- Fretless
- Y
Greetings!
I bought this bass last year in hopes of picking up fretless again (I started out on fretless), but alas, despite how amazing this instrument is, I just don't have the patience to practice on an unlined board.
I haven't seen many 4-string Curbows, and only one other that was fretless. This one was made in 1998, and sports a lovely one-piece, light-weight ash body (~7 lbs) and the usual Curbow fittings, i.e., Bart pup and pre, Sperzel tuners, proprietary high-mass bridge, and, of course, Rockwood neck. When I bought it, the top had a slight crack along the preamp knobs; so, I sent it to Doug Somervell, who may have had a hand at building this very bass (build records are long gone). In addition to the repair, I had him replace the obsolete PSTMB-18 preamp with a new 18v NTMB-FL and give the body a modest tung oil re-finish. It turned out spectacular, and the bass feels absolutely amazing. The tone is quintessential fretless--mwaaaah; and the preamp is incredibly flexible offering tons of different tonal options, in case Jaco isn't your bag (and that's okay--no judgement here).
The bass overall is fairly short, measuring 43" from top to bottom. It also sports a downsized body that measures 12-1/2" across the lower bout; and, like the older Petite models, it is contoured for comfort. However, unlike the earlier Petites which were very thin basses (I once owned a '94 fretless 5), it is quite thicker, tapering from ~2-3/4" to 3/4". So, it is a more comfortable shape (and weight!). I'll also mention that the neck feels amazing and thin (~5/8" front to back).
Other details:
Scale length: 34"
Bridge spacing: 19mm (3/4")
Nut width: 40mm
The condition is difficult to gauge due to the repair and the fragile finish, but overall, I guess I'd call it an 8/10. It comes with a functional hardshell case--nothing amazing, but it does the job for shipping.
A sale is preferable as I've already got two great basses, but I'll entertain trades for fretted or lined fretless. I'm not as much a stickler for condition as I am of aesthetics, but please be honest about wear. Hit me up with any questions.
SOLD LOCALLY!
I bought this bass last year in hopes of picking up fretless again (I started out on fretless), but alas, despite how amazing this instrument is, I just don't have the patience to practice on an unlined board.
I haven't seen many 4-string Curbows, and only one other that was fretless. This one was made in 1998, and sports a lovely one-piece, light-weight ash body (~7 lbs) and the usual Curbow fittings, i.e., Bart pup and pre, Sperzel tuners, proprietary high-mass bridge, and, of course, Rockwood neck. When I bought it, the top had a slight crack along the preamp knobs; so, I sent it to Doug Somervell, who may have had a hand at building this very bass (build records are long gone). In addition to the repair, I had him replace the obsolete PSTMB-18 preamp with a new 18v NTMB-FL and give the body a modest tung oil re-finish. It turned out spectacular, and the bass feels absolutely amazing. The tone is quintessential fretless--mwaaaah; and the preamp is incredibly flexible offering tons of different tonal options, in case Jaco isn't your bag (and that's okay--no judgement here).
The bass overall is fairly short, measuring 43" from top to bottom. It also sports a downsized body that measures 12-1/2" across the lower bout; and, like the older Petite models, it is contoured for comfort. However, unlike the earlier Petites which were very thin basses (I once owned a '94 fretless 5), it is quite thicker, tapering from ~2-3/4" to 3/4". So, it is a more comfortable shape (and weight!). I'll also mention that the neck feels amazing and thin (~5/8" front to back).
Other details:
Scale length: 34"
Bridge spacing: 19mm (3/4")
Nut width: 40mm
The condition is difficult to gauge due to the repair and the fragile finish, but overall, I guess I'd call it an 8/10. It comes with a functional hardshell case--nothing amazing, but it does the job for shipping.
A sale is preferable as I've already got two great basses, but I'll entertain trades for fretted or lined fretless. I'm not as much a stickler for condition as I am of aesthetics, but please be honest about wear. Hit me up with any questions.
SOLD LOCALLY!
