Beedster Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 I don't think I've ever paid more for a used Warmoth or Allparts (i.e. far better quality than most Fender) neck than a decent quality defret would cost. And going that way you have two necks, not one. Just keep an eye on eBay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Status unlined fretless j neck...... 298 (okay double the price of a wooden one, but worth it imo) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 11 hours ago, HazBeen said: Status unlined fretless j neck...... 298 (okay double the price of a wooden one, but worth it imo) Does that £298 include cutting the holes for the tuners... Because if it doesn't and you mess it up... That's £298 down the drain.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 1 minute ago, Lfalex v1.1 said: Does that £298 include cutting the holes for the tuners... Because if it doesn't and you mess it up... That's £298 down the drain.. No, just the neck. I did enquire and the cost to make me a P-bass neck, with a side dot in the first position, holes drilled at heel and for tuners and to be fitted to my bass with a restring and setup was £537. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 Realistically how much secondhand is a Fender fretless bass, presumably of the era pre-lined? I don't know whether it was an abrupt stop, or whether some models (probably the higher end stuff?) continued to be available unlined, while the cheaper stuff went lined - that guess based on possibly the change from ebony or a wood very similar; to ebonol (which is a type of plastic). My instinct tells me that "converting" a bass from fretted to unlined fretless is going to be a cost that you'll basically never get back in either resale or simply its value; and personally for me, that cost just isn't worth any perceived advantage/benefit an unlined fretless has over a similar one with lines. (It might do if it were to have some kind of genuine wood instead of ebonol though). And - dare I say it - CITES rears its ugly head too, to do with the particular woods which might be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 28 minutes ago, paul_c2 said: Realistically how much secondhand is a Fender fretless bass, presumably of the era pre-lined? I don't know whether it was an abrupt stop, or whether some models (probably the higher end stuff?) continued to be available unlined, while the cheaper stuff went lined - that guess based on possibly the change from ebony or a wood very similar; to ebonol (which is a type of plastic). My instinct tells me that "converting" a bass from fretted to unlined fretless is going to be a cost that you'll basically never get back in either resale or simply its value; and personally for me, that cost just isn't worth any perceived advantage/benefit an unlined fretless has over a similar one with lines. (It might do if it were to have some kind of genuine wood instead of ebonol though). And - dare I say it - CITES rears its ugly head too, to do with the particular woods which might be used. Its not a case of the cost, its more a case of trying to find one. They are just so rare. It is possible to find a genuine 70's one but then we are talking silly money into £2k - £3k territory which I don't have, or want to spend on a bass that will be a regular working bass. I've also not seen a Mexican unlined fretless bass ever, only American and Japanese and again they are so rare. I don't understand why Fender don't make a standard unlined fretless Precision and Jazz for those that want to play fretless. Apart from Jaco, I don't know of any named bassist that plays a lined fretless. Pino Paladino, Sting, Jeff Ament, Derek Forbes, Tony Levin, Tony Franklin, Mick Khan, Percy Jones, Bakithi Kumalo, Jack Bruce, John Giblin plus many more all play unlined. I'm sure there are known players who play lined but the majority are unlined. I'm not worried about the value from resale as its not something I will ever sell on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrixn1 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 8 minutes ago, Linus27 said: Apart from Jaco, I don't know of any named bassist that plays a lined fretless. Gary Willis! I'd go for the bass you want + get a new fingerboard installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 38 minutes ago, jrixn1 said: Gary Willis! I'd go for the bass you want + get a new fingerboard installed. Joe Lester of Intronaut and many others, but as jrixn1 said... Gary Willis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said: Does that £298 include cutting the holes for the tuners From their pages: "We also machine the tuner holes in the headstock to suit normal tuners which have a 17 mm (11/16") bush. If you want to fit smaller Gotoh or Hipshot tuners we can machine the hole to 14 mm. The neck is not supplied with tuners as standard but it is not difficult to fit your existing tuners. All our necks are supplied with step-by-step fitting instructions and you do not need any specialist tools." Just visit their pages and you can see the necks and options. You can ask for tint (mine has green excluding the fretboard), top-nut for special string gauges, matt (yes) or glossy, every neck has a functional string retainer... And they are very helpful. Dawn even called me by phone that the neck was ready to be shipped - two, three weeks earlier than expected. Top marks! http://www.status-graphite.com/ No, this neck is not fretless, but an example of a Status neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 I have fitted several Status necks, if you are not an idiot and take your time it is an easy job, just take care and be patient. But anyway..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 A Status neck will be a nice idea, its looking like the probable route I will take. Its just deciding what bass to marry it to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 1 hour ago, itu said: Nice Q-Tuner first edition ! 👍 I still have a pair of these first generation fantastic Q-Tuner's that will be fitted on my new Leduc U-Basse 6 fretless ordered last year that I should get by the end of this year... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Fretless-Neck-For-Fender-Jazz-Bass-No-Lines-With-Finish-JEF-F/332518411205?hash=item4d6ba44bc5:g:ul8AAOSwItJaWOXu:rk:45:pf:0 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-USA-Tony-Franklin-Precision-Fretless-Precision-P-BASS-NECK-Parts-Ebony/362436178183?hash=item5462e13107:g:IqkAAOSwn6RbnBZw:rk:34:pf:0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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