- Fretless
- Y
This was a special bass for me ... for about 10 gigs or so.
Bought right around the time that my 'life path' and the great band I was in, diverged.
This bass was the perfect 'special flavor' for about 5 of the songs we did each set that fretless bass enhanced, and it had the perfect 'beefier back by the bridge Jaco Tone' I was looking for.
When I ducked out of that band, gigging became a more infrequent affair, and what I did play, had me returning more to a 'P-Bass with a B' tone. I went in that direction, and ended up with another one of Roger's creations, that's been one of my main players. NYC PJ5.
But, that 'thick all over' tone I favored, did not mesh with what this tremendous fretless brings. No amount of EQ would get them to match, and the 'P with a B' tone was getting me what gigs I had.
So this went in the case .
SPECS
- Unchambered Ash Body (a bit over 9lbs)
- Olympic White Finish
- purchased direct, by me, and received on 1/30/2013
- #6281
- 20 'frets'
- Unlined Ebony Fingerboard
- 1.875" Nut
- 34" Scale
CONDITION
If it wasn't for one single ding I can't get to photograph, on the very bottom, and the discoloration that happened from a particular case, and some mild left-hand wear, I'd put this at MINT. Almost NOS.
I have very little practice on this bass really. I got it, gigged it for a dozen gigs or so, and then in the case she went.
The fretboard is largely-untouched by the round wound strings. Nothing I can get to show up on camera.
TONE
The neck pickup soloed, with some bass boost, can certainly get into some 'big booty bass' territory, but the overall 'voice' of this bass is leaner and ... wait for it ... overused word that actually applies here ... punchier tone.
Rich low-mids and it nailed exactly what I wanted/did not want in a fretless at that time:
- P Body
- 20 Frets, ala' an older Fender
- Ash/Ebony, having heard some fretless basses with that combo
- Achieved 'that Jaco sound' but thicker all over each note
It felt and sat in the mix and in combination of those things will make a new owner very happy in a jazz setting, or some original, 'hot lady with a guitar accompanied by fretless guy' gigs.
Good work if you can get it!
TRADES?
No thanks. I am spoiled and well-satiated (finally) in my GAS quest.
If I do get those PM's, I may respond in a hilarious fashion
PRICE
$4700 CONTL US ONLY
PICS:
VIDEO LINK:
Note on video:
I start off with everything flat, VTC rolled off.
Panning to different pickup positions, and I'm sure you can figure out which.
To provide no 'trick photography', I pulled this out of the case, tuned it up, and did not warm up and have not been playing fretless a lot recently, as you can hear.
Hence the 'WANK SPANKERTON' disclaimer.
Next step is I dial in a smidge of bass/treble, so you can hear a slightly altered version of the inherent sound. You can do a lot more, and through a bigger rig.
Recording into my iPhone mic, playing low volume into my Phil Jones practice amp. Set flat, in the air, nothing special.
IME, Roger's basses sound good.through any amp/can with string you connect them to.
Bought right around the time that my 'life path' and the great band I was in, diverged.
This bass was the perfect 'special flavor' for about 5 of the songs we did each set that fretless bass enhanced, and it had the perfect 'beefier back by the bridge Jaco Tone' I was looking for.
When I ducked out of that band, gigging became a more infrequent affair, and what I did play, had me returning more to a 'P-Bass with a B' tone. I went in that direction, and ended up with another one of Roger's creations, that's been one of my main players. NYC PJ5.
But, that 'thick all over' tone I favored, did not mesh with what this tremendous fretless brings. No amount of EQ would get them to match, and the 'P with a B' tone was getting me what gigs I had.
So this went in the case .
SPECS
- Unchambered Ash Body (a bit over 9lbs)
- Olympic White Finish
- purchased direct, by me, and received on 1/30/2013
- #6281
- 20 'frets'
- Unlined Ebony Fingerboard
- 1.875" Nut
- 34" Scale
CONDITION
If it wasn't for one single ding I can't get to photograph, on the very bottom, and the discoloration that happened from a particular case, and some mild left-hand wear, I'd put this at MINT. Almost NOS.
I have very little practice on this bass really. I got it, gigged it for a dozen gigs or so, and then in the case she went.
The fretboard is largely-untouched by the round wound strings. Nothing I can get to show up on camera.
TONE
The neck pickup soloed, with some bass boost, can certainly get into some 'big booty bass' territory, but the overall 'voice' of this bass is leaner and ... wait for it ... overused word that actually applies here ... punchier tone.
Rich low-mids and it nailed exactly what I wanted/did not want in a fretless at that time:
- P Body
- 20 Frets, ala' an older Fender
- Ash/Ebony, having heard some fretless basses with that combo
- Achieved 'that Jaco sound' but thicker all over each note
It felt and sat in the mix and in combination of those things will make a new owner very happy in a jazz setting, or some original, 'hot lady with a guitar accompanied by fretless guy' gigs.
Good work if you can get it!
TRADES?
No thanks. I am spoiled and well-satiated (finally) in my GAS quest.
If I do get those PM's, I may respond in a hilarious fashion
PRICE
$4700 CONTL US ONLY
- NEW NYC BUILD (GUESTIMATE, AND I SHOT LOW) IN 2023 WITH COMPARABLE SPECS: $7025
PICS:
VIDEO LINK:
Note on video:
I start off with everything flat, VTC rolled off.
Panning to different pickup positions, and I'm sure you can figure out which.
To provide no 'trick photography', I pulled this out of the case, tuned it up, and did not warm up and have not been playing fretless a lot recently, as you can hear.
Hence the 'WANK SPANKERTON' disclaimer.
Next step is I dial in a smidge of bass/treble, so you can hear a slightly altered version of the inherent sound. You can do a lot more, and through a bigger rig.
Recording into my iPhone mic, playing low volume into my Phil Jones practice amp. Set flat, in the air, nothing special.
IME, Roger's basses sound good.through any amp/can with string you connect them to.
