Affordable fretless to achieve the Jaco tone

[svt1233]

I've been looking around for a solid fretless with which I can achieve a jaco-esque tone. I'm going through a sort of Jaco phase. I'm looking at a vintage modified squier fretless. Any mods that can be done to further achieve this tone? any other basses in mind? I would like to keep prices under $500 if possible, so no jaco tribute basses for me.

[GeneralElectric]

Any fretless jazz bass would work I think. Just dime the bridge pickup and get a chorus pedal.

[pudgychef]

imho that vintage modified squier does exactly what you want - throw on the right strings and you are good to go. I think the pickups are just fine - and I don't think a higher mass bridge would be a step in the right direction.

Get that VM fretless and playing the 'S' out of it will get as close as most mortals can get (imho, ime, ymmv)

[pudgychef]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Any fretless jazz bass would work I think. Just dime the bridge pickup and get a chorus pedal.

and this

[BillyIVbass]

$500 is a nice chunk of change. The Squier is nice and really nothing touches it for a budget fretless, but you could get a much nicer Jazz Bass and throw on a $100 Mighty Mite fretless neck.

[surfaday]

I know what you're saying about being in a Jaco phase. I am currently learning "a Remark You Made", the sound of the fretless making that familiar Jaco mwaah its so satisfying.

I'm on a budget and scored a nice 5 string fretless SX to help me through my phase. Works for me.

Good luck on your quest!

[svt1233]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Any fretless jazz bass would work I think. Just dime the bridge pickup and get a chorus pedal.

dime the bridge pickup?
not sure what that means

[Martin89]

dime=10, max the bridge volume out, barely any volume if any from the neck pickup, that's the general setting, the rest is all technique.

[svt1233]

Originally Posted by Martin89

dime=10, max the bridge volume out, barely any volume if any from the neck pickup, that's the general setting, the rest is all technique.

oh yeah, of course.

Originally Posted by pudgychef

imho that vintage modified squier does exactly what you want - throw on the right strings and you are good to go. I think the pickups are just fine - and I don't think a higher mass bridge would be a step in the right direction.

Get that VM fretless and playing the 'S' out of it will get as close as most mortals can get (imho, ime, ymmv)

exactly what are "the right strings? any knowledge from experience?

[groooooove]

the squire unofficial jaco model, those things are just fine for jaco sounds. they can be had for around $200, and they're perfectly usable.

[Mike M.]

I bought a Squire VM fretless Jazz bass last fall and for the money it's great! The only thing needed was a good shield job, which a tech I know did for me.

I'm NO Jaco but as far as getting a similar tone, just turn the neck pickup down somewhat and you're off and running.

[mc_muench]

This and a set of new strings...http://www.rondomusic.com/product4859.html

[svt1233]

Originally Posted by mc_muench

This and a set of new strings...http://www.rondomusic.com/product4859.html

finally! I have been yet to see a fretless with a maple board.
But at that price it seems almost to good to be true/cheap etc. Provided I've never played a douglas lacerta

[thtbassloser]

i dont know if you can find one of these but i recently just did by luck, at the same time im alot of hardcore jaco fans will tell me im crazy but musicman sub fretless if you can.. amazing bass totally jaco toneable and more.

[Roy Vogt]

Roundwounds are what Jaco used on his Jazz Bass (Rotosounds), so I'd definitely try a set on whatever you buy. Some of my students have bought the Squier VM Fretless and it's not bad. The only thing I've noticed is that they generally need to be set up to play easier.

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by svt1233

oh yeah, of course.

exactly what are "the right strings? any knowledge from experience?

Jacob used Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Stainless steel strings, so that is what I recommend. Change them frequently as they loose their tone quickly.

[GM60466]

I think most of the tone was in his fingers. Then the Acoustic 360s helped a bit as well.

G

[dougjwray]

As he told me, "I have the treble up all the way on the bass, and the bass all the way up on the amp."
In other words (removing the Jacoesque hyperbole), use the bridge pickup exclusively, and compensate by adding some low end on your amp. And yes, brand new Rotosound Swing Bass strings.
Getting the fabled "mwah" sound isn't all that hard... you just need to experiment with different degrees of vibrato and with the placement of your plucking hand (having it over, or near, the bottom of the fingerboard helps, in my experience). Listen hard to yourself and play around with the "blooming" and decay of each note.

[Marton]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

Roundwounds are what Jaco used on his Jazz Bass (Rotosounds), so I'd definitely try a set on whatever you buy. Some of my students have bought the Squier VM Fretless and it's not bad. The only thing I've noticed is that they generally need to be set up to play easier.

Like any bass, really.

[Tampabass]

This one just popped up in the TB classifieds - $500 - looks sweet.
Spectacular lined fretless Jazz, matching headstock...check this color!!!