5 string budget unlined fretless parts bass - potential future project

[skyline_01]

Hey all,

Although I'm not anywhere financially close to making something like this happen, I've been looking around at 5 string unlined fretless bass options and they seem a bit limited, or at least in the ~$1000 range.

That being said, I've considered trying to slowly piece together a parts project as I build up cash here and there. My first thought was to try and source an unloaded or loaded Squier or MIM Jazz body (think Stratosphere) and then have Warmoth make a custom neck, to which I could add my choice of tuners/string retainer/etc and also add/upgrade the other components (pups, guts, bridge etc) as I went. Going this path would give me a workable Jazz 5 fretless and then if I decided it played well enough to be a long-term keeper then I might consider having the bridge route expanded to accommodate a humbucker to make it more versatile.

So, In addition to your recommendations for stock 5-string unlined basses that might fall in this price range I would also welcome any fretless 5'er pics/stories. Thank you!

 

[Inara]

Hey all,

Although I'm not anywhere financially close to making something like this happen, I've been looking around at 5 string unlined fretless bass options and they seem a bit limited, or at least in the ~$1000 range.

That being said, I've considered trying to slowly piece together a parts project as I build up cash here and there. My first thought was to try and source an unloaded or loaded Squier or MIM Jazz body (think Stratosphere) and then have Warmoth make a custom neck, to which I could add my choice of tuners/string retainer/etc and also add/upgrade the other components (pups, guts, bridge etc) as I went. Going this path would give me a workable Jazz 5 fretless and then if I decided it played well enough to be a long-term keeper then I might consider having the bridge route expanded to accommodate a humbucker to make it more versatile.

So, In addition to your recommendations for stock 5-string unlined basses that might fall in this price range I would also welcome any fretless 5'er pics/stories. Thank you!

I did something very similar, except a 4 string. I got a Squier PJ body, then put a Warmoth unlined fretless neck on it, with DiMarzio Model PJ pickups, and Hipshot Ultralights. I'm loving it. I still have a bit more nut filing to do, but it's very playable and sounds great.

One thing I will say is that you'll probably need to shim the neck, as my bridge saddles were bottomed out due to the lower string height of a fretless neck. This is a common thing reported when people do fretless parts builds. I used a .5 degree angle, full-pocket shim from StewMac and it's perfect.

I highly recommend this sort of project! The result has been very pleasing to me, at least. Here's a pic I took before I had set the intonation (adding that in case you notice that the saddles are basically in the opposite position from where they should be lol). Also for some reason the bridge pickup looks like it's warped from this angle, but doesn't look weird like that in real life. Anyway, sorry it's not a 5, but hopefully this helps.

 

[skyline_01]

I did something very similar, except a 4 string. I got a Squier PJ body, then put a Warmoth unlined fretless neck on it, with DiMarzio Model PJ pickups, and Hipshot Ultralights. I'm loving it. I still have a bit more nut filing to do, but it's very playable and sounds great.

One thing I will say is that you'll probably need to shim the neck, as my bridge saddles were bottomed out due to the lower string height of a fretless neck. This is a common thing reported when people do fretless parts builds. I used a .5 degree angle, full-pocket shim from StewMac and it's perfect.

I highly recommend this sort of project! The result has been very pleasing to me, at least. Here's a pic I took before I had set the intonation (adding that in case you notice that the saddles are basically in the opposite position from where they should be lol). Also for some reason the bridge pickup looks like it's warped from this angle, but doesn't look weird like that in real life. Anyway, sorry it's not a 5, but hopefully this helps.
View attachment 3929958

^^^ That is rad! I remember seeing this bass recently in a NBD thread I think. It looks like you did a killer job - I love the color combo. This is very helpful, and I appreciate the advice about the neck shim - it could prove to be very useful!

 

[Inara]

^^^ That is rad! I remember seeing this bass recently in a NBD thread I think. It looks like you did a killer job - I love the color combo. This is very helpful, and I appreciate the advice about the neck shim - it could prove to be very useful!

Thanks, and you're welcome! Good luck! I had a blast with mine.

 

[skyline_01]

Fretless 5-String Jazz Bass - Jbass - Best Guitar Parts - Tacoma, Washington - U.S.A. | Ryan's Odds n' Enz | Reverb

This is kinda the vibe that I was thinking of. Hell, I'd be happy with this exact bass if I had the scratch to buy it LOL.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Just like Inara, I did the exact same thing you are thinking of doing, except I started with a complete bass and swapped parts around.

this was a 2014 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V. I first added a preamp, then changed pickups, then decided to make it fretless.
I got a roasted maple/unlined ebony Warmoth Standard Jazz V neck. Added Hipshot LIC tuners, string trees and Kickass bridge.
It is the best fretless I have ever played.

In total, I probably have $800 in this bass (considering Squier Jazz bass body only, plus Warmoth neck, hardware, pickups, etc...)

But if you stay with stock passive electronics and stock pickups, just go with the Warmoth neck and Hipshot hardware, you can probably come in at $500-600 for an amazing fretless.
Stratosphere has a Classic Vibe Jazz V body in Natural that I've been eyeballing for quite some time.
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there's 60% of your fretless right there...!!!

 

[skyline_01]

Just like Inara, I did the exact same thing you are thinking of doing, except I started with a complete bass and swapped parts around.

this was a 2014 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V. I first added a preamp, then changed pickups, then decided to make it fretless.
I got a roasted maple/unlined ebony Warmoth Standard Jazz V neck. Added Hipshot LIC tuners, string trees and Kickass bridge.
It is the best fretless I have ever played.

View attachment 3930199

View attachment 3930201

View attachment 3930202

View attachment 3930203

In total, I probably have $800 in this bass (considering Squier Jazz bass body only, plus Warmoth neck, hardware, pickups, etc...)

But if you stay with stock passive electronics and stock pickups, just go with the Warmoth neck and Hipshot hardware, you can probably come in at $500-600 for an amazing fretless.
Stratosphere has a Classic Vibe Jazz V body in Natural that I've been eyeballing for quite some time.
[This invalid link has been removed]

there's 60% of your fretless right there...!!!

Man, that's a looker!! This is exactly the kind of thing I want to put together. Just out of curiosity, what pickups did you end up going with?

I too saw the Squier Jazz body on Stratosphere and I'd pick the damn thing up but naturally I'm strapped at the moment.

I actually prefer a 4+1 headstock but I'm guessing all of the Squier bodies take the standard Warmoth inline 5? I wonder if the heel of the Deluxe necks (Fender-style 4+1 headstock and the Warmoth 3+2) could be sanded to fit a Squier body?

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I also prefer the 4+1, but I stopped caring so much and accepted the in-line 5.
I corresponded with Warmoth about the headstock, and they said that if requested, they can leave the headstock blank so the customer can drill his own holes - that way it would be possible to make it 4+1.

The deluxe neck has 22 frets, so most likely the body would need to be modified to accept the longer, wider neck heel.

 

[skyline_01]

I also prefer the 4+1, but I stopped caring so much and accepted the in-line 5.
I corresponded with Warmoth about the headstock, and they said that if requested, they can leave the headstock blank so the customer can drill his own holes - that way it would be possible to make it 4+1.

The deluxe neck has 22 frets, so most likely the body would need to be modified to accept the longer, wider neck heel.

That's a good point about the longer neck pocket. And I don't know if I'm comfortable drilling tuner holes myself, so I'd likely just go for the inline 5. Good to know Warmoth has the option though!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Just out of curiosity, what pickups did you end up going with?

in the photos, I had a set of Fender Marcus Miller pickups out of the Signature bass. I pulled those out to use in a future project (which I'm not sure will even happen at this point...) and installed a set of Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz pickups, and just recently switched to Duncan Apollo hum-cancelling pickups.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hey all,

Although I'm not anywhere financially close to making something like this happen, I've been looking around at 5 string unlined fretless bass options and they seem a bit limited, or at least in the ~$1000 range.

That being said, I've considered trying to slowly piece together a parts project as I build up cash here and there. My first thought was to try and source an unloaded or loaded Squier or MIM Jazz body (think Stratosphere) and then have Warmoth make a custom neck, to which I could add my choice of tuners/string retainer/etc and also add/upgrade the other components (pups, guts, bridge etc) as I went. Going this path would give me a workable Jazz 5 fretless and then if I decided it played well enough to be a long-term keeper then I might consider having the bridge route expanded to accommodate a humbucker to make it more versatile.

So, In addition to your recommendations for stock 5-string unlined basses that might fall in this price range I would also welcome any fretless 5'er pics/stories. Thank you!

I have a fender jazz 5 I plan to convert to fretless and looked at going the warmoth route for a neck because I'm a big fan of roasted flame maple and ebony and they make some great looking necks. There's a compatibility issue that came up. So I figure I'll give a DIY fretless conversion a shot With the stock neck before I go that route as it's not a main bass anyways so if I screw up the factory neck it's not the end of the world. The issue is the headstock tuner layout. Warmoth will make a neck that works with the Mexican fender jazz 5 but will only do The older 5 inline tuner layout. This means you either have to buy a neck without the tuner holes drilled and do it yourself or I can't reuse the stock tuners because my jazz has a 4+1 headstock. This is a major problem if you want a roasted maple neck in particular because roasted maple while very hard is more prone to splitting and I don't have the guts so fork over several hundred dollars for a nice roasted maple neck and then try to drill the bigger holes out for the tuners without splitting the headstock. The screw pilot holes I'm not so worried about but the holes for the tuner shaft? Yeah I don't know about that. So yeah if you don't yet have the bass you'll use for the majority of parts and plan on using a warmoth neck look for an older Mexican jazz with the 5 inline headstock. That way you don't have to buy new tuners or risk splitting the headstock by drilling it yourself.

 

[CatchaCuda]

Any interest in the Sire Marcus Miller v7?

 

[skyline_01]

in the photos, I had a set of Fender Marcus Miller pickups out of the Signature bass. I pulled those out to use in a future project (which I'm not sure will even happen at this point...) and installed a set of Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz pickups, and just recently switched to Duncan Apollo hum-cancelling pickups.

View attachment 3930543

Right on! I had a set of Apollos in a MIM Jazz Deluxe V before I sold it. They sounded great and were dead quiet.

 

[skyline_01]

Any interest in the Sire Marcus Miller v7?

If it were unlined I'd be totally open to it. I've always played unlined and I find that the lines just get in the way, plus the aesthetic is much more desirable to me. Trust me, I know they're great basses and a terrific value.

 

[skyline_01]

I also prefer the 4+1, but I stopped caring so much and accepted the in-line 5.
I corresponded with Warmoth about the headstock, and they said that if requested, they can leave the headstock blank so the customer can drill his own holes - that way it would be possible to make it 4+1.

The deluxe neck has 22 frets, so most likely the body would need to be modified to accept the longer, wider neck heel.

I had also been looking at several Fender Player Jazz V bodies. Those basses have a 4+1 config neck from the factory but they also only have 20 frets, so I'm guessing that the Warmoth Standard inline 5 would still be the correct replacement.

Fender Player Jazz Bass V - Polar White with Pau Ferro Fingerboard

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I had also been looking at several Fender Player Jazz V bodies. Those basses have a 4+1 config neck from the factory but they also only have 20 frets, so I'm guessing that the Warmoth Standard inline 5 would still be the correct replacement.

Fender Player Jazz Bass V - Polar White with Pau Ferro Fingerboard

Correct, the Standard is 20 fret, Deluxe is 22 fret.
When I emailed Warmoth about the tuner configuration. I had mentioned that the MIM Jazz V's have had 4+1 configuration for quite some time and if they had any plans to do a Standard in 4+1 at some point - they said they have no plans to do so at this time.
The only MIM that has in-line 5 nowadays is the Fender Deluxe Active.
It bugged me, but not as much as the fact that I wanted a fret less Jazz V...
Then again, I could have gotten a Sire V7 fretless for the same total cost. They have lines, but barely visible from a distance.

 

[CatchaCuda]

If it were unlined I'd be totally open to it. I've always played unlined and I find that the lines just get in the way, plus the aesthetic is much more desirable to me. Trust me, I know they're great basses and a terrific value.

sorry about that, I mistakenly thought some weren't lined.

 

[Ric5]

Hey all,

Although I'm not anywhere financially close to making something like this happen, I've been looking around at 5 string unlined fretless bass options and they seem a bit limited, or at least in the ~$1000 range.

That being said, I've considered trying to slowly piece together a parts project as I build up cash here and there. My first thought was to try and source an unloaded or loaded Squier or MIM Jazz body (think Stratosphere) and then have Warmoth make a custom neck, to which I could add my choice of tuners/string retainer/etc and also add/upgrade the other components (pups, guts, bridge etc) as I went. Going this path would give me a workable Jazz 5 fretless and then if I decided it played well enough to be a long-term keeper then I might consider having the bridge route expanded to accommodate a humbucker to make it more versatile.

So, In addition to your recommendations for stock 5-string unlined basses that might fall in this price range I would also welcome any fretless 5'er pics/stories. Thank you!

building parts basses is fun …

this one here has a custom body, and a lot of parts from ebay and the internet. I ended up putting fret lines on the neck and putting the neck on a different body

 

[skyline_01]

sorry about that, I mistakenly thought some weren't lined.

All good, man. I don't think I've ever seen one without lines anyway.

 

[skyline_01]

Correct, the Standard is 20 fret, Deluxe is 22 fret.
When I emailed Warmoth about the tuner configuration. I had mentioned that the MIM Jazz V's have had 4+1 configuration for quite some time and if they had any plans to do a Standard in 4+1 at some point - they said they have no plans to do so at this time.
The only MIM that has in-line 5 nowadays is the Fender Deluxe Active.
It bugged me, but not as much as the fact that I wanted a fret less Jazz V...
Then again, I could have gotten a Sire V7 fretless for the same total cost. They have lines, but barely visible from a distance.

Yeah, I figured as much. I had one of those Active Deluxe V basses for about 4 years. Great bass, especially when I dropped those SD Apollo pickups in it.

I've pretty much accepted the fact that I'll have to live with a 5 inline if I do this project, and I'm becoming more and more OK with it LOL.