We are building a Fretless (ebony board) J style Old Fiend and I'm trying to make up my mind it it needs to be true vintage our should it have some modern features? So here are the choices.

Tuners: HipShot featherweight (clover tips) or Gotoh Vintage

Bridge: Badass or Vintage Pre CBS style

Pickups: Vintage style or hum canceling (both Fralin)

Electronics: Stack knob vintage, three knob vintage or Audere JZ3 active pre amp?

The bass will be yellowed Olympic white with a matching headstock and a tortuous shell guard.
So what say ya?

Well Roy here's what I think:
Tuners: Gotoh
Bridge: Bent Plate
Pickups: Vintage, I think the true single coil would sound better on fretless
Electronics: I have a stack knob fretless and it's great, but I also think the JZ3 would be nice.

Sounds like a nice bass Roy!

This:
Fretless (ebony board) J style ... will be yellowed Olympic white with a matching headstock and a tortuous shell guard
...sounds sexy as heck and I would hit it. :)
...if it needs to be true vintage our should it have some modern features?
I would go "vintage" with upgraded quality, not "features".
Tuners: HipShot featherweight (clover tips) or Gotoh Vintage
Hipshot.
Bridge: Badass or Vintage Pre CBS style
Neither, I vote Hipshot Vintage Bent Plate.
Pickups: Vintage style or hum canceling (both Fralin)
People will never agree on this, so I sincerely recommend you offer both options.
Electronics: Stack knob vintage, three knob vintage or Audere JZ3 active pre amp?
Stack knob vintage. Personally I think the Audere is a mixed bag; some people love it, others have a lot of problems with it. The passive stack knob setup is classic and undeniable, so IMO that should be the "stock" offering; and maybe you could have the Audere or another preamp as an upgrade option only.

Another modern idea I'd suggest is a slightly longer than average top horn. If you're going to make it better than a Fender, may as well make it more ergonomic, and that's one easy way.

Thanks guys. So far we are looking at upgraded vintage style, but still open for more ideas and thoughts.

Just put some split coil Fralins in my 76 Jazz and love 'em. While researching, I was told that the split coil loses a touch of high end but that the quietness makes up for it, especially in the studio. Likely can't notice live.

My 2 cents.

We are building a Fretless (ebony board) J style Old Fiend and I'm trying to make up my mind it it needs to be true vintage our should it have some modern features? So here are the choices.

Tuners: HipShot featherweight (clover tips) or Gotoh Vintage

Bridge: Badass or Vintage Pre CBS style

Pickups: Vintage style or hum canceling (both Fralin)

Electronics: Stack knob vintage, three knob vintage or Audere JZ3 active pre amp?

The bass will be yellowed Olympic white with a matching headstock and a tortuous shell guard.
So what say ya?

IF you are going "Vintage," then I say go "vintage." To be honest, any humbucking pup to me is not Vintage. I have also found that both the Fralin and Nordstrand non humbucking really don't have a vintage sound. I would first recomment Duncan Antiquity IIs or the Bill Lawrence pups. I like the 28:1 Gotoh tuners, but I have found these Hipshot Lollipop "vintage" tuners to be even better. I don't have a model #, but here is a photo:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/1amattsurf8.jpg

Bridges hands down the threaded Fenders. As far as controls, I would go with stacked or triple. I would offer the Audere as an option. Here is what I did with a Fender Highway One. I used the Gotoh 28:1 reverse tuners on this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam6.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/rschuh/album5/1afinishedseafoam8.jpg


I hope that helps!