NBD (Kind of) - Ibanez SR505 Fretless

[CJPJ]

So, my trusty SR505 was the first "expensive' bass I bought around 10 years ago. I subsequently dropped a string and moved onto the P Bass where I've been for the past couple of year. I got bored of the Ibanez, although much loved, and was thinking of selling it on. Then I thought, how can I convince myself to keep it? Obvious. Personalise it in a way that you'll never want to let it go (and turn it into something that probably no one else will ever want to buy 😆).

 

So I de-fretted it giving me (a) a style of bass that I don't have and always interesting to noodle on and (b) a 5 stringer which I can practice chords and other stuff on.

 

The work was done at Charlie Chandler in Hampton Wick and, despite a frustrating five month wait time, I picked it up today. The work looks amazing and suits the overall look of the bass. It sounds fantastic and the stings are a lovely match. I had no idea how much La Bella Black Nylon Tapewound 5 Strings were but my tears of joy at seeing the bass turned to howls of pain when I paid the bill! Anyway, these are strings for life as far as I am concerned so I'll enjoy the endulgence whilst I can 🙂 

 

 

 

Anyway, back to channeling my Pino vibes . . . . 

 

 

[TheLowDown]

Nice looking bass, he's done a good job. Given what you've mentioned about the strings, it's unlikely you will be wanting to restring it with a high C string rather than a low B, eh. A high C string always sounds more lyrical to me on a fretless, the low B string I find considerably less useful compared to on a fretted.

[CJPJ]

19 minutes ago, TheLowDown said:

A high C string always sounds more lyrical to me on a fretless, the low B string I find considerably less useful compared to on a fretted.

I’d not even thought about that tbh - but it’s a good point and you are right that I’d unlikely change now. The B string on this is pretty deep and flappy - like a double bass. 

[lemmywinks]

The natural stain SRs look lovely, fretless with black nylons really suits it. The strings are cheap as chips if you consider they need changing, err, never.

 

Some of the furniture touch up kits might make the bare wood disappear unless you like the mojo.

[CJPJ]

5 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

 

Some of the furniture touch up kits might make the bare wood disappear unless you like the mojo.

I need to look at that. I don’t mind the general wear over the top edge as this also blends in with a natural shine from the rubbing of the forearm but I would like to touch up the other bits by the pick ups 👍🏻

[lemmywinks]

53 minutes ago, CJPJ said:

I need to look at that. I don’t mind the general wear over the top edge as this also blends in with a natural shine from the rubbing of the forearm but I would like to touch up the other bits by the pick ups 👍🏻

 

The wax sticks and markers work surprisingly well, especially on darker tones where it's easier to blend and doesn't draw your eye as much. I've used them for a few basses now and made some large (and very unsightly) bare wood gouges almost disappear.