ebay seller called bluebass320, who sometimes has Mighty Mite unlined ebanol-fingerboard necks for sale. May be worth tracking him down to see when he may have some on order, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1331818681' post='1579382'] Sorry Jerry_B, I rather selfishly forgot to complement you on a very nice looking bass. [/quote] No worries - cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1331831281' post='1579639'] Nice guess, I AM a Geordie [/quote] I'm mortified as I've just re-read what I posted and saw I had omitted a couple of vital letters. I meant to say "...you[b]ng[/b] people..." not "...you people..." My apologies, not intending to personalise the comment in any way. In my defence my Mum was from Whitley Bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 On the off chance GAS gets the better of me (like I can resist ), what unlined fretless basses should I be looking for in the £200-250 bracket. Most of what I've seen on here and evilbay is well above my potential budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'd say you'd be better off trying to build one as a bitsa project. It depends on what sort of bass you're after (P, J or P/J). Or see if one comes up for sale on Basschat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Westone basses are available within that price range - here's a Thunder 1A: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-I-A-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-Flat-Wound-Strings-Shipping-Case-/130651889185?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1e6b759e21 This is the active, single pickup version of the Thunder III. Top quality, made in Japan by Matsumoku. More info here: [url="http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html"]http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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