Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 What a busy day! Conference calls all the way there and back for work, but I managed to get half an hour in Jon Shuker's workshop tucked away near Hope in the Peak District. It's such a beautiful setting.. Big thanks to @MOXYBASS for the brilliant comms and for selling this one 😁 Jon is an absolute gentleman. So knowledgable, so open and a really great conversation. I can see myself ordering a build from him... And the bass? It's a Shuker Uberhorn Fretless 4. It has piezo bridges with a ghost preamp, and a magnetic pickup under the fretboard in the P position. He couldn't remember exactly what it was - but I tried it in the workshop and it's a fascinating solution to a balance issue. The Ghost piezo system gives a really really rich and lovely sound - it's basically like a rich P sound, with strong upper bass and some nice highs, but with the upper mids rolled off. The magnetic pickup is voiced for mids - on it's own, it's like a mid-heavy P, but with the piezo as well it's like a foghorn! Huge, deep, rich and loads of harmonics all over the shop!! There controls are logical - a switch for magnetic, both, piezo, then volume for magnetic, volume for piezo with a push pull "bright" control, and then a 3 band EQ for the magnetic (cut/boost) and a 3 way frequency switch for the mids control. Really flexible. Really good. The neck was a total surprise. It feels about 42mm at the nut but might be less, but it has this brilliant slim carve which is really similar to the pre-CBS Precision neck - it feels great! More on this when I get to play it! I'll give it a go later tonight and report back on my ham-fisted efforts (!) Check me out - I'm a fretless owner. Ooer. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Ooh, I say! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Very smart. That finish on the back looks very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Just now, Chris2112 said: Very smart. That finish on the back looks very good. I'm amazed by the build quality. I don't think I've played an instrument of any kind with this sort of build quality - it feels like a featherweight piece of hewn granite.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 That’s one beautiful bass I’ve never actually played a fretless I fancy trying one now I’ve seen that 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Wow, that's a looker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Lord, that is glorious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Always thought this was a work of art - absolutely stunning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Just had a quick tinkle - had half an hour spare It appears fretless is gloriously addictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 9 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: It appears fretless is gloriously addictive I’ve had a few over the years, four I think and never really got on with any apart from the last one, a Rob Allen Mouse, I barely play anything else so I think if you are feeling this about your first then you’ve hit the mother lode, I’m not surprised mind, that bass is a jaw dropper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: I’ve had a few over the years, four I think and never really got on with any apart from the last one, a Rob Allen Mouse, I barely play anything else so I think if you are feeling this about your first then you’ve hit the mother lode, I’m not surprised mind, that bass is a jaw dropper. I think it’s the board .. ok so I have to work on intonation, but it’s a real delight to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 11 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: I think it’s the board .. ok so I have to work on intonation, but it’s a real delight to play. Me too. mine is lined, I figure I need all the help I can get! But that board looks glorious. I wonder about lines vs dots vs nowt on the board... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 This one is side part-lines - seems ok at the mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 5 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: This one is side part-lines - seems ok at the mo! Ah yes, with dots higher up... God I’ve got to stop looking at that bass, where’s the day gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Gorgeous instrument. Don't worry for your intonation, use your open strings and harmonics as these are a fixed reference. It helps a lot. Use a tuner too so you'll see if you are in tune. Didn't I tell you about these Shuker ? They are just wonderful instruments. Congratulations and as I always say : no frets, no limits ! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 Going to take it slow and easy and ease myself in - but man it puts a smile on your face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Gorgeous bass! You are a lucky man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Aaah, so you bought it...jealous doesn't cover it. I also acquired a Fretless today - a Spectorcore Fretless 4 - came with flatwound strings - man they're weird...even compared to the tapewounds I've been using. I'm off to YT to see what ideas I can steal borrow.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 1 minute ago, TheGreek said: Aaah, so you bought it...jealous doesn't cover it. I also acquired a Fretless today - a Spectorcore Fretless 4 - came with flatwound strings - man they're weird...even compared to the tapewounds I've been using. I'm off to YT to see what ideas I can steal borrow.... I’ve really been digging Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my fretless , really bright flatwounds that mwaah just so readily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Found this lesson - execution isn't the best but I can see how the concept will be useful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 That is gorgeous. Congratulations 🙂 I have D'Addario chrome flats on my electric fretless - I'm after a sort of light silver shimmer/slide sound, and they give me that. If you want more of a deeper DB / jazz sound, then tape-wounds. I have the same chrome flats on my acoustic fretless, but I'm thinking of changing them for tape-wounds to have more types of sound to play with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 (edited) @josie This has TI Jazz Flats on. I normally use Chromes on all my fretted’s bar my ACG which has TI’s on, and I am trialling a set of Fender flats on my 51P semi hollow partscaster. The TI’s do seem to suit this tho. I really like the low tension Edited August 23, 2018 by Bridgehouse 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Came back to have another look 😧 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 Have you tried half-rounds? I'm interested / tempted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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