FS/FT Marco Basses Fretgroove 4 - NEW PICTURES!

**JoshB** · #1 10-15-2009, 03:15 PM

This bass is only a few months old, and I've only used it on a couple of recordings and one service at church, so it's like new. I'm really looking to trade for a nice 4 string of some kind. I'm fairly open to what I'm looking for.

I'm a bad fretless player, and this bass makes even ME sound good!

Here's a few pictures. I will take more for interested parties.

Looking to get $1600 or trade. I'm fairly open and flexible on trade values, so don't hesitate to contact me regarding this bass.

bassinstincts · #2 10-15-2009, 08:56 PM

I owned a Marco fretless (no grooves) which I sold on TB a while ago. Great instrument. What does this Marco weigh? Does it have a piezo PU as well as the mags? What does it sound like?
Thanks (and thanks for your recent help as a moderator).

**JoshB** · #3 10-16-2009, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

I owned a Marco fretless (no grooves) which I sold on TB a while ago. Great instrument. What does this Marco weigh? Does it have a piezo PU as well as the mags? What does it sound like?
Thanks (and thanks for your recent help as a moderator).

This guy weighs in at about 8.5lbs or so. I don't have an accurate enough scale around here to give you a firm measurement. It does not have a piezo pickup, but the bridge pickup is barky if you want it to be...it's a great sound!

I'll try to get a couple of clips of the bass up here, but my playing is atrocious! It should give you a decent idea though.

As far as the help, no problem...anytime!

**JoshB** · #4 10-16-2009, 12:38 AM

Here's a quick and very dirty clip of the bass...it's mostly played with both pickups full on and the tone full up. During one part, I go to the bridge pickup only, with the tone full up, and then to just the neck pickup with the tone full on, then back to blended. The bass was run straight into my Presonus firepod, no, DI, no amp, no effects other than a slight comp to even out the tone.

http://joshbubniak.com/audio/marcotesttones.mp3

Enjoy.

quadrogong · #5 10-16-2009, 01:07 AM

What are the grooves like?
Feel like fretless or fretted?
Do I need to concentrate on intonation like a fretless?
Or is the basic technique like playing fretted?
Seems interesting

also,
I'd Love to see a few Details @ woods & electronics

**JoshB** · #6 10-16-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadrogong

What are the grooves like?
Feel like fretless or fretted?
Do I need to concentrate on intonation like a fretless?
Or is the basic technique like playing fretted?
Seems interesting

also,
I'd Love to see a few Details @ woods & electronics

I'm heading to bed...so better pictures tomorrow morning. The electronics are custom wound pickups that Marco does himself. They are QUIET as heck and nice full sounding pickups. I wish he did a jazz replacement set to be honest. Other than that though, it's completely passive with master volume and tone, with a three way toggle. If you want a blend pot instead of the toggle, it would be a very easy modification.

As far as the woods go, the bass is an ash body with a flame maple top. The neck is maple (with a bit of flame to it), the fretboard is wenge and the dots on the board are maple. The headstock overlay and the pickup covers are burled, but I'm not really sure what wood they are.

The grooves make it feel like playing fretted, kind of. It's hard to describe. When I had a true fretless, I always had to stare at the board to make sure I was in the right spots, but never seemed to REALLY get it on muscle memory.

You still need to concentrate on intonation like all fretless basses, but it DOES make it a lot easier, since you can feel the "fret" you're on.

Hope that clears up a few things.

**JoshB** · #7 10-17-2009, 12:04 AM

New pictures up...some specific trades I'm looking for...Sadowsky Metros, Fender Reggie Hamilton, Deluxe P, Deluxe J, Marcus Miller, Ernie Ball Stingray, Fbass BN4 or 5, Lakland DJ, JO, Decade, Modulus Flea, Modulus Jazz, Zon Sonus 4 or 5, and I'm sure there are others I'd look at.

I'd also trade this straight up for an Aguitar DB750.

I also dropped the price a bit.

knuppe · #8 11-19-2009, 06:29 PM

PM sent!

**JoshB** · #9 12-10-2009, 05:39 PM

Whappo Grande · #10 12-12-2009, 06:22 PM

I just wanted to say that Marco's Fretgroove basses are amazing. I've played them every year at NAMM & they are one of the few instruments I look forward to picking up.

This would be an excellent investment

bertbassplayer · #11 12-12-2009, 06:25 PM

Looks good, all his stuff does. I haven't played the fretgroove yet, but he's supposed to send me one.

**JoshB** · #12 12-13-2009, 08:32 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys! This really is a fantastic bass!

**JoshB** · #13 12-15-2009, 12:32 AM

bump before bed.

WarriorJoe7 · #14 12-15-2009, 12:54 AM

unlikely but:

I have several basses to trade here. PM me if interested. FS/FT: 7 basses available! (Overseas ok)

Yamaha RBX250F lined fretless w/ upgraded EMG pickups
Danelectro Rumor Bass
Yamaha RBX-550M
Waterstone Hollowbody P Bass
Intertek Cipher Bass
Musicvox Space Cadet 12 String (2 octave strings per Eee-Aaa-Ddd-Ggg)
Spector SSD Holoflake Bass (Hologram finish)
Vantage (matsumoku made) w/ original case