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  #1  
Old 01-28-2011, 07:51 AM
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PRICE DROP: FS FT Fretless 5 string Custom. MUST SEE!

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I bought something else on the board so I'm reposting this as FS or FT.

Here is the original post: FT 5 string Fretless Boutique Simmons. Fretted wanted.

I'm asking PRICE DROP $1099 OBO $999 $899 $850 shipped con U.S.! This bass is a work of art. I'll consider trades but I'm leaning towards an outright sale.

39 photos!
http://drdunwoody.shutterfly.com/pictures/297

This is the bass I swore I would never sell (yea, we've all been there). I love the sound and feel of this bass BUT I don't really play fretless! It has been sitting in the case largely unplayed for the last two years.

Here is what it is:
Simmon's Guitars are the work of Dave Simmons (North Carolina).
http://simmonsguitars.com/
This is the 35" Thorus model which he sells for $2050.00 without options. This bass has a number of the options listed so it would be couple hundred more I'm estimating.
Weight is about 9-10 lbs (bathroom scale) and the instrument is well balanced. I love the way it hangs and plays...if only it were fretted. I measure the string spacing at 72mm across at the bridge (18" per string). The neck at the nut is 1.75". The neck at the bass of the guitar measures about 72mm (about 2.75"). It has Delano pickups installed although Simmon's have Barts come standard with these. The previous owner must have had the Delano's put in. You can see at the bottom of the MusicMan style bridge pickup that there are routes on the bridge side for the wings from a different pickup. I love the sound of this bass and the pickups so much so that when I got my MIA Fender Jazz V, I put Delano humcancelling pickups in them. Very full range sound. This bass is warm and the 35" scale gives the notes plenty of punch, but with a fullness that I really love. It has a very full frequency range. The neck is fast and in excellent condition. It has had flats on it! The neck is SUPER stable...she stays in tune incredibly well! I have almost always run the bass passive as I prefer that sound but the Bart preamp is fully functional and sounds great.
Disclaimers: there is a LIGHT surface scratch about 1.5 inches above the neck pickup to above the base of the neck. It is hard to see unless the light hits it right. I tried to show this in the photos. The BIGGEST flaw on this bass is that the prior owner must have knocked the tip of the headstock and cracked the TIP off. It was glued back on (not too neatly IMO). THIS IS NOT STRUCTURAL. The tip that is glued back on is not close enough to a tuner to be structural, so it is only an aesthetic issue. It is very hard to see from any distance standing in front of the guitar. It is more obvious from the back. I took LOTS of photos.
As for the woods, maybe some of the viewers can help me, I don't know my woods well enough so take my claims cautiously (look, and hopefully people will reply with the woods!). Looks like a maple neck, with alder wings. The top matches the stripes on the laminated neck and MIGHT be rosewood? The fretboard looks ebony to me. All of the would joints have accent lines in them (except for those that run the length of the neck). It is a stunning piece of art in my opinion and I would not sell it if I could just afford to purchase a similar fretted instrument. I will ship it in a hard shell case that works well but has to be wiggled sometimes to make the shells lineup right. It works well for transport, all latches function, and it will protect the bass in shipping. One of the feet in the case was bashed in (see photos). There are 39 pictures of it here:
http://drdunwoody.shutterfly.com/pictures/297

Send me offers! I need to move this bass.

Last edited by drdunwoody : 02-11-2011 at 11:01 AM. Reason: Price drop
  #2  
Old 01-28-2011, 07:57 AM
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The picture

I forgot the pic
39 more pics an Shutterfly! http://drdunwoody.shutterfly.com/pictures/297
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  #3  
Old 01-28-2011, 11:57 AM
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I found a review online of Simmon's Guitars (not the same model but...):
http://www.harmonycentral.com/products/112361
  #4  
Old 01-28-2011, 12:46 PM
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Nice ... I remember being on the fence for this one a while ago. Funny how the small the bass world is.

Good luck with the sale or trade ... Simmons does some great work.
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  #5  
Old 01-29-2011, 07:11 AM
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Thanks Ubado! I don't think too many people know Simmons. If they did this wouldn't still be here! I played this bass last night and it just sounds so sweet!
As for the preamp configuration:
Top two knobs are volume & blend. Bottom two are lows/highs (stacked) and mids.
If this bass doesn't sell at a good price I'll have to keep it and get it fretted! Seems a sin to fret such a pretty fretless. Someone save her!
  #6  
Old 01-29-2011, 06:04 PM
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2 brand new batteries installed! Make me an offer!
  #7  
Old 01-29-2011, 06:30 PM
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Aw man....I was thinking this was a Gene Simmons Axe bass!

I kid, I kid...bump for a beauty!
  #8  
Old 01-30-2011, 06:44 AM
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Yea, when I search for "Simmon's bass" Gene is exactly what I find!
ANNOUNCEMENT: THIS IS NOT the bass GENE SIMMONS plays. I know you were all wondering...
  #9  
Old 01-30-2011, 07:16 AM
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Considering trade for a Warwick 4 stringer...sure would like a 5!
  #10  
Old 01-30-2011, 10:59 AM
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I'd have to say the top wood is bloodwood. These are great basses!
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  #11  
Old 01-30-2011, 08:04 PM
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Bloodwood he thinks! THanks! These ARE great basses...waiting for someone to realize it and save her!
  #12  
Old 01-31-2011, 08:04 AM
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I have an Echo fretted 5 string is absolutely amazing. Oddly enough, I posted the review on Harmony Central that you refer to, it's a shame that people don't know more about these basses.
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Last edited by rockosocko : 01-31-2011 at 08:06 AM.
  #13  
Old 01-31-2011, 05:15 PM
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Thanks Rocko! Yes, these are fabulous and are yet another example of "quality exceeds name recognition." I have friends who are struggling luthiers and their guitars are AWESOME...just a small market with lots people trying to make it in.
Anyway, I went out and bought a digital scale (and checked its accuracy using my free weights) and this bass comes in at 10.2 lbs while my MIA Jazz V comes in at 10.4 lbs. The weird part is that the Jazz feels MUCH heavier. Why is that?
  #14  
Old 02-01-2011, 10:33 AM
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PRICE DROP! Down from $1099 to $999 shipped Con. U.S.
After checking with those wiser than myself, I'm not going to have it fretted. It has to go...
  #15  
Old 02-02-2011, 10:56 AM
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I don't know how familiar people are with the Delano pickups in this bass. This was my first bass with Delano's and now they are my go-to pickups. When I got my 5 string American Jazz, installing the Delano's really opened up the bass...such a smooth and broad frequency range (and not cheap at about $250 for the pair). Anyway, here is more info on the pickups in this 5 string fretless (NOW WITH LOWER PRICE):
http://www.bestbassgear.com/delano-5-string-pickups.htm
http://www.delano.de/61.html?&cHash=...Btt_news%5D=32
  #16  
Old 02-02-2011, 11:12 AM
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Bump for a fellow Delano addict. They are the most amazing pups! Someone buy this!
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  #17  
Old 02-02-2011, 03:18 PM
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Thanks Lowe Down! I'm considering a Warmoth Gecko 5 build with these same pus (same as on this fretless) but I have to sell the fretless first!
  #18  
Old 02-03-2011, 05:59 PM
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Someone make me an offer!
  #19  
Old 02-05-2011, 08:02 AM
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Still available!
  #20  
Old 02-05-2011, 08:41 AM
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