kurcatovium Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Hello, I'm considering ordering five string fretless bass in some form of singlecut design (made by one of local luthiers). I'm not after any specific sound, just "good sounding fretless". I hope you can help me sort my thoughts and opinions to get the most out of it. 1) shape As stated above I'm mostly thinking about singlecuts lately. Being singlecut, neck through is a must. Not looking for any particular shape, just some "general singlecut" or whatever. It's not that important IMO. Have you seen some remarkable ones? Show them to me! 2) neck woods I love exotic woods. I'm thinking of padauk/wenge/padauk neck. Padauk should sound similarly "bright" to maple while wenge might add some low mid growl. Ebony fretboard seems like the only choice for fretless because of its hardness - am I right? What do you think about these? Any other recommendations there? 3) body woods Since the neck will be probably laminate (and thus fancy in look) I'd like to keep this clean. So plain ash, alder, or something else in these lines, simply no fancy top. Other possibility might be slab of padauk or similar naturally colored wood without enormous wood patterns (so no zebrawood etc.). Do you think padauk (or something similar) is a good choice or should I rather stick with ash or?? 4) the rest There's some assorted chrome hardware in my closet. Would that match woods above? Should I get black? One thing I'm sure, there definitely won't be gold, since I'm allergic to gold :-D Also pickup/preamp, that's another question. I was thinking of one big humbucker placed somewhere like on MM and simple volume/tone controls? Good? Bad? Stupid? Well, put all your advices, tips or pictures here. I'll be really glad for any help or suggestions you can provide. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 For shape check out Jens Ritter's website. I love the simple sqiggle style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Here's an idea, don't do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 If you are going down the exotic woods / singlecut route then I would say that , unless you like a heavy bass , I would ask the luthier to keep an eye on the total weight of the finished bass , or else you could easily end up with something that weighs a ton . Woods like wenge and padauk tend to be very heavy , and so if you combine them with ash make sure it is lightweight ash . I played a bass a while ago with an ash neck and it sounded and felt great , so maybe that would be an option to consider . As for fingerboard , ebony is a good choice but be aware that if you use roundwound strings they will eat into an untreated ebony fingerboard , regardless of how hard the ebony is . Only coating the fingerboard with epoxy really works if you want to avoid eventually ruining it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurcatovium Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 [quote name='cytania' timestamp='1362312375' post='1998161'] For shape check out Jens Ritter's website. I love the simple sqiggle style. [/quote] Ritter is category of its own. Some ideas looks cool, but final basses are often over the edge where it still looks decent. [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1362313347' post='1998172'] Here's an idea, don't do it [/quote] I'll keep this in mind, thanks! [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1362315340' post='1998217'] If you are going down the exotic woods / singlecut route then I would say that , unless you like a heavy bass , I would ask the luthier to keep an eye on the total weight of the finished bass , or else you could easily end up with something that weighs a ton . Woods like wenge and padauk tend to be very heavy , and so if you combine them with ash make sure it is lightweight ash . I played a bass a while ago with an ash neck and it sounded and felt great , so maybe that would be an option to consider . As for fingerboard , ebony is a good choice but be aware that if you use roundwound strings they will eat into an untreated ebony fingerboard , regardless of how hard the ebony is . Only coating the fingerboard with epoxy really works if you want to avoid eventually ruining it . [/quote] Yeah, I know most of the exotic woods tend to be heavier, but unless the bass weighs twice the usual weight it doesn't represent serious problem as I don't really play long sets and I usually sit when practicing. But I'll definitely bear that in mind, because even if heaviness isn't problem now it might be in future... I saw ash neck only once or twice, never had it in my hands. It looked pretty nice on the pictures, but I have no idea how stable it is or how does it sound compared to other woods. Any idea why is it so rarely used? As for the fretboard - I have raw ebony on my current fretless JB and it's pretty sturdy. I use it with rounds most of the time and while it's not anymore glass-smooth I wouldn't dare to say it's ruined after all these years (the bass is probably more than 10 years old). But yeah, epoxy would surely secure it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Letts Basses,love mine,the dude is on BC, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 [quote name='merlin' timestamp='1362317095' post='1998257'] Letts Basses,love mine,the dude is on BC, [/quote] Absolutely agree. Jon Letts single cuts basses usually weigh less than 8lbs...and he builds great fretlesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurcatovium Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 How much would it cost to get one from mr. Letts? I remember reading about 500 basic price, but I'm not sure what that included... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Drop him a pm mate, he's very helpful and amenable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Definitely look at Letts, his prices are on his website but he's been known to offer discounts to basschat members. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Check out ACG on here too (affiliates section). Alan does some stunning s/cut basses. http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 How about this, in stock now so none of the agonising waiting http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/46/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1362385906' post='1999085'] Check out ACG on here too (affiliates section). Alan does some stunning s/cut basses. [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/[/url] [/quote] +1,000,000 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1362556920' post='2001129'] How about this, in stock now so none of the agonising waiting [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/46/"]http://www.acguitars...k/Available/46/[/url] [/quote] I had the pleasure of trying this bass out on Saturday at the London Bass Show, it was absolutely amazing! Compact, versatile and lightweight with a wonderful tone and incredibly flexible preamp. If you're in the market for a fretless singlecut 5 string, I really don't think you could do much better! Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Wielder Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 ACG vote!! Fretless at the show was responsive, light, looks great. Hmmmmm I might have it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='mcruiz67' timestamp='1362580875' post='2001629'] ACG vote!! Fretless at the show was responsive, light, looks great. Hmmmmm I might have it!! [/quote] I saw a video of you absolutely blazing on that thing mate, amazing Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1362580960' post='2001633'] I saw a video of you absolutely blazing on that thing mate, amazing Eude [/quote] Youtube? link please...always nice to see Alan's creations getting a work out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='andydye' timestamp='1362581541' post='2001645'] Youtube? link please...always nice to see Alan's creations getting a work out! [/quote] Here you go... http://youtu.be/kV6mH7lj9x4?t=5m19s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurcatovium Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1362569379' post='2001374'] I had the pleasure of trying this bass out on Saturday at the London Bass Show, it was absolutely amazing! Compact, versatile and lightweight with a wonderful tone and incredibly flexible preamp. If you're in the market for a fretless singlecut 5 string, I really don't think you could do much better! Eude [/quote] Do you know approx. price tag on this one? I'm afraid it will be out of my limited budget... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 [quote name='kurcatovium' timestamp='1362583127' post='2001679'] Do you know approx. price tag on this one? I'm afraid it will be out of my limited budget... [/quote] Best email Alan here >> http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Contact/ Or drop him a PM on here, his user name is [b]Skelf[/b] I think you'll be pleasantly surprised Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rednose200 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Agree totally. Call Alan at ACG without delay. Theyre the Dogs Testicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 All the cool kids are getting reverse singlecuts now. I heard some geezer who can pick with all six toes of his right foot has got one or is getting one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurcatovium Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Seems like I have no other option than get one reverse singlecut to stay cool kid. I knew it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Wielder Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 [quote name='andydye' timestamp='1362581541' post='2001645'] Youtube? link please...always nice to see Alan's creations getting a work out! [/quote] Wish I could hear what i played......Ha, ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Having just got a Letts fretless I can highly recommend it, although ACG make stunning looking basses which sound huge on that video. There's always Shuker too but I'm not sure what his build times are these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 [quote name='mcruiz67' timestamp='1363428106' post='2012545'] Wish I could hear what i played......Ha, ha [/quote] You played all the notes, very fast and made me realise I need to practice my fretless playing. A lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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