AndyTravis Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Hello chaps... This particular bass was up for trades a good while ago. And then it disappeared. I offered to buy it outright at the time...but no such luck. Then one day last week, the original owner and myself struck up a deal over a USA Strat I had for sale. I'm now a very happy monkey (Thanks to the original owner!) Better pics to follow, but the bass arrived with me yesterday. And i've been "MWAHH, BWAAAP, MWAHH, BUHWEEEP, MOW MOW, BUAMP" - Ing since then. Fender PB70-84US/FL is the model number. It's basically a Japanese 70's reissue Precision, Ash Body, Maple Neck, Seperate Maple Fingerboard, USA Pickups. They were a small run in the mid 2000's, not made for export. Apart from this one, I have only ever seen a used one about a year or so ago and had let it go...And then I bumped into this one on BC. My need for a Fretless, MN Precision bass grew to the extent that I had started looking for original 70's ones, and was speaking to WesFinn about having a 'Steed' replica made...but I was in luck, my patience/perseverance was rewarded and here it is. Covers and Thumbrest (above the 'e') are going on tomorrow (Allparts delivering to work) and then I think by payday, i'll have a set of Overwater Flatwounds on it - currently has roundwounds on but i think it will wear through the lacquer after a couple of months of gigging. It's brilliant, the sound really is not like any fretless i've ever played before; I can't get away from the nasal Jaco bridge pickup type sound when i play a fretless Jazz or P/J. So this is really something fresh. A big warm sound with 50% tone off, and then a funky big sounding thing with tone full on. Tone off is very double bass ish. The Body is 3-Piece Ash, the middle piece is a bit flamey...And it is heavy as hell (easily over 10lbs), but...i like it. Neck is big and wide, but I play a 50's and 62' reissue Precision quite a bit, so i'm at home, really. Enjoy - I'll take some better photos when the covers are on. Enjoy for now. Trav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapolpora Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I've got the fretted version of this model which a very good friend of mine brought back from Japan for me. However there is something astonishing beautiful about the maple fretless. Well done for getting hold of this. If you ever decide it's not for you and want to move it on I'll be first in the queue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 It's a keeper... I wonder how many times i'll say that a week now? A lad at work is first in the 'never gonna happen' queue... sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Lovely! I might have some Overwater flats in the next week or two if you can wait - very little used as far as I know (coming off a 35" scale so should fit if can get them off my bass without cutting). I'll drop you a pm when I know more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 loz, i'll have this in the shop tomorrow if you want to come in and have a poke. You have to bring the nordy though. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Gorgeous. I didn't think there were any fretless P basses made recently - awesome looking thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Whoa, that is a beauty! The natural body with the maple fretless neck is one of the best combo's I've seen in ages. Congrats on snaggin' it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 (edited) That's gorgeous - very Sting circa 1979 Let me know how the Overwaters work out as the flats I've tried so far on mine are a tad too thuddy (Pyramid Golds and Rotosounds) Edited June 25, 2010 by Shaggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 both my 62p and 60's jazz have the overwaters on them, i love them, and they're only £20. Yours is lovely....fretless precisions..mmmmmmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Argh - you swines You're right about the nasal tones of the Jazz fretless - that's the one thing I don't like about mine. I have to fiddle about too much to get the sound I like, which is something shy of a Pbass sound. One day I will own a black unlined fretless P with a dark wood board... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 [quote name='AndyTravis' post='876963' date='Jun 24 2010, 10:54 PM']loz, i'll have this in the shop tomorrow if you want to come in and have a poke. You have to bring the nordy though. Andy[/quote] I'll try to get over later...the Nordy is for sale (!) - yikes - that didn't last long. It's lovely, lovely, lovely but the neck is far too much of a handful for me (I'm used to skinny J types) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 That is gorgeous, very jealous indeed. Just makes me want to hurry up on the maple boarded fretless P I'm currently frankensteining together in my garage. Pulled the frets and cleaned the slots so far... need it now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 covers and thumb rest are now in place... Looks mega, photos later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Let me know if you want a P-Bass flightcase might be getting rid of mine previous Loz's depending what I get quote on my custom flightcase build. Are you sure you have enough Fenders? Lovely bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 [quote name='AndyTravis' post='876923' date='Jun 24 2010, 10:18 PM']It's basically a Japanese 70's reissue Precision, Ash Body, Maple Neck, Seperate Maple Fingerboard, USA Pickups. They were a small run in the mid 2000's, not made for export.[/quote] I have one very similar to this with a CIJ 'P' serial (1999-2002?) , except that it has frets and a jazz-width neck. Mine has TI Jazz Flats on, cant beat them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 [quote name='AndyTravis' post='876923' date='Jun 24 2010, 10:18 PM']The Body is 3-Piece Ash, the middle piece is a bit flamey...And it is heavy as hell (easily over 10lbs), but...i like it.[/quote] Oh and by the way, man up! 10lbs is puny, my banjo weighs more than that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 [quote name='pete.young' post='877791' date='Jun 25 2010, 09:39 PM']Oh and by the way, man up! 10lbs is puny, my banjo weighs more than that![/quote] "It's easily over 10lbs..." could mean any weight over 10lbs...say 15st...(?) I'm not worried by weight whatsoever, I just know some people like to know with Fender gear, that's all. And having a f***ed up back is not manly...whatsoever. Banjos are ultra heavy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Lovely looking bass, Andy I picked up my first serious fretless this last weekend & I've been practising hard ever since. You'd think I'd find it easy as a pro double bass player, but you really have to be ultra clinical with your left hand technique on these things. So I know where you're at at the moment, mate - Lots of mwaah going on here too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 27, 2010 Author Share Posted June 27, 2010 covers and thumb rest on...done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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